Nathan Joyner (Three One G/Hot Nerds-vocals/guitar)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2015? (In order 1-5)
- METZ - Metz II (Sub Pop)
Charles Mingus - Mingus Plays Piano Reissue (Superior Viaduct)
- No More - A Rose is A Rose + 7" Reissue (Dark Entries)
- Bill Orcutt & Jacob Felix Heule - Colonial Donuts (Palilalia Records)
- Gesaffelstein - Maryland (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (The Vinyl Factory/Warner Music France/Parlophone)
2. What band did you discover in 2015 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Philip Perkins
His album Drive Time reissued through Body Double Records resonated with me this year because of the way he presented the music. Taking the mundane morning commute-drive time radio and turning it into something that is honest and listenable (to my ears). I like when the mundane everyday nuances of life are pointed out and re-interpretted. It's kind of like saying why let yourself be brainwashed by what is being shoved down your throat. I think works like his point out that the human race can be so complacent and settle for whatever is thrown at us out of convenience instead of asking "WHY?". So, in a nutshell, I like that he questions normality and challenges it's existence with something else...anything else.
3. How will you remember 2015? (In terms of music)
HA! Flooded with reunion bands, members of, mediocrity, sadness, and a glimmer of hope in the bands that have built their reputation from the ground up. Electronic dance music that was being spun in underground clubs during 2010 on the radio now. Re-hashed punk bands that would have been good in the '90s. Less extreme metal music, more extreme experimental music. Inspired and disenchanted at the same time by the politics of todays music. More gimmicks and less attention to making something good, less laughter, an abundance of bands taking themselves too seriously, more ignorant political rants without any facts to back them, and too many criticasters.
But most importantly, an abundance of music that is waiting to be explored STILL and that's exciting!
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2016?
Hot Nerds will begin tracking for a brand new full-length LP that's filled with jokes, harsh honesties, a brutal approach to sound design and, as always, testing the ends of what people will put up with. It will also be longer in length...in order to annoy people for longer periods of time.
You can probably also expect some asinine videos from us too! We love making them!
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2016?
Anything that comes from Superior Viaduct.
6. How relevant is the physical format record/cd/tape in 2015 and going into 2016? What do you see changing in terms of physical vs. digital discussions?
Very relevant. Physical pressing plants are being bogged down with massive orders from mainstream artists. Whole Foods sells vinyl records now. Does that make it more relevant? Sure it does. Holding a piece of art will always be relevant. Sure, it's convenient to purchase a digital record from your bedroom and listen to it instantly through computer speakers. But, I think the tactile experience of holding a physical copy of music will never "die out."
I don't think the discussion will change. In the practical world there are perks to both formats. Maybe I'm just a new-old school dude who loves vinyl, but I like having it on my phone too. I can't say that one is better than the other. From my perspective if they are presented hand in hand they can be very effective in pleasing everyone. Some people prefer the sound of vinyl, some people prefer the sound of low quality cassette tapes, some people prefer the sound of an MP3, or the crispness of a compact disc. Maybe people should just stop forcing their opinions on other people about which one is better and just accept that there is an older format and a newer format in the musical consumption marketplace. Purchase the one you like the most! Let's stop talking and listen.
