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Casados 
Early in 2005, Heather spent most of her time at a computer, frantically typing her way through grad school. Meanwhile, Nic continuously found himself in the living room of their small one-bedroom apartment with his acoustic guitar and a note pad. But no outlet existed for Nic's writing. After multiple years of traveling in a gas-guzzling Ford Econoline and playing electronic indie rock, Nic and Heather's previous band (Winter in Alaska) had come to an end.
By Spring of 2005, Nic and Heather Dillon decided to begin a new project, Casados. It was envisioned as a stripped-down, acoustic version of Nic's songwriting. For the first year, the band consisted of only acoustic guitar and dual vocals.
Soon enough, however, Casados began to expand. June 2006 found Nic and Heather relocating to Champaign, Illinois, and seeking flexible part-time jobs to accommodate a touring lifestyle. The married couple acquired both a harmonium and a mandolin from Ebay, which Heather now plays. The band also began to incorporate additional members.
Johnmark Hatfield contributed a variety of instruments to the sound (including accordion, glockenspiel, electric guitar, and cello) from July to December 2006. Currently, brothers Phil and Jonathon Damery are adding pedal steel/slide guitar and upright bass, respectively. As it stands, Nic and Heather are the band's only full-time members, but they include other musicians whenever possible.
With influences from Spoon to Joanna Newsom to Greg Brown, it is difficult to pin down Casados' sound. Most often classified as indie-folk, the band mixes elements of folk and pop. The music centers around thoughtful, relatable lyrics and rich vocal harmonies backed by unique instrumentation.
Nic, Heather, and others have been traveling around the Midwest in a slightly more fuel efficient Dodge Caravan. The band played nearly 50 shows before recording a long overdue EP. This past Christmas, Nic's wish list consisted of microphones, cables, and pop filters. Thanks to many gracious family members, Nic and Heather are able to record cheaply from the comfort of their own home.
