We're thrilled to welcome Brooklyn's Susan Moon to Live Sessions on August 14th, 2021. And this session is available exclusively via preorder! Here's how it works: We'll cut a 7" lathe cut vinyl record of a song of your choosing for each person that orders between now and the session date. No two records will be the same and only one copy of each will be made. Your record will include a one-of-a-kind performance from the band, cut specifically for you.
ARTIST ALEX NICOL ON DEBUT ALBUM, ALL FOR NADA, AND HIS LATEST MUSIC VIDEO COLLABORATION, “TWO TIMES A CHARM”
WATCH HERE
When did you first start releasing music?
The first recorded music I released was around 2012. I was the singer and guitarist in a three-piece guitar pop band called kurvi tasch. We released an EP called “Post-Retro” around 2012, a couple songs a year later, and an LP a year or so after that, called “On Firm Ground.” If you’d like to hear the EP and single I can probably arrange that (I think the recordings are on my computer somewhere). In the meanwhile, you can watch a live video we did where we play one of the songs off the single.
When did you start making music?
I started jamming with my friends around 16/17. Before that I was making all kinds of other music though. I was in a boys choir as a kind; I played the piano up to grade 6 or 7 conservatory level; and I went to an arts high school where my focus was the alto saxophone (I wound up getting into classical saxophone, an unusual move for an instrument that practically everyone associates with jazz).
What previous ideas led to the making of this album (All for Nada)?
I always wanted to find a way to incorporate my partner Nada in my creative process, and we achieved it with the making of this album. There are two reasons why I wanted to include her. The first is that I think that I think she is a creative genius - like when she knows something clicks or works she really knows it, and knows it is good, no matter the trends are or what her preferences are - and so to be able to work together with her was inspiring. The funny part is that she does not play any instruments. I would do all the recording, show her where I was taking a song, and she would comment on it. Her feedback very much steered the sounds on the album. The second reason I wanted to work closely with Nada has more to do with the role intimate partnership plays in the creative process. I think that partners of artists are crucial pillars in the creative process of any artist. They listen, support, offer feedback, console, motivate, inspire, and so much more while the artist is working away on their craft. I think that so much of this work - I guess we could call it emotional labor? - goes unnoticed, sometimes by the artist themselves, but mostly by society at large. We tried to bring the contribution a partner makes to the art into the center of the process; to make the collaboration / conversation a central theme, a generative force.
In terms of musical ideas, not many old musical ideas were incorporated. I actually decided to record at a studio before having enough songs written. The deadline helped me get new ideas together. I never really saved my ideas for songs before the making of this record; even for the next record, which I’m working on now, I will probably not recall many ideas older than a year or so.
Is there a concept you were working with?
I think what I wrote about should suffice for concept stuff, though I think it’s important to add that the concept of working with Nada as a producer occurred naturally during the making of the record. We did not start out from day 1 with the concept of her and I working on this thing built-in. Her role evolved naturally as I struggled with the songs.
In an indigenous village in Northern Japan, sensitive 14-year-old Kanto takes his first steps towards manhood as a debate brews among the community about a controversial ceremony.
Ainu Mosir, Script I edited for indie filmmaker Takeshi Fukunaga was released through Ava Duvernay’s Array, and nominated for the John Cassavetes Independent Spirit Award.
In light of the current quarantine and the strangeness of it all, I'd love to figure out film and video collaborations, offer my script writing and editing services, or try to offer art direction and related guidance. I'm also interested in writing and looking for more ways to do it, articles, essays, photos and all. Message me through Tumblr or at me email ([email protected]) if you'd like to work together!
A groundbreaking trans filmmaker and actor whose work has screened around the world, Isabel is working on her third feature following the success of 2019 film Lingua Franca.
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