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Thursday, May 1, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
JB Nelson
South West Scotland. JB Nelson is in the basement and is playing
death country. Sleepy Eyes Nelson is on the front porch and is playing country
blues. Longshot Nelson is in the wild and is playing regionalist folklore. The
Nelsons is a single-parent family with no kids. Because, like the musketeers
and some non dualist mystics, these three are one.
JB Nelson's
dark country music has obsessively accompanied me these last three years. I
really love it. I began absolutely fascinated by it and even more curious about
its mysterious author. Give it a try, you could be surprised.
Note : At the time of the interview, I wasn't fully aware that JB Nelson
and Sleepy Eyes Nelson were the same guy. That is the only reason why I never
mentioned Sleepy Eyes in the questions (but his country blues sweet music is
good as well).
CHRONOLOGY
- At the beginning, it seems that there was a
band called Baby Jane. Is there any recordings available ?
You’ve done your research
You’ve done your research
There will
be some recordings floating around Glasgow
that some people might have. I have a lot of Baby Jane recordings
somewhere but I don’t intend on releasing any of it.
- Where and when did Baby Jane begin ? Why did it end ? Was it fun ?
The band was formed in Glasgow. I can’t remember exactly when, it was a long time ago. The band ended because it was just time to move on. It seemed like we’d done all we could with it. I was probably writing more songs that suited what eventually became the Chainsaws.
- We then find "JB Nelson & the Chainsaws" on Devil's Ruin Records. How did it happened ? (it seems to me that The Chainsaws were Baby Jane minus one, am I right ?)
Yes you are right
It was about the time of Myspace. We probably submitted our songs to Devil’s Ruin and everything just went on from there.
- Also on Devil's Ruin Records, "Weeping willows" + 3 Sleepy Eyes Nelson albums and guest appearances on "Rodentagogue" compilation. Was it satisfying ? Did it bring something in your life (contacts, connections, friendship) ?
Yes it was satisfying to be on Devil’s Ruin. I got many contacts , discovered some great music and made friendships out of it. The label helped bring my music to a wider audience.
- Near the end of the label's life (2009 ?), Devil's Ruin announced a JB Nelson double album ("A letter to my enemies"). An album (not a double) was later released on Cheap Wine (and some more tracks on the JB Nelson/Static Goat split). Still, looking at the tracklist revealed by Devil's Ruins, I've found the following missing tracks :
08. Woke Up with the Gambling Blues, 11. Lying on the Ground, 05. You Better Keep Your Head Down, 07. It Said Green But They Ran Me Over, 09. Town Full of Drunken Buzzards, 12. Nothing Here, 15. This Calls for a Rope, 16. Bad Man Got Religion
Will these tracks be available any day ?
At this time I have no plans to release any of the songs you’ve mentioned.
Although “Nothing Here” is actually on a split I did with The Mussy Cluves.
I decided to cut back on the amount of songs for A Letter To My Enemies. I felt the album was too long and would be better if it was shorter.
- How did Cheap Wine records begin ? How well does it do ? Is there a world domination plan (or some more modest motives) behind it ?
I started Cheap Wine Records around the time Devil’s Ruin went out of business. It’s a small DIY Label and I plan on keeping it that way.
The label has recently been doing quite well and I’ve had a bit more time to expand on it by adding more artists.
It’s an alternative label with many different genres. We’ve got a lot of good quality underground music on there.
We’ve recently released a free compilation called “A Taste Of Cheap Wine”. The idea is to provide free and cheap downloads along with some cool DIY packages to help promote our artists.
We also use some underground photographers and artists for the artwork of the albums.
It’s a collective, and anyone who is on or contributes to the label is very much part of the Cheap Wine stable.
- Where and when did Baby Jane begin ? Why did it end ? Was it fun ?
The band was formed in Glasgow. I can’t remember exactly when, it was a long time ago. The band ended because it was just time to move on. It seemed like we’d done all we could with it. I was probably writing more songs that suited what eventually became the Chainsaws.
- We then find "JB Nelson & the Chainsaws" on Devil's Ruin Records. How did it happened ? (it seems to me that The Chainsaws were Baby Jane minus one, am I right ?)
Yes you are right
It was about the time of Myspace. We probably submitted our songs to Devil’s Ruin and everything just went on from there.
- Also on Devil's Ruin Records, "Weeping willows" + 3 Sleepy Eyes Nelson albums and guest appearances on "Rodentagogue" compilation. Was it satisfying ? Did it bring something in your life (contacts, connections, friendship) ?
Yes it was satisfying to be on Devil’s Ruin. I got many contacts , discovered some great music and made friendships out of it. The label helped bring my music to a wider audience.
- Near the end of the label's life (2009 ?), Devil's Ruin announced a JB Nelson double album ("A letter to my enemies"). An album (not a double) was later released on Cheap Wine (and some more tracks on the JB Nelson/Static Goat split). Still, looking at the tracklist revealed by Devil's Ruins, I've found the following missing tracks :
08. Woke Up with the Gambling Blues, 11. Lying on the Ground, 05. You Better Keep Your Head Down, 07. It Said Green But They Ran Me Over, 09. Town Full of Drunken Buzzards, 12. Nothing Here, 15. This Calls for a Rope, 16. Bad Man Got Religion
Will these tracks be available any day ?
At this time I have no plans to release any of the songs you’ve mentioned.
Although “Nothing Here” is actually on a split I did with The Mussy Cluves.
I decided to cut back on the amount of songs for A Letter To My Enemies. I felt the album was too long and would be better if it was shorter.
- How did Cheap Wine records begin ? How well does it do ? Is there a world domination plan (or some more modest motives) behind it ?
I started Cheap Wine Records around the time Devil’s Ruin went out of business. It’s a small DIY Label and I plan on keeping it that way.
The label has recently been doing quite well and I’ve had a bit more time to expand on it by adding more artists.
It’s an alternative label with many different genres. We’ve got a lot of good quality underground music on there.
We’ve recently released a free compilation called “A Taste Of Cheap Wine”. The idea is to provide free and cheap downloads along with some cool DIY packages to help promote our artists.
We also use some underground photographers and artists for the artwork of the albums.
It’s a collective, and anyone who is on or contributes to the label is very much part of the Cheap Wine stable.
ABOUT SCOTLAND
- Did you grow up in the country or in the city (or in between) ?
I grew up in a small town in the south west of Scotland in Ayrshire called Girvan. I moved there when I was three from Newton Stewart, another small town in Wigtownshire. It’s a weird wee town but it looks nice. Surrounded by lots of countryside with hills on one side and the sea on the other.
- A Swiss writer (Nicolas Bouvier) quote someone about the people of Scotland (though he travelled merely around the East Coast and near Edinburgh) in one of his article (Travel in the Lowlands) :
"People here hate to talk about themselves, they speak the least possible and they consider a simple throat clearing as a manifestation of superfluous vanity"
- Did you grow up in the country or in the city (or in between) ?
I grew up in a small town in the south west of Scotland in Ayrshire called Girvan. I moved there when I was three from Newton Stewart, another small town in Wigtownshire. It’s a weird wee town but it looks nice. Surrounded by lots of countryside with hills on one side and the sea on the other.
- A Swiss writer (Nicolas Bouvier) quote someone about the people of Scotland (though he travelled merely around the East Coast and near Edinburgh) in one of his article (Travel in the Lowlands) :
"People here hate to talk about themselves, they speak the least possible and they consider a simple throat clearing as a manifestation of superfluous vanity"
Would
you agree with that statement ?
Maybe.
Everyone is different, but I can give an example of a man I met in the
north of Scotland.
He asked where I was from and I told him Ayrshire. He said
“Ayrshire ?! My Dad was an Ayrshire man” He then went on to tell me how
his Dad never spoke to him the whole time he was growing up. I asked,
“Did you not know your dad then?”, thinking he’d maybe left when he was young.
He said, “No I knew him and he lived with us, he just never spoke to me”
We laughed about it.
- Longshot
Nelson & The Disjoints focus on Scotland (stories, history, legends,
tales, poems, traditional songs, etc.), though sticking perfectly with the
"dark" mood of JB Nelson. Why did you choose to do that thing ? Where
do you get your inspiration from (books ? oral stories ?) ?
I had already done the Scottish side of things under the JB Nelson name. I had done a cover of Matt McGinn’s The Dundee Ghost. It’s still on YouTube somewhere. I also did Ewan MacColl’s Ballad of Timothy Evans. So I had already touched on it. I decided I wanted to expand on it so I started Longshot Nelson and the Disjoints.
Myths and Legends stories are a big influence. Also being from Girvan the story of Sawney Bean is a massive inspiration on my music for both JB and Longshot. I’ve recorded a few songs about him. The cave where he lived is just down the road from where I grew up.
- That typical Scottish inspiration was already there at the time "Black horse saloon". Though "Black horse saloon" was still spreading a picture of "fantasized America", the Scottish element was growing underneath. That Scottish part, how important is it to you ?
I like doing it, I like to sing the Scottish songs.
It’s as important to me as all the music I make.
- I think Longshot Nelson & The Disjoints is one rare achievement of "folklore music". It has emancipated from outside influences. It is pure "folklore" (without the exotic touch that usually lead it either to the museum or to mockery). I mean : it's alive, it's authentic ! Even if the voice is quite forced (Scottish accent), it doesn't make the music parodic or silly. It works.
Does that sound as a compliment ?
Yes that sounds like a compliment.
- I was once interested in the birth of Rock'n'Roll and, following the tracks, I was led to read about Appalachia ("Some real American music" by Emma Bell Miles). As a large part of Appalachian people ancestors are Irish/Scottish emigrants, we can affirm that the Scottish invented Rock'n'Roll. How do you feel about that assert ?
Johnny Lowebow (One Man Band from Memphis) once told me you can trace everything back to Scotland, so yeah why not.
ABOUT JB NELSON
- An easy one : what are your main influences ?
My surroundings and where I grew up are a massive influence on my writing and my sound. Scottish people, the drunks, Glasgow, Ayrshire and the weirdness of some of the small towns there.
My musical influences are so varied and there are really too many to mention. I like all kinds of music. I can tell you that I listen to a lot of country music, the real stuff not the crap. I like classic country, George Jones would be my favourite. For me he is the king of Country. I was brought up listening to that stuff.
- How about movies ? There are also these two tracks inspired by "The Wicker Man". Any words about that ?
The Wicker Man is a definite inspiration for both Longshot and JB. Parts of that film were shot where I come from. My uncle was even an extra in that film - he was one of the kids dancing round the maypole. My mum also served the cast of the film in a chip shop where she worked. I’m sure she said Christopher Lee was a very nice man. Brit Eckland is quoted as saying that part of Scotland was “hell on earth” I thought that was funny.
I had already done the Scottish side of things under the JB Nelson name. I had done a cover of Matt McGinn’s The Dundee Ghost. It’s still on YouTube somewhere. I also did Ewan MacColl’s Ballad of Timothy Evans. So I had already touched on it. I decided I wanted to expand on it so I started Longshot Nelson and the Disjoints.
Myths and Legends stories are a big influence. Also being from Girvan the story of Sawney Bean is a massive inspiration on my music for both JB and Longshot. I’ve recorded a few songs about him. The cave where he lived is just down the road from where I grew up.
- That typical Scottish inspiration was already there at the time "Black horse saloon". Though "Black horse saloon" was still spreading a picture of "fantasized America", the Scottish element was growing underneath. That Scottish part, how important is it to you ?
I like doing it, I like to sing the Scottish songs.
It’s as important to me as all the music I make.
- I think Longshot Nelson & The Disjoints is one rare achievement of "folklore music". It has emancipated from outside influences. It is pure "folklore" (without the exotic touch that usually lead it either to the museum or to mockery). I mean : it's alive, it's authentic ! Even if the voice is quite forced (Scottish accent), it doesn't make the music parodic or silly. It works.
Does that sound as a compliment ?
Yes that sounds like a compliment.
- I was once interested in the birth of Rock'n'Roll and, following the tracks, I was led to read about Appalachia ("Some real American music" by Emma Bell Miles). As a large part of Appalachian people ancestors are Irish/Scottish emigrants, we can affirm that the Scottish invented Rock'n'Roll. How do you feel about that assert ?
Johnny Lowebow (One Man Band from Memphis) once told me you can trace everything back to Scotland, so yeah why not.
ABOUT JB NELSON
- An easy one : what are your main influences ?
My surroundings and where I grew up are a massive influence on my writing and my sound. Scottish people, the drunks, Glasgow, Ayrshire and the weirdness of some of the small towns there.
My musical influences are so varied and there are really too many to mention. I like all kinds of music. I can tell you that I listen to a lot of country music, the real stuff not the crap. I like classic country, George Jones would be my favourite. For me he is the king of Country. I was brought up listening to that stuff.
- How about movies ? There are also these two tracks inspired by "The Wicker Man". Any words about that ?
The Wicker Man is a definite inspiration for both Longshot and JB. Parts of that film were shot where I come from. My uncle was even an extra in that film - he was one of the kids dancing round the maypole. My mum also served the cast of the film in a chip shop where she worked. I’m sure she said Christopher Lee was a very nice man. Brit Eckland is quoted as saying that part of Scotland was “hell on earth” I thought that was funny.
Also a
Scottish film called Red Road.
The tone is perfect. It’s just what Glasgow is like.
Books ?
I Lived To Tell It All the George Jones autobiography.
Maybe not as much of an inspiration on my music but a damn fine book none the less.
Along the years, I noticed that the music that I like the most and has accompanied me for the longest time has something to do with intimacy. I find that intimate feeling in JB Nelson's songs. I consider "Weeping willows" as a masterpiece and most of the following songs are awesome too (to say the least). The whole mood is dark but, as a depressive, I can relate to that darkness. I can also sense a substance of honesty, dignity and generosity in these songs.
By honesty, I mean "no hypocrisy". An example : singing "People are bad" in "Kiss the hand you can't bite". It's pure. No sham. It is something I want to say, based on my own experience. But I do not. I censor myself. I am not honest with myself. And hearing someone sing it this way, simply, powerfully, it is liberating to me.
All your songs have this kind of simplicity & power. It's universal.
It's the top of the cream to me. It's gifted songwriting in the most classic way.
In the old Baby Jane myspace page, you were quoting Leonard Cohen, Velvet Underground, Hank Williams as influences. I mean "classic" in that traditional line.
Books ?
I Lived To Tell It All the George Jones autobiography.
Maybe not as much of an inspiration on my music but a damn fine book none the less.
Along the years, I noticed that the music that I like the most and has accompanied me for the longest time has something to do with intimacy. I find that intimate feeling in JB Nelson's songs. I consider "Weeping willows" as a masterpiece and most of the following songs are awesome too (to say the least). The whole mood is dark but, as a depressive, I can relate to that darkness. I can also sense a substance of honesty, dignity and generosity in these songs.
By honesty, I mean "no hypocrisy". An example : singing "People are bad" in "Kiss the hand you can't bite". It's pure. No sham. It is something I want to say, based on my own experience. But I do not. I censor myself. I am not honest with myself. And hearing someone sing it this way, simply, powerfully, it is liberating to me.
All your songs have this kind of simplicity & power. It's universal.
It's the top of the cream to me. It's gifted songwriting in the most classic way.
In the old Baby Jane myspace page, you were quoting Leonard Cohen, Velvet Underground, Hank Williams as influences. I mean "classic" in that traditional line.
I know,
this is not a proper question, just a fuzzy rant.
- Let's put the question this way : most gothic-country (or death country or whatever you name it) bands are noteworthy by dealing with wicked imagery (murder, inbreeding, deformity, twisted religion, perversion, freaky facts, or mere E.C Comics transposition) while JB Nelson integrates all this in a more personal, intimate & subtle manner. Is it conscious ?
It just seems to come out that way. I try to stay true to myself, not just in my song writing but in all walks of life. To say it’s gifted song writing in a classic way is probably the biggest compliment I’ve ever received. I’m not an intellectual type and I’m not very well educated, but I am a thinker. That’s just the way it comes out and if it’s in a simple, classic way then I’m more than happy with that.
- Let's talk about the industrial/noise part. I don't get it. I usually skip these tracks. I know the exhortation of Lester Bangs to listen to the entire "Sister Ray" piece and I read his article about "Metal music machine". I just don't agree with him. What is the purpose of offering that kind of stuff ?
Again, I’m just being true to myself. I like it so that’s why I do it.
I’m a creative person and experimental music for me is some of the most rewarding to make. There’s a lot of freedom in it.
I nearly always put an experimental/noise track as the opening to my albums. I know it annoys some people, but knowing that kind of makes me happy. I get a kick out of it. I do it to weed out the cunts. The musical snobs if you like. It’s part of what I do.
You mentioned before that “Weeping Willows” (my first album) was “a Classic”. Well that album as you know has a good few experimental/noisy tracks on it, like the first track The Dead Walk The Streets. Credit to you that you made it through the first song. Even though you don’t like that sound, you stuck with it and came to the conclusion that the album was a classic. Maybe that means you’re a fan worth keeping.
- I also suppose that there are people who listen to JB Nelson exclusively for these industrial/noisy tracks and who dislike the country parts. Does that happen sometimes ?
Yes it does, it gets it’s fair share of downloads, as much as everything else.
- Speaking strictly music, there is also a third direction in "Dead Coats Pt1" with three sweet instrumental tracks. Will you explore that direction in the future ?
Yes I probably will.
- Alcohol is recurrent in your songs. Local brew ?
There is a distillery outside my hometown that makes Whisky. My brew is Tennent’s Lager though and sometimes Black Rum. People say the Tennent’s is piss water but what’s a poor musician like me going to drink? A bottle of Cristal? I don’t think so. Even if I could afford to drink that I’d still have a pint of Tennent’s anyway.
- JB Nelson does not show his face, neither does gigs. Is it deliberate ?
I’ve played on the radio before. I’ve got a face for the radio. That’s probably why I don’t show my face much.
- What does the Glasgow area scene look like ?
Lots of bands and live music pretty much every night of the week.
- The same little circle of friends (Julie Smith, Mussy Cluves, Slate Dump) seems to be around along the years. Any kind words to say about these people ? Other people ?
The people you have mentioned I do consider to be my friends. Julie Smith is a brilliant photographer and her photos add a lot of class to the look of Cheap Wine Records. The Mussy Cluves are one of my favourite bands and a great bunch of guys. They are going from strength to strength with their music.
Slate Dump is also a close friend of mine. He’s also a talented songster, he can play you anything.
Other people I’d like to mention are mostly the folk on Cheap Wine Records.
C.J Marie is one of the best singers/songwriters I’ve ever heard.
Pigeon Petal who I’ve recently done a split album with makes some of the best dark/ambient music I’ve heard also.
There’s Roberto LeBlanc, his weird lounge style comedy is different class. I listen to it constantly. It’s so good.
Static Goat is also a good friend. We just did a split together. His stuff is great. I love that experimental side.
I also have a friend in Texas, Mike Snow who writes some songs for me and recently wrote Blood Red which is on my album Made Out Of Gold.
And El Demento, who is based in Austin and does the Smooth and Demented Show. He has always played my music on the radio and been a supporter of it since the beginning. He’s also written a song which will be on a split album that I’m currently working on with Carmen Lee.
I consider all these people to be my friends and I’m honoured to know and work with so many talented people.
- Were you from the start accustomed with the D-I-Y way ? How did you see Internet mixing the rules ? (I mean, in the old time, we used stamps, recycled packages and envelops, it had quite a charm : I'm sometimes nostalgic, which shows clearly I'm an old fart)
Internet : is it a good thing or a bad thing ?
I’ve always been into the D.I.Y side of things. Artwork, CD’s and recording. I record all my music at home. I’m just not into expensive recording studios. It’s amazing to me how going into an expensive studio can make your music sound so bad. They seem to take the life and soul out of it. I’ve been there in the past with bands, it’s not for me.
As for the internet, I think it’s a good thing. If it wasn’t for the internet my music probably wouldn’t have reached a wider audience. So I like it.
- JB Nelson, The Disjoints, Sleepy Eyes. Is it a symptom of MPD (multiple personalities disease) ? How do you deal with this three different projects ?
My mind can be quite chaotic at times. But sometimes I think that’s just my creative side trying to burst out. So then what you get is JB the Disjoints and Sleepy.
I’m constantly playing the guitar. I rarely have it out of my hands. It’s a sickness. I have so many guitar parts, melodies and lyrics scribbled on bits of paper all over my house ready to be made into songs. Then on top of that they are all in different genres like country, blues, folk, experimental. It seems to come together eventually and fall into the right place and once it does the mind can rest.
- I think (I'm not sure) you has also a graphic activity (paintings ? collages ? drawings ?)
I do drawings . It’s just something I do from time to time because I get the urge to do it. Some of my drawings are floating around online somewhere.
- Are you a full-time artist ?
At the moment, yes
- Any final words of wisdom ?
I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank you for letting me talk.
I’d also like to say for readers to check out Cheap Wine Records, I hope it leads you to some exciting new underground music.
Keep supporting honest independent music. There’s a lot of great stuff out there to be found.
- Let's put the question this way : most gothic-country (or death country or whatever you name it) bands are noteworthy by dealing with wicked imagery (murder, inbreeding, deformity, twisted religion, perversion, freaky facts, or mere E.C Comics transposition) while JB Nelson integrates all this in a more personal, intimate & subtle manner. Is it conscious ?
It just seems to come out that way. I try to stay true to myself, not just in my song writing but in all walks of life. To say it’s gifted song writing in a classic way is probably the biggest compliment I’ve ever received. I’m not an intellectual type and I’m not very well educated, but I am a thinker. That’s just the way it comes out and if it’s in a simple, classic way then I’m more than happy with that.
- Let's talk about the industrial/noise part. I don't get it. I usually skip these tracks. I know the exhortation of Lester Bangs to listen to the entire "Sister Ray" piece and I read his article about "Metal music machine". I just don't agree with him. What is the purpose of offering that kind of stuff ?
Again, I’m just being true to myself. I like it so that’s why I do it.
I’m a creative person and experimental music for me is some of the most rewarding to make. There’s a lot of freedom in it.
I nearly always put an experimental/noise track as the opening to my albums. I know it annoys some people, but knowing that kind of makes me happy. I get a kick out of it. I do it to weed out the cunts. The musical snobs if you like. It’s part of what I do.
You mentioned before that “Weeping Willows” (my first album) was “a Classic”. Well that album as you know has a good few experimental/noisy tracks on it, like the first track The Dead Walk The Streets. Credit to you that you made it through the first song. Even though you don’t like that sound, you stuck with it and came to the conclusion that the album was a classic. Maybe that means you’re a fan worth keeping.
- I also suppose that there are people who listen to JB Nelson exclusively for these industrial/noisy tracks and who dislike the country parts. Does that happen sometimes ?
Yes it does, it gets it’s fair share of downloads, as much as everything else.
- Speaking strictly music, there is also a third direction in "Dead Coats Pt1" with three sweet instrumental tracks. Will you explore that direction in the future ?
Yes I probably will.
- Alcohol is recurrent in your songs. Local brew ?
There is a distillery outside my hometown that makes Whisky. My brew is Tennent’s Lager though and sometimes Black Rum. People say the Tennent’s is piss water but what’s a poor musician like me going to drink? A bottle of Cristal? I don’t think so. Even if I could afford to drink that I’d still have a pint of Tennent’s anyway.
- JB Nelson does not show his face, neither does gigs. Is it deliberate ?
I’ve played on the radio before. I’ve got a face for the radio. That’s probably why I don’t show my face much.
- What does the Glasgow area scene look like ?
Lots of bands and live music pretty much every night of the week.
- The same little circle of friends (Julie Smith, Mussy Cluves, Slate Dump) seems to be around along the years. Any kind words to say about these people ? Other people ?
The people you have mentioned I do consider to be my friends. Julie Smith is a brilliant photographer and her photos add a lot of class to the look of Cheap Wine Records. The Mussy Cluves are one of my favourite bands and a great bunch of guys. They are going from strength to strength with their music.
Slate Dump is also a close friend of mine. He’s also a talented songster, he can play you anything.
Other people I’d like to mention are mostly the folk on Cheap Wine Records.
C.J Marie is one of the best singers/songwriters I’ve ever heard.
Pigeon Petal who I’ve recently done a split album with makes some of the best dark/ambient music I’ve heard also.
There’s Roberto LeBlanc, his weird lounge style comedy is different class. I listen to it constantly. It’s so good.
Static Goat is also a good friend. We just did a split together. His stuff is great. I love that experimental side.
I also have a friend in Texas, Mike Snow who writes some songs for me and recently wrote Blood Red which is on my album Made Out Of Gold.
And El Demento, who is based in Austin and does the Smooth and Demented Show. He has always played my music on the radio and been a supporter of it since the beginning. He’s also written a song which will be on a split album that I’m currently working on with Carmen Lee.
I consider all these people to be my friends and I’m honoured to know and work with so many talented people.
- Were you from the start accustomed with the D-I-Y way ? How did you see Internet mixing the rules ? (I mean, in the old time, we used stamps, recycled packages and envelops, it had quite a charm : I'm sometimes nostalgic, which shows clearly I'm an old fart)
Internet : is it a good thing or a bad thing ?
I’ve always been into the D.I.Y side of things. Artwork, CD’s and recording. I record all my music at home. I’m just not into expensive recording studios. It’s amazing to me how going into an expensive studio can make your music sound so bad. They seem to take the life and soul out of it. I’ve been there in the past with bands, it’s not for me.
As for the internet, I think it’s a good thing. If it wasn’t for the internet my music probably wouldn’t have reached a wider audience. So I like it.
- JB Nelson, The Disjoints, Sleepy Eyes. Is it a symptom of MPD (multiple personalities disease) ? How do you deal with this three different projects ?
My mind can be quite chaotic at times. But sometimes I think that’s just my creative side trying to burst out. So then what you get is JB the Disjoints and Sleepy.
I’m constantly playing the guitar. I rarely have it out of my hands. It’s a sickness. I have so many guitar parts, melodies and lyrics scribbled on bits of paper all over my house ready to be made into songs. Then on top of that they are all in different genres like country, blues, folk, experimental. It seems to come together eventually and fall into the right place and once it does the mind can rest.
- I think (I'm not sure) you has also a graphic activity (paintings ? collages ? drawings ?)
I do drawings . It’s just something I do from time to time because I get the urge to do it. Some of my drawings are floating around online somewhere.
- Are you a full-time artist ?
At the moment, yes
- Any final words of wisdom ?
I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank you for letting me talk.
I’d also like to say for readers to check out Cheap Wine Records, I hope it leads you to some exciting new underground music.
Keep supporting honest independent music. There’s a lot of great stuff out there to be found.
(Interview done through mail, january /
february 2014)
Links :
Cheap Wine Records
JB Nelson
The Smooth and Demented Show
Links :
Cheap Wine Records
JB Nelson
The Smooth and Demented Show
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