Andrew Hostetter Interviews Nelson Bragg
Andrew is the Entertainment Editor for IUSB (link)

AH: You are involved with so many different musicians and now
yourself; which is your number one priority (Brian Wilson, Now
People, Nelson Bragg, etc.)

NB: Well Brian Wilson Band is my day job, bread and butter gig so
I'd say The Brian Wilson Band requires the most dedication. And it's
an incredible honor to play with this band and Brian himself.

AH: Why have you waited until now to do a solo album?

NB:I thought for a long time that it was terribly self-indulgent
to assume people would care to listen to my life as a collection of
songs. You know, me this and me that. Boring! Then one day I realized that most people listening to lyrics, relate them to they're OWN lives. I was too busy thinking like a musician and forgot that non-
musicians are the people who will likely be buying the thing. What a
relief. So I started recording in 2003.

AH: What's it like knowing you've put your stamp on one of the
greatest albums of all time (SMiLE)?

NB:It's really an imitation of a stamp to be honest. I played and
sang exactly to a tee, what Brian wrote and recorded 39 years ago. I
was imitating Hal Blaine and the other percussionist, Frankie Capp
and others. I would say it's very exciting to have had the blueprint
I was given to work with. It was great fun and an honor to translate
it. I will admit however, there are a few little things I snuck in
there with Brian's approval of course.

AH: Your cover of Harrison's "Dark Sweet Lady" is great. Why did
you decide to cover that particular song? Does it have special
meaning to you? (ps: that album has always been a favorite of mine)

NB:"Dark Sweet Lady" is this amazing chestnut of a song that even
Harrison himself thought was a little light-weight. I heard it when
it was released and I was destroyed by the chord/melody/lyric
relationships. It's very easy to play and there are 2 short verses.
I've been singing it for 25 years. It's about Olivia and it was
written in Hawaii. One strange thing about it's meaning to me is
that almost every girlfriend, and my x-wife included, like Olivia H.,
had dark hair, dark eyes, almost olive skin. I've always been
attracted to that. And yes, That self-titled album is grossly underrated.

AH: You really have a nice blend of influences on the album. Do
you think you've put those influences together in a way that now has
its own original sound?

NB:Yes. I love pop with a capital "P". But most Pop records tend to
wear their influences on their sleeve. It's something I worked hard
to avoid; being too clever. It's the power pop curse. When you do
hear a direct influence, it was me saying "Here we go, I don't care
what people think." It was an intentional thing. The bridge to
"Every Minute Of The Day" for instance. I think the songs touch on
lots of stuff, but not too much.

AH: In your press release it says "Day Into Night" is a concept album. Can you explain that concept?

NB:It's a concept like The Moody Blues? "Days Of Future Passed."
It takes us from the day into the night as you can see from the
track order and titles of the songs. It does tend to get darker as
the record progresses. Also the cover expresses dualism, the
feeling we all have from time-to-time that we ALL are two people:
ourselves alone with our secrets, and who we are in the world
outside, 2 distinct personalities. And, yes, I think we all can agree
that one of them is pretty dark, pretty scared and brooding.

AH: Can you explain the last track, "Turn the Darkness into Gold?"

NB:The song is about a very close childhood pal who finally finds
his soul mate and what it's like to lose that friendship as two
pals. Now the wife is in the picture and things can never be the
same. You've been replaced by his new best friend. It's about
growing up and realizing the pain of relationships changing. It's
about gratitude and acceptance too: remembering and cherishing our
youth and that best friend you had and maybe reclaimed. But life
keeps going and you've got to grow up. Good way to end a record I
thought.

AH: Is being a solo artist a full time job, or are you still planning a future with other groups?

NB:No it's not a full time job for me at all. I just wanted to
contribute my songs to the "pool" if you will, of great songs I've
enjoyed over the years by all of my friends. I wanted to "join the
club" as it were. Plus there is a cathartic thing that kind of
happened when I finished it. It feels good to finally release this.
So, no. not a lot of playing live and touring as"Nelson Bragg" in
the future. (Though I had a CD release in L.A. and played 3 tunes
with guys fron the Brian band. That was a trip.) Lot's of interviews
and work to be done to try and sell the damn thing now that it's
done. I'm going to the UK in Feb. to do some promotion and to Spain
in March playing with The Mockers.

AH: What's Brian Wilson like?

NB:Brian is a happy guy. A nice guy. You know, busy writting and
playing live. He's much better mentally than he used to be. But
Brian has a short attention span, so he seems unavailable to people
sometimes, and if you talk to him on his deaf ear side, he'll ignore
you all together. So many people have been turned off by his so-
called rock star attitude or whatever you call it. It was only
because he didn't hear them! If you meet him, make sure you catch
his good ear. He'll be a puppy dog with you. I like Brian a lot.

AH: Thanks for doing the interview Nelson. The album is great, and I
hope to bring more listeners to it. A couple of things I'd like to
put into the article are things like what way would be best for
people to get the album? Anything you want to add that you think is
important let me know.

CD Baby and the www.sidebmusic.com site has it so far and people can contact me if they want a signed copy to buy. You'd be amazed at how many people collect signatures by just about anyone. Even 'lil 'ol
me. It's crazy. Thanks a bunch and Happy New Year Andy!!