Neo Soul

NSN: Describe your earliest musical experience.

Nigel: My Earliest Musical experience was back in 89. I was 8 years old and my dad had a really nice keyboard given to him. He was a guitar player so he gave me full reign of it and after a few months of getting to know it, my friend Byron who was a drummer, we put together a band. It was the funniest thing in the world because we really thought we were doing something. It was cool though, It opened me up to many different ideas growing up and inspired me to learn more of what I was doing so I wouldn’t have to laugh to try to play it off that we sucked!

NSN: Where did you grow up?

Nigel: I grew up in the Washington D.C. area. I also lived in Maryland, too.

NSN: Name 3 of your biggest influences in life.

Nigel: I could go on forever with this one…George Duke is probably my biggest influence musically. Vocally, is Donny Hathaway. Just knowing his story and then listening to him sing is incredible. He was a man who dealt with so much pain and tourment in his life that when he sang he released it all and if you’re really listening, you’ll hear it. He’s the Baddest… My son is also a big influence for me as well, He’s 4 (in October) and he’s so grown. And at this age I can already see his potential. I have been blessed to have someone so divine in my life. I learn so much from him and he keeps me on my toes. I love him.

NSN: When you listen to a song, what do you tend to pay most attention to . . . the instrumentation, the lyrics or the vocals?

Nigel: With me it’s a matter of listening to the whole idea, then I pick it apart. It’s kinda like when someone says something to you, you cant listen to HOW they’re saying it as opposed to WHAT they’re saying. If it’s right, it’s right. Because one can’t argue with truth. After hearing the Whole, I like to listen to what the person does musically and then lyrically. It especially good when the artist has something substantial to sing about. Instead of singing about “throw your underwear on the dresser and let’s get busy”, they are teaching you something and expressing righteousness through their music.

NSN: What commercial artist or group do you think best defines your style of music?

Nigel: I really don’t listen to enough of it to be able to compare because I don’t like how people embarrass themselves to make a buck these days. However, I really like John Legend, I think he is a pure representation of music and what comes from his soul (we’ll see how long it lasts). Kanye West too.

NSN: What was the last CD you purchased?

Nigel: A few of them actually. I bought “Jack Johnson” by Miles Davis, “Winter In America” by Gil-Scott Heron and “Electic Byrd” by Donald Byrd.

NSN: How do you feel about your current album and what would you like listeners to take from it?

Nigel: I feel really good about what’s happening with it. I just want people to know that there are still people who care enough about music that they wont destroy it to make money. I’m not in this to make money, dress nice, have nice cars and girls etc/etc. I just want to hear good music. I was blessed by God to be able to make good music and I wanna show people that it can still be done in a civilized manner.

NSN: (Here’s that deserted island question) If you were sent to live alone on a deserted island, what 3 albums would you need to survive?

Nigel: I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!! George Duke- “Feel” (This was the album that made me want to be a professional musician) Donny Hathaway-”Extention of a Man” & The Head Hunters- “Flood” …and a 6 pack of Corona (does that count?)

NSN: What would you be doing if you weren’t a musician?

Nigel: Nothing. Being a Loser, maybe? It’s all I ever had in this life that I’ve completeley trusted.

NSN: If you made a list of places you’ve visited, which would be your favorite? Why?

Nigel: I would like to go to Africa. I would like to see my people doing what we were doing before we were brought over here. In School, they depict us as bush-whackin creatures. I know that’s not true because I don’t whack bushes and I’m Good looking. I’ve never seen a good looking creature. My point is, You will never know where you’re going unless you know where you came from.

NSN: Name 5 essential items that would appear on your tour rider.

Nigel: There’d have to be a… 1.Wurlitzer Electric Piano (I would say a Rhodes, But it’s too heavy, Plus it would already be in the trailer). 2. A Turntable of some sort. I’m a Vinyl Junkie. 3. Good Deodarant. After shows I’m usually kinda ripe 4. DVD player, I watch alot of movies. 5 Herbal Refreshments (self explanitory)…
NSN: Which 3 people to you need to meet before you die.

Nigel: Bill Cosby -. He’s a funny dude. He’s always been. Taught me how to be a parent from all those years watching the Cosby show. James Brown - So I can learn how Powerful the “1″ is. George W. Bush - So I can smak the dog shit out of him for making me pay almost $4 a gallon in gas…Fuc@#$ Ass%^&*.

NSN: What is your favorite color and how does it make you feel?

Nigel: Green. It’s the color of life. Long As I live, I will see green.

NSN: Who do you most admire in today’s music scene?

Nigel: Kanye West. He’s an innovator. He purposly sets him self apart from everyone else. (I always root for the underdog).

NSN: What sets you apart from most other artists?

Nigel: I think it’s my choice of sound. I like Old sounding stuff because I grew up listening to Motown and stuff from the 70’s. Even live when I play I use old keyboards. They are a pain in the ass to carry around and I HATE it. But for the sound, I’m willing to have a broken back for the Rhodes and Clavinet and Wurlitzer and B-3. It’s just that Sound…

NSN: Is there a particular theme that seems to dominate your songs?

Nigel: Not really. It’s just an expression of my emotions, If I hear omething in my head it will drive me nutz till I get it out. I guess (if anything) it would be that I want things to sound old, but new.

NSN: What does your life look like 5 years from now?

Nigel: Hopefully I will be still making music, My family will be happy,and I wont have to worry about bills anymore.

NSN: How do you feel about the internet music world?

Nigel: I think It’s cool. Music should be shared. It’s not such a big deal about people downloading music. To atleast be able to hear it should be enough but then you have people who are extreamist and it messes everything up for others. Other than that It’s cool. I guess…

NSN: What has been your designated mantra throughout your life?

Nigel: Really simple. To do what I was put on this earth to do. To make a joyfull noise unto the Lord. Not many young people KNOW why they were put on this earth. I do, so I’m gonna run with it and I know that God won’t lead me into somthing that I can’t handle…

NSN: Name an independent artist that you would like to collaborate with.

Nigel: Mothers Favorite Child. I heard they got it goin’ on

NSN: What inspires you to create a song?

Nigel: Everything.

Checkout Nigel at buySOUL! for more info and music samples!