Review Fix Exclusive: John Mark Nelson Talks ‘Sings the Moon’

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter John Mark Nelson, who discusses his upcoming album, “Sings the Moon.”

His third album, Nelson discusses his career in music and the influences behind his newest work, as well as what it was like to work with music veteran Kenni Holmann.

Review Fix: When was the moment you knew music was going to be your career?

John Mark Nelson: I think all it took was having people in my life that believed that I could do it. All it takes for someone to NOT do something is for someone to tell them they can’t do it. My friends and family have always been behind me to push me forward and knowing that allows me to pursue it with everything in me.

Review Fix: Why music? Why not something else?

Nelson: It’s pretty safe to say that music is really the only thing I have a decent shot at. I was never big into sports, and was a perfectly average student in school. When I play music, it’s such a natural and fluid expression of who I am and what I love, that it seemed like a no brainer to pursue it wholeheartedly.

Review Fix: Who are some of your favorite musicians?

Nelson: Sufjan Stevens, Damon Albarn, James Mercer, Yukimi Nagano, Annie Clark

Review Fix: What musicians do you love that people might not expect?

Nelson: I really love a lot of avante garde and experimental jazz music. There is a drummer and composer in Minneapolis, David King, who I really idolize. He plays in several groups that I love: The Bad Plus, Dave King Trucking Co, Halloween, Alaska, and more

Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this album?

Nelson: I am really fueled by the human experience and how it changes through the various seasons of life. I have a tendency to write about the present and past, and I wanted to explore what it would be like to write in a linear time sequence the spoke into the future as well. Being fairly young myself, I could easily write about the challenge and obstacles of youth and young adulthood. But, I wanted to try to speak into what I imagine my own life might look like years from now and what the future might hold. I am fascinated by time and life and change, and wanted to write something that really confronted those themes head on. The record is almost an imaginary autobiography that talks about my life from birth to death. I suppose most people might find it odd to write songs about their own death, but I find a beautiful comfort in it. It’s really an amazing gift to be alive and I have found that writing about the absence of life helps me to live more freely and fully.

Review Fix: What was it like to work with Kenni Holmann?

Nelson: I have been spending time with Kenni since I was a little kid. He is a long time family friend, and I have been around him and his playing longer than I remember. This is the first record I have ever used woodwinds on, and it seemed obvious to ask Kenni if he would come in and play the parts. Kenni is great to work with because he can do exactly what you envision, but can also be completely inventive if you don’t have a rigid plan for a section. He is an extremely talented musician, and a great friend, and I am very fortunate to have him as an influence and accomplice.

Review Fix: You have a great backing band for this album? How did everyone come together?

Nelson: I do. It blows me away to stop and think how fortunate I am to play with such excellent and inspiring artists. A lot of the players are members of the band that I play with regularly, and a lot of the guests came through connections from band members and friends. Minneapolis has a really well connected and positive musical atmosphere. It feels like everyone is cheering for each other and always excited to help one another out with projects. Everyone who came and played on the record felt more like a friend than a hired hand.

Review Fix: What did you learn about yourself through the recording of this album?

Nelson: I learned that I have a lot of tendencies when I get into the studio. The way I approach recording is really specific and this record challenged that in a good way. I have very very specific visions for how I want a song to feel and sound, and I had to learn to trust other people when they saw or heard something differently than I did. I learned how to let go of things when appropriate and, and at the same time, be adamant when needed. It was a great learning experience.

Review Fix: Anything you’d do differently?

Nelson: Honestly, nothing. I have never been able to say that about a project. But, the way this album came together completely and totally captured the original vision and inspiration. I feel very humbled by that.

Review Fix: What’s your favorite song on the album? Why?

Nelson: Shorebird. That song is the most honest and effortless creation I have made to date, and I think it translates. When it came time to record that piece, it came together so seamlessly it was astounding. I also really like that song because I played very few things on it. So when I listen back, I hear the instruments and voices of friends more than I hear myself. That is a really beautiful thing.

Review Fix: Is there a story behind it? What inspired it?

Nelson: I was going through a sticky end to a relationship that was really overwhelming and confusing to me. At one point I took a long drive out into the county and sat alone by a lake. While I was there, I witnessed a massive seagull migration. Hundreds of birds landed on the lake and then took off, flying south for the winter. It was late fall. I started thinking about the person with whom my friendship was crumbling and realized the many parallels the situation had to the birds I had just witnessed. Just like birds fly south to find a better place for winter, this person was exiting my life to seek comfort elsewhere. But the great thing about birds is that, once they fly away and do their thing for the winter, they come back into your life when things warm up again and the winter is through. I wrote Shorebird hoping that that would be true of my friend as well.

Review Fix: How do you want this album to affect people?

Nelson: My only hope is that this record would be a comfort and positive addition to people’s lives. I am not trying to convey any specific message, and I don’t have any one thing that I hope people take away. For me, if people find enjoyment and beauty somewhere in the tracks, I have done my job. I like creating works that people can find themselves in, rather than putting myself in something to a point that listeners don’t feel any connection to it. All my favorite songs by other artists feel like a part of me somehow and I hope people feel that way about my music.