Nostalgist - Present: Tense, Noir and Disaffected

The13th AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO 44

UNA R E VISTA IMA GINARIA

NOSTALGIST PRESENT: TENSE, NOIR AND DISAFFECTED

[ Interview with Nostalgist by Pablo Müllner.

Photographs: Shane WIlliams ]

PRESENT: TENSE, NOIR AND DISAFFECTED

Nostalgist is a Seattle rock band, it formed in 2012 and has released two albums “Of loves and days ago” in 2015 and “Monochromatic” an EP of 2013. Well, those old times may be over… They are not gone, not at all. But to be more accurate these (cold) days Nostalgist is more of one-man band or solo project (let´s ask) of talented guitarist, vocalist, plus multi-instrumentalist Asa Eisenhardt. So there must be nothing to be nostalgic about in musical terms, THE Nostalgist is back and sounding sharper and more inspired than in the past with “Disaffection”, an album which is just about to be released, and which can ordered via his bandcamp: https://nostalgist.bandcamp.com/

Disaffection is an interesting title, thought-provoking, it came full circle when I read you made reference to a dissolved relationship. Then there is the meaning which may suggest a “lack of affection” “a fresh attitude”… Did you had both sides in mind when it came across? Did you think you were more “affected” in the past?

I guess I was just seeking out a title that carried the right weight and captured the lyrical theme of division. And anything with the prefix "dis" has a sort of heaviness, because you know that it inverts whatever word follows it.

Also, all three Nostalgist releases have something related to love or emotions in their titles, which I didn't realize until recently but really dig.

Hello, Asa, is great to “meet” you! I´ve been listening to the preview of Disaffection and I was very impressed, it sounds really spellbinding, both as work of sound and texture experimentation and in terms of song craft. I´ve read that´s the very first music that you composed all by yourself.

How did you feel during the process?

Greetings, Pablo! Pleased to meet you as well, thank you for your kind words.

I felt both liberated and pressured in very positive ways. This is the first band I've ever led, and having had gone through two lineups at the time, I wanted to prove to myself that I could write solid material all on my own. Previously, I'd frequently collaborated with bandmates to some degree, even if it was just arranging my riffs. It was a very different, almost meditative feeling to go into my rehearsal space 2-3 times a week and just hammer away at my ideas.

Maybe I noted some increasing disaffection in your singing listening the first EP and the first album, your voice has become pretty much refined and “disaffected” perhaps? ... I just listening a more personal singing style. Do you agree? How about your guitar playing?

Thank you. I feel like I've made some good steps in finding my own vocal style, or at least something that's not just a bad copy of Craig Lorentson from Lowlife. Just trying to keep it honest. I don't think I'm in a darker emotional place than the previous records or anything, just maybe slightly more vocally able to express what I want to for song.

Guitar-wise, my playing definitely benefited from the lessons I took for the last few years, and I'm quite pleased with my sound. But as with my singing, I could always be working harder.

And… perhaps more important: How do you feel now? About the final result!

I'm incredibly excited that the album will soon be out in the world, and furthermore I feel humbled and gratified by the positive response from peers, friends, and strangers alike.

This question has to come across: Seattle became a total different place in the world in early nineties, much like London at the end of the seventies. Do you think it is something a current Seattle band can benefit from or it is a heavy burden to carry with? Is there still some kind of Seattle scene these days? Do you feel part of it?

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To me, the word "grunge" and the idea that the Seattle bands of the early '90s identified with it is garbage to me. Those folks came from unpretentious punk and metal backgrounds and mixed those sounds to their own unique ends-- "grunge" is just a term propagated by historical revisionists and, originally, major-label marketing folks, I'd wager.

I don't see it as a burden or a benefit, and I don't take influence from those bands. It's rather pesky that people presume otherwise because we have soft parts and loud parts-most rock bands do to some extent. There's all manner of "scenes" in Seattle, with a lot of overlapping artists/participants. I'm grateful as can be that so many people of all manner of diverse backgrounds, genders and mediums are so active with their creativity, especially when so much of the city is becoming pricey lookalike apartments and a gazillion boutique eateries.

You are a self-declared fan of “Film Noir”, I really appreciate those aesthetics as well… “Of loves and day ago” uses a still of a very cult classic movie with Robert Mitchum, and there are some audios in between tracks, can you tell us the source if it is not a problem and also talked about the “musical reason” of using those fragments I'd like to keep the source a secret, but I will say it's not an especially obscure film.

I love how samples can instantly set or reinforce the vibe of a song. There's so many great punk, metal and grindcore tracks that splice a bit of intense dialogue into the intro, outro or bridge, for example. Though we're not musically extreme, I think that dynamic has worked well for us on past recordings and I intend to explore it further in the future.

I think the music totally fits that imagery,

specially in the new tracks Present: Tense (that could be a great name for a film-noir itself) and Smoldering Amber (which is my personal favourite)‌ It is like a perfect synthesis of the harshness of say grungier side of the guitar works and some much more delicate work with the songwriting and lyrics. It reminds me a lot of the very crafted English post punk, Echo and the Bunnymen, for instance.

Thank you! I guess it could be said that our music is high-contrast, not unlike the visuals of film noir or expressionism.

Nostalgist hasn't been lyrically political in the past, but I can see that changing. Again, I hold myself to a high standard, and writing lyrics of that sort without sounding contrived, redundant or naive can be tough. However, I do hope my lyrics are relatable to most anyone. It's a big reason why, with the exception of "Illusory," our oldest song, I don't ever specify gender. I believe that romantic love in between people is the same, regardless of orientation, gender, etc., and should be respected and treated as such.

For Disaffection you worked as a mulDid you think of using the film noir as ti-instrumentalist with just a session druminspiration for some short films or videos. mer and the producer. Do you think it was I remembered early Portishead doing so, easier to translate the idea of the sound it was really arresting moment, but it has that way? Do you think of putting back a not being fully exploited yet I think! And band together or you feel that is more of for a reason the Trump-Era must be a rea- “solo project� that works best for you lly great source of inspiration, I think?

The writing circumstances for Disaffection I'd love to do something of this nature in a were definitely a great challenge. Though I'll music video, but especially with noir, it has to certainly record bass, synth, or programmed be done really, really well or else it feels too drum parts for future demos, I'd much, much amateurish. I do love me some Portishead, rather work in a band context going forward. though.

I don't really consider myself a multi-instru-

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mentalist so much as an ex-bassist who switched to guitar a handful of years ago.

Among other things, the record is stylistic/ aesthetic mission statement I can show to anyone and say "this is what Nostalgist is." I don't want it to be a solo project-- I am the leader, but I also want my bandmates' respective voices to shine through. I love working as a team. Presently, the lineup is Alex Entrekin on drums and myself on vocals/guitar. We're trying to find a full-time bass player.

Finally, I wanted to ask about the name, I just saw a short film called The Nostalgist, which was really great by the way and re-

minds me a lot of the feel of the band… It is by psi fi writer Daniel H. Wilson. Did you know that short story or it is a mere coincidence?

I'm only distantly aware, but will check it out!

No, neither that nor the Piano Magic song were inspirations for the band name.

Well, just before saying “Goodbye”… Is there anything worth mentioning? (Live dates, or near future projects, etc) Thanks again for your interest, support and the interview. As mentioned, we're trying to figure out a permanent bassist. We have two summer shows booked as well. Recor-

7 ding-wise, there's a remix release somewhere on the horizon, and I'm also interested in doing a split record with a like-minded-but-different-sounding band. I definitely have ideas brewing for the next album, as well.

Thank you very much, Asa! My pleasure, thank you for the interview!

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