Make way for Nico Stai, a poet, a songwriter and a man destined for stardom. From Bruce Springsteen and U2 to Elliott Smith, Stai has been compared to a number of lyricists. In reality, comparisons mean nothing because the half Norwegian, half Spanish singer-songwriter is paving his way in music history with blood, sweat, tears and some sincere and fierce tunes.

His 12-track solo album, Park Los Angeles, is a true testament of power, will and faith. The CD is complete with catchy yet moody ballads that talk about facing struggles with eyes straight on the future, to memoirs of broken and restored dreams.

“Like Alcohol (a Hole the Size of Part 2)” is an anthem about surviving life. “Andy’s House” is a heart-rending tune that explores the intricate darkness of a drug-idled soul.

This is a stirring album that, if anything, dares you to do what you always wanted to do. The album also represents the end of his love affair with drugs and the beginning of a sober life and a new adventure. It is exquisite.

Stai remarks, “It’s insane how everyone idolizes [drugs]. You look at the covers of magazines and everyone’s talking about it and making it look like it’s cool, but you don’t see the ugly parts. Think about it, you don’t see these star’s lawyer getting high before they write the contracts!

“It’s only a matter of time before it catches up to you. I‘ve been there; I was a wreck at one point. Now I know that you don’t need drugs to make rock ’n’ roll; you don’t need them to make something amazing. That’s the biggest lie ever sold. Watching someone stumble up onstage, barely standing, unable to do what he/she’s meant to do doesn’t impress me.”

The CD comes on the heels of the disintegration of his former bands, the Bonnie Stai and Tinpaco. Like many before him, he and his former troupe had their run-in with major labels and learned a thing or two about playing the music game to win. Tinpaco at one point was signed to Warner Bros., but in the end the venture didn’t last.

“The whole thing turned into one big mess,” says the stripped-down singer-songwriter. “We had a good run, but things got complicated and it all finally ended. So I got my eight-track and a microphone and started to do my own thing.”

When speaking about music, Stai gets animated and chatty. Think of a younger Wayne Coyne, you know the type, one with big ideas oozing out of him and enough energy and confidence to enthrall anyone into joining his endeavors.

His marriage with music wasn’t made by choice. It was fate.

“You don’t have a choice in the matter, it’s a calling,” says Stai about his involvement in music. “Tomorrow morning God forbid you get hit by a fucking bus and the only thing that’s going to remain is this or that, the book, the song, the music or whatever. And someone is going to listen to that piece of music and they’re going to feel that thing you felt when you were creating that piece and that’s what really matters; that’s why I’m here and that’s why you’re here.”

Stai continues to spread his musical gospel wherever and whenever he can. It may have started as a project between bands, but his intense and emotionally charged performances are quickly creating a buzz in the local community. Without a label and any other major backup, this poet is steadily making his mark in rock ’n’ roll history.

“My train is going uptown. A lot of great stuff is happening. I want freedom. I want control, and I want to be happy doing it. I don’t think about labels. I don’t think about deals. I just stay in the moment and be happy.

“I just think, you want to take a stab at me, go ahead, do it, mother fucker, cause that blood is going to make me write more. So all you’re doing is throwing gasoline into my fire, and you’re just going to make my fire bigger.”

Park Los Angeles is currently available. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/nicostai.