Humility / October 1, 2014 by Nick Bullock

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. "
-Ernest Hemingway

The more "successful" people I meet, or read about, or listen to, the more I realize they all share a certain, and maybe necessary trait, humility. I'm constantly amazed at their genuine warmth for the people around them. They might not always have the time they would like to spend with the people that they call friends, but when they do, they give 100% of their attention. Now of course, the same could be said for many people, fame/success or not. And actually, the overwhelming vibe here in Nashville (at least among the musicians) is one of support and togetherness. Which I think is part what makes it so special, and frankly, the real reason for the success of music city.

My feeling is that it is humility in particular, that separates Nashville from the other two (or three) towering "entertainment" city establishments...

What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself. "

-Abraham Lincoln

Anytime I've ever sat down on a gig or a session with someone who is constantly talking about who they know, what they do, and where everything they breath is about them, I immediately get turned off. As I am writing this and reflecting on it, it gets me sad. I think they are missing the whole point. When you come to a session filled with wonder, humility, passion and awe, it is truly mind blowing what gets accomplished, what gets done, and what fruit ripens from the collaboration. Pride on the other hand... is poison to a session (or a show, or a play, or a movie set, or a board room, or a CEO's office...).

Humility moves and inspires people. It motivates us to do better, to take risks, and make more of a difference. Humility is the cousin of empathy, that very human response in most all of us that allows us feel the pulse of our fellow man/woman, and respond with kindness. Empathy cannot survive with out humility, it gets choked to death and becomes disdain.

And don't take me for a fool, pride can be a useful tool sometimes. It's always good to take pride in a job well done. The difference, at least here, is the attitude that you bring with you before the job has started.

Humility can be a tricky thing though, it can be the saving grace of who we are, and what we do, or it can disguise the devil. And don't confuse humility with self loathing. To love oneself is to be humble, because when you love yourself, you know who you are, what you are made of, and what you strive for... where you can be better. This is not a torturous thing, this is the benefit of humility. It is the reason I pick up my guitar everyday and do my best to be better. It is the reason I write everyday, so I can push myself and go deeper. So I can see myself more clearly as an artist. So I can recognize that same passion for depth in other artists and be a better producer, and help them achieve their own dreams.

Humility, that low, sweet root from which all heavenly virtues shoot. " -Thomas Moore

My recommendation, what I am constantly striving for; start from a place of humility, and allow the nature of the humble path to unfold in front of you. It will always lead you true. It is one of the keys that unlocks our true and full potential. Humility, passion and discipline... you can't go wrong. You won't go wrong.

Some pics of my week/weekend :)

Locheland/Springsteen show at the Stone Fox

Forget the name of the band, but they were great!!! At the Musician Meet up at BlackBird Academy

Some youngins from BalckBird Academy

Some Words with Music Band from Nashville TN / July 17, 2014 by Nick Bullock

Hello from the road/tour! One of the best things about living in Nashville is the incredible talent that you are surrounded with everyday. It can be daunting, but mostly I find it extremely inspirational, and enlightening. It helps me clarify what and why I do what I do with my musical career.

Music Band is probably my favorite band in Nashville, and and I only say probably because I'm very aware of my own tendency to get super excited when I bear witness to great musicians singing great songs... Music Band is positively great. I've gotten the opportunity to see them a bunch since moving to Nashville, and under full disclosure, I've have the great fortune of knowing them personally for the last three or four years... And to sum up my feelings, last time I saw them, I immediately went home and wrote a song that was very inspired by them. And for me, whenever someone makes me want to go home, pick up my guitar and start writing, I'm all in. That, is true inspiration. Thanks for that Lee, Harry and Duncan.

Enjoy the interview!

Nick Bullock Music: What is your favorite thing about the Nashville music scene?

Music Band: The music scene here had been gaining momentum well before we moved here two and a half years ago. Really steaming, cooking with gas. It's like a big steam engine ripping through a residential intersection at 3 in the morning and the driver is all coked out and fucked up just laying on the whistle because he hates his life and wants to ruin everyone's night. That actually might be one of my least favorite things, when a train sounds its horn for way too long and you're just too close to it. It cuts right to my core, enough for me to shout out loud, "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" every time I hear it. Damn, it makes me so mad. But the Nashville music scene does not make me feel this way. We got mad respect for these streets and these peeps here. Mostly everyone who plays music here rules, and I think that's because it's the kind of town that if you come here and don't have any respect for the folks who have been holding it down OG-style then you're liable to get yourself banished. Sorry, but that's just the way it is. It's "Music City" and people have been doing this for as long as anything here. That's what's cool about Nashville. It doesn't matter what kind of music you're into because you should be able to appreciate the real heads who are on their grind. It's funny to go to shows here, and a lot of touring bands I meet will lament about this, but a lot of the time when Nashville people are watching bands they don't move around much. I think it's not because everyone's jaded on music but it's more because everyone is a musician in their own right and are actually watching the band, I mean having a real peek-see, and I can respect that.

NBM: How do you balance the artistic/creative side of being in a band with the business side of being in a band?

MB: We've been pretty much doing our own business since the beginning, so it's not really something we think about much anymore. Although lately there have been more business-related things going on for us, it's fun to learn how it's done, and I think we're fortunate to have some guidance from our friends who know what they're doing. Everyone in a band is always like, "I just want to play, man. The music industry is killing me. Etc." but we're quickly learning that if you can't deal with the business side of things then, well, what the hell? Music ain't a hobby. Not for the real heads, at least. If you're actually trying to make money or a career out of this then you gotta learn how the shit works, even if it's learning by trial and error. I think it gets to a point where the creative side of playing music is sort of like the "reward" for everything else. Or at least that seems like a good situation. I guess it's something we've just had to start balancing out of necessity.

NBM: How do songs come into creation for the band?

MB: Most of the time one of us will work on the structure of a song alone and then bring it to the the rest of the band in practice and we'll spend a few days working it out, trying different things. A lot of the songs on our new tape "Can I Live" actually came out of fucking around at our old practice space, as bands are wont to do. Some of my favorite songs we have just came up off the dome from a late-night "jam", as corny as that sounds. Once we have a song though, we spend a lot of time tweaking it and working on dynamics, harmonies, etc. usually by recording a demo at home and seeing what we like/don't like. Lyrics are really important to me (Harry), and so that's often one thing I personally start with.

NBM: Do you have an end goal, a big picture you are shooting for?

MB: To become immortal, and then, die.

NBM: What about being in a band excites you the most? What are you working on now? How is the process going (how did it go)?

MB: Live shows are the best. Going on the road. Meeting people, meeting other bands. Good audiences. Makin' em laugh. Free meals. Being in the van just getting all crazy. Figuring out a new song and being really excited about it. Recording. Takin' a peek-see at mixes in the studio (shout-out to Andrija at Bomb Shelter). Venues that really know how to treat musicians, and not that bullshit where you show up and everyone working there is like "I don't even want to be here tonight. What's even going on?" Havin' a plate of Lil' Smokies in the morning. Fun doggies. Seeing our parents on tour. Putting friends on "the list" due to mad respect.