NUFFER Interview
Interview by Sydney Hise
On August 16, California-based guitarist and vocalist, NUFFER, released his debut EP A-OK. Drawing from his childhood favorites for inspiration, the EP reflects much of the early 2000’s alternative scene while also serving his own mix of modern indie hits. A week before the debut, PLEASER got the scoop on NUFFER’s long-awaited debut.
PLEASER: The first track, 'Nuffer Super Intro', is dark and sort of eerie. What went into the decision to make this your leading track? It is an intense juxtaposition from the track that follows it, 'Big Brain'. I loved listening to these two tracks back to back for the first time. It really is a cool experience.
NUFFER: You totally nailed it, that was definitely the intention for the opening. A lot of the songs on the EP have a very fun cheeky energy to them, and I wanted to juxtapose that with a darker and more sincere intro. I was hoping to suck the listener out of reality for a moment and into the world of the EP.
There are a lot of interesting sonic elements on this EP. Is there a specific sonic moment that stands out to you as your favorite?
N: I would say some of my favorite sonic moments are ones that came with a story. Whether that be the accidental first “Big Brain” solo that we kept, or the ridiculous show banter in “Spirits”. One of my favorite recording memories that I think translated well was the solo at the end of “Tinnitus”, where I was basically beating up a guitar with industrial fervor to recreate the sound of ringing from tinnitus.
What is the overall theme of this EP? What story were you trying to convey for your audience and listeners?
Photo: Michael Hanano
N: There are many themes throughout the EP, like long distance love or self-punishment, but a lot of the EP is a representation of me breaking from my past. Going to jazz school, I felt a disconnect from music, the original serotonin boost that made me love it in the first place. It got lost in the weeds of over intellectualization, and I wanted simplicity, and to feel confident about music again.
Is there a specific song on this EP that you're the most proud of?
N: I would say the song that I am most proud of would be “Deadbeat”. I think it’s a good combination of everything I was going for musically summarized into a song. It’s in your face, cheeky, juxtapositions of darkness and bright, and most importantly has really terrifying guitar tones.
Can you tell us about your songwriting process?
N: The songwriting process for me usually starts with writing a riff or making a beat on the computer first. Then I keep recording and building, trying to find what subject would fit into the context musically. When I go to write my melodies, I really focus on the phonetics and shapes of the words. It can be challenging writing lyrics because I have a frame to put them in, but when it works it really makes a difference.
What artists were you listening to while you were making this EP?
N: The EP started when I was listening to a lot of P.H.F., an indie artist that writes very cool simple rock songs that gave me the confidence to say “Hey maybe I could do this”. Throughout the process I was also listening to a lot of my childhood favorites like Third Eye Blind, Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde. There were some newer artists in the mix as well like my friend dba James, Porches’ newest album, Dorian Electra, and Milly just to name a few.
And finally, is there a movie you could see any of these tracks being in?
N: I could see “Deadbeat” or “Tinnitus” in an early 2000’s coming of age movie or maybe even while the end credits are rolling on a Veronica Mars episode.
