Interview With Dave Amaditz of Nullus Rex

Hello Dave, thank you for taking the time to talk with me about your music and your mission statement. Nullus Rex is a politically charged project, what was the original spark that pushed you to create music through this lens?
One morning, while watching the news, I saw that President Trump had posted an image depicting himself as king and that his White House had doubled down on the story by posting another image on a mock cover of Time magazine. I don’t know if I was more shocked or angered. After all, wasn’t the American Revolution fought to overthrow a king? To me, the world I knew, the world I had always known, was turning upside down. With that thought I sat in front of my computer and began to write the lyrics for The Upside Down. Ironically, they would have sat on my computer, but I read them to a few close friends who told me the lyrics had captured their feelings and that I should get them put to music.

Because of that, I sent them to Stacy, at A Writers Paradise. He, too, was drawn to the lyrics and, after some discussion, we decided to move forward with the project.

That is a truly honest reason to create something like Nullus Rex, and in fact is what I believe to be the true purpose of art, which is to use it to tell your story in your unique way. What message or emotion do you hope listeners take away from your latest project?
Simply put, I would want anyone listening to feel a connection to the story I’ve spun. Agreeing with the sentiments espoused would be great, but even if you don’t agree I would encourage you to listen and enjoy the fantastic music and vocals. Hopefully, they would then take it a step further and research what and why I’d written what I did and, in doing so, begin a dialogue with someone who believed differently so that they can then come to some type of mutual understanding.

I like that you are open to discussion about your music and ideas. When it comes to politics, faith, and art, we must all stand for something, but we must also stay open to hearing other ideas and then work together to create a common thread between us, which I think your music does well. The name “Nullus Rex” translates to “No King.” What does that represent for you on a personal and political level?
To be free of a king is the essence of what it means to be American, as The American Revolution was fought to rid itself from tyrannical rule. My current activism is meant to send the message to all Americans, especially those in power, as a reminder that the power they have is derived from the people of this great country. It is a reminder that they should not take the power they have been given for granted! It’s a reminder that they are meant to serve all Americans, not just the rich or the red or the blue! It is a reminder that when they were elected and assumed power, they swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States!

That may be one of the most patriotic statements I have heard, and I think that no matter who you are or where you are born, the message behind Nullus Rex speaks to all of us. We have been giving our freedom away daily and we do need to make a stand against that right now. Your music has a raw, unfiltered energy. Is that intentional, or does it come naturally through your writing?
Using this particular genre, hard rock, is most definitely intentional. The message is too important to me, as well as, I believe, Stacy and Michael, for it not to be hammered home! It must be heard! It must resonate! It must be a message that lasts, that is remembered!

Like all great art formed from the spirit it will find its place among the right people. There is no way that a message this strongly won’t find itself being pushed back, but it stands as the type of timeless music that will continue to wake listeners up, at least that is what I think. How do you navigate expressing controversial or provocative views in your music while keeping it artistically grounded?
If my lyrics are true expressions of what I think and feel everything else will naturally fall into place.

That is fair. Do you see Nullus Rex as a long-term project, or as a vehicle for this specific era of political expression?
Many years ago, a literary agent told me a story about an editor who was complaining her clients’ novels were too deep, dark and depressing because they depicted individuals or groups within society whose real-life problems were hard-hitting and difficult to deal with. The editor wondered when this agent was going to stop sending her the heart-hitting stories because they were too depressing. The agent’s answer was simple. “I’ll stop sending when the underrepresented individuals no longer had real-life, dark, deep and depressing stories to tell.”

To me, the correlation to this project is simple…… I’ll stop writing politically charged lyrics when I feel our leaders will listen to the citizens of this country and when we no longer need to worry about a dictator or wannabe king claiming false power as well as an unwillingness to relinquish it.

I didn’t plan on getting my inspiration through an interview today, but I must tell you that what you just said is one of the greatest promises we must make to both ourselves and others when we choose to walk the path of artists. Until the job is done, we keep showing up. No compromising. How do you hope your listeners respond. reflection, action, debate, or something else?
How about all of the above. And, in no particular order. I say that because while listening each person is in a different place both physically and emotionally, whether because of age, income, educational background, life experience, or something else, all of which will most definitely impact how the song affects them. If the piece simply serves to start a debate with some, yet motivates actions in others, then I feel I will have reached them and that that particular goal will have been met.

It makes perfect sense that any reaction to your music is a victory for the art you have created and the message you are trying to put out there. What artists or movements influenced the political tone of your music?
Dave: Political protest songs of the 1960s and artist such as Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, CCR, and John Lennon, to name a few. They were all unapologetic and let their beliefs be their guide. Because of that, their music is timeless.

It does take certain personality types to push against a system, and historically speaking, musicians have been some of the bravest creators to create changes in ever changing political climates. What can fans expect next from Nullus Rex, both musically and thematically?
More of the same!

Fair enough, and honestly, that is what we want after hearing your single The Upside Down. Thank you so much for the insightful and inspirational interview. I look forward to seeing your exciting project grow from here, and I have no doubt that you will be creating an important dialogue among listeners who hear your music.

Most interviews end with the final question, but I do feel that the readers and yourself deserve to share and hear more about you and why you have created Nullus Rex. With that in mind, you have the mic, let’s go deeper.
After graduating high school I spent one year in college before enlisting in the United States Air Force. While in the service, in 1983, I broke my neck in a diving accident. Since that time I’ve worked as a social worker, teacher, and other odd jobs. I was always passionate about regaining my ability to walk. It took 13 years before I stood for the first time, (link included separately) but learned to ambulate with assistance as far as 400 feet. I’m married for 39 years, have raised six children, and currently am raising one of my grandchildren.

Politically, I served 20 years, 2000 through 2020, as a local school director, a volunteer position overseeing what was at that time, $100 million budget. It was a position that also required equal signatures from both political parties before running for office. In other words, theoretically, the position was politically neutral. Having said that, I was known for my ability to listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision.

Because of my political involvement, and because my teaching degree specialized in history, I took more of an interest in politics man most. Having said that, prior to 2015, my knowledge of Donald Trump was limited to what I had heard on the television or read in news clips regarding his wealth and real estate empire. It was only when he announced his candidacy for president that I began to pay more detailed attention.

As a fellow veteran, I listened with disgust when Donald Trump spoke negatively about US Sen. and Vietnam prisoner of war and hero, John McCain. Donald Trump said, “He lost, so I never liked him as much after that, ‘cause I don’t like losers.”Then he continued, “He’s not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.”

Any chance of garnering my vote was lost after that. He further muddied the water in terms of my respect by continuing to disparage the media, throw insults at the judicial system and speak outright lies about his political opponents. One of his theories, I believe, is to repeat a lie often enough so that it becomes truth. If you read history as I have done, for example, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH, by William Scheier, you will see that is a tactic used by authoritarians throughout history, perhaps most notably, Germany’s fascist dictator, Adolf Hitler.

Fast forward to January 6, 2021. Ms. Cheney, a Republican member of Congress summed up Donald Trump’s actions best. “President Trump summoned the mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of the attack.”

I was heartbroken and furious to witness the attacks, as I believe was most of our country. I believe Donald Trump, at the very least, should have become a political pariah, and most probably jailed for inciting an insurrection. However, Representative Kevin McCarthy traveled to Florida shortly after the attack, an event that in my opinion changed the course of history and allowed for one of the most unforeseen political comebacks. Because of that, Donald Trump once again rose in prominence. Each day he once again stoked the flames of authoritarianism, this time gathering a larger following. He continued to malign our justice system, criticize all political opponents with outright falsehoods and lies, and denigrate the media. In short, he continued the disparaging comments he began while running for president, as well as when serving in office throughout his first term. To me, he was setting the stage for an authoritarian regime he wants to lead, an opinion I share with many.

Throughout, I kept my political opinions private, except when dealing with close friends and relatives but, I could stay silent no longer when in February of this year, 2025, Donald Trump sent the message from his truth social account with an image of him as king. This was followed by the White House putting that image on a mock cover of Time magazine. Once I saw that I could stay silent no longer. I sat at my computer and wrote, The Upside Down.

Incidentally, the piece may have just sat on my computer but, after reading it to some long-time close friends, they stated it matched their feelings exactly. They encouraged me to get the lyrics to Stacy. Fortunately, he loved it. When Stacy and I first spoke about the project for Nullus Rex I told him I thought that the message needed to be made public quickly. I wanted the message to be pounded home, which is why we decided on rock music as the delivery vehicle.

As mentioned, I once kept my political opinions private. Now, with what is happening in our society, especially the way I see this president trying to grab power, I’m hoping for this project to touch as many people as possible who feel the same way as I. Actually, I would like for others who don’t feel as I to be touched by it as well…… Perhaps to change their opinion.

In the 1960s rock music was the vehicle for change, and in fact, was one of the leading factors for bringing the Vietnam war to an end. I hope the messages contained within can begin to wake people up to the dangerous rhetoric and actions of this president. I hope they will shed light on other problems within society. Having said that, I hope it will begin to heal the great divide that has come about since 2015 when Donald Trump descended the escalator and announced his candidacy for presidency.

In reality I am more skeptical because I think the problems are much deeper than just the presidency. In 2015, had the Republican leaders in Congress simply stated the truth instead of letting Donald Trump get away with lying and bullying we may not have had him as president. Having said that, it was their fear, their silence, their complacency that allowed his rise to power. It was their fear, their silence, their complacency that allowed his return to power. It is their fear, their silence and their complacency that allows him to do what he does now. If I am to be remembered, it’s not as someone who cowered with fear, or remained silent and complacent.

But it is just not the Republican Congress. When I enlisted in the military I swore an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States. My loyalties were not to be with one president or one political party. It was the same each time I was sworn in as a member of the Board of Directors. Each member of Congress has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. I think many of them, Republicans and Democrats have forgotten. At times they seem more loyal to the red or the blue instead of to the Constitution they swore to uphold.

America is a great country and I love it. No other country in history has offered so much to so many. No other country’s citizens have given so much so willingly. I do not want to see what we have, what so many have fought and died for to be lost. I hope for it to be maintained and improved. I hope that my lyrics, paired with the music Stacy creates, can be the impetus for those things to happen.

CHECK OUT NULLUS REX AT WWW.NULLUSREX.COM