|
David Nevue: Whisperings of a Revolution?
By Mark Kirby, MusicDish.com
There is a quiet revolution going on in the
music world. As the industry continues to eat itself, to
relentlessly screw both artists and consumers alike, musicians
are left scrambling. Record labels are devoured by bigger
labels, which are appendages to corporate leviathans interested
only in short term gain, and the rote satisfaction of CEO's
and voracious stockholders. This leaves less and less room
for the kinds of music and musicians that created the monster
in the first place. But there is another way. Thanks to
the internet, many musicians and bands of all genres are
turning to the world wide web to circumvent Leviathan,
successfully.
 David
Nevue (www.davidnevue.com)
is such a musician. Clearly seeing the writing on the
music biz wall, he bypassed the ritual of sending his
demos to labels and perhaps being courted by an A&R person,
only to be rejected or ripped off. Since 1995, Mr. Nevue
has exclusively used the web to communicate with listeners
and distribute his music. A pioneer in exploring the
wild, wild world of online music marketing, and staunch
advocate of reaching out to and empowering his fellow
musicians, he has published a how-to manual called -
what else - How
to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet.
That such an approach is taken by someone
producing introspective, mellow music - most DIY (do-it-yourself)
proponents are found in the marginal worlds of punk rock
or avant garde jazz - is part of David Nevue's uniqueness
and proves that artists of all genres can and are circumventing
the stultifying music industry that chokes creativity.
It's also in line with his unique musical voyage.
Streaming MP3: Listen
to a Series of Songs by David Nevue 
What are your earliest musical memories?
Did your parents play music in the house?
[David Nevue] No, not at all. I
was raised in a totally nonmusical family. In fact, my
dad is totally tone deaf. I've been told that if you
go back two generations, our family was VERY musical.
I think the gift skipped my dad and fell to me. As for
my earliest 'musical' memories, as crazy as it sounds,
it boils down to my watching the Monkees TV show as a
kid. Micky, Davy, Peter and Mike - THEY were my musical
family. At seven years old, I wanted to be in a band
just like that.
Who are your musical mentors and biggest
influences?
 [David
Nevue] Of course, I credit my high school and college
music teachers, Brad Peterson and John Bowman, for
giving me the foundation I needed to become the musician
I am today. Keyboardist Jeff Johnson (www.arkmusic.com)
gave me good advice and direction during my early years.
But the biggest influence on me was simply
listening to music. During college, I immersed myself
in the music of Rush, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Clannad, Kate
Bush, U2 and Renaissance. Somewhere, in the midst of
all that listening, I took away the elements that shaped
my musical style. I suppose what drew me to these artists
initially was that every one of them has their own, signature
sound.
Listening to Rush, for example, has had
a major influence on my own compositional style. While
my solo piano works may not exactly inspire memories
of '2112', every composition I write is driven by my
desire to create interesting, ever changing, thought-provoking
works. I demand that from myself, and that, to some degree,
came as a result of appreciating, the complexity of Rush's
work.
With Kansas, Renaissance and Kate Bush,
I really appreciate the keyboard work. It's nice to hear
something now and then where the piano is the featured
instrument. I remember the first time I heard Ben Folds' "One
Angry Dwarf" on the radio. I was like, "Wow, there's
a piano on the radio!" and I cranked it up! As for the
other bands, you can feel their music. In a like manner,
It's my desire that my listeners feel mine.
Streaming MP3: "One
Night at Mozart's"
 From
his first album, The
Tower, with its dramatic, art rock drive, through
the quieter and more melodic follow-up records While
the Trees Sleep and The
Last Waking Moment, a work based on a vision of
mystic Christianity, Mr. Nevue has forged a unified
sound and evocative musical voice.
From these past works, Mr. Nevue culled the
pieces found on Whisperings,
a best of and reintroduction to his ever-growing number
of fans. The songs on this disk explore various approaches
to theme and emotional expression. "While
the Trees Sleep," for example, takes a simple, rolling
four note pattern, and develops it into a motif that builds
like the rolling waves of incoming tides, getting denser
and stronger, before rolling back.
"Home," from
another early release, The
Vigil, is romantic in the manner of Debussy, but
has a touch of Americana, adding a dash of blue emotion
to the song's European elegance.
What made you decide to focus exclusively
on solo work?
[David Nevue] I was playing keyboards
for garage bands during my college years. I enjoyed that
very much, but I found more enjoyment and less frustration
just doing my own thing. I'm kind of a musical control
freak, not to mention an extreme perfectionist, so I
don't think I was the easiest to work within a 'band'
context. My college roommate introduced me to the piano
music of George Winston. That's what really turned me
on to the piano. Winston's sound was unlike anything
I'd heard before. So, at the age of 20, I sat down at
the piano and starting playing with some of my own musical
ideas. And that's what I've been doing ever since.
Streaming MP3: "While
the Trees Sleep"
 Most
music that is not strictly designated a "for meditation
and prayer" is designed for rapt focus and attention. David
Nevue's songs, however, have multiple uses. One can focus
on the compositional flow and his technique totally. Or
one can have it in the background as you sit in your home
or go about everyday chores. You can also lay back and
let your thoughts cascade as the music washes over you.
After an evening of loud bars and music spaces, this writer
has found his CDs Whisperings and Postcards
from Germany to be the perfect antidotes to the
pummeling intensity and crazed energy of life in the city
(and today's pop music).
Your music on these CDs could be compared
to George Winston's piano records. But the songs have
too much change and movement to be considered New Age.
How do you describe or define your style of piano music?
[David Nevue] I would describe my
music as "Neoclassical." Basically, what I do is a simplified
version of classical music. My compositions, though,
are totally melody-driven. Rather than trying to compose
something complex and significant, I keep things simple
and to the point. I have a musical idea, develop it,
put a twist on it, and then wrap up the song.
Streaming MP3: "Home"
 Mr.
Nevue's musical goal is to evoke more complex, inward emotions. Postcards
from Germany, for example, paints pictures of odd,
quiet and lovely moments. The title song starts on a simple
ostinato figure with a rhythm that has a stridency that
evokes the historic, stately feel of Germany.
"Racing the Northern Lights" takes you on
a wintery drive in the north country at the early afternoon
sunset. Other highlights include "The Kindness of Strangers," a
tune that evokes the feelings of gratitude and warmth that
only a stranger in a strange land can feel when confronted
with need hospitality, the ultra romantic "Castle Hunting" and "Big
Snow in Salzburg," his affirmative answer to Debussy's "Snowflakes
Are Dancing."
On Postcards From Germany how are the
places that the pieces are named after related to the
pieces themselves?
 [David
Nevue] The album, as is probably obvious, was inspired
by a trip my wife and I took to Germany and the surrounding
areas in 1998. The trip was such an amazing adventure.
Germany is a magical place, filled with ancient castles
and cathedrals. And the countryside, particular in
Bavaria, is simply stunning. There were days my wife
and I felt like we were exploring a fairytale world.
I just loved it. After we arrived back in the States,
I found my mind returning again and again to Germany.
I missed it. Before long, I began to put some of my
favorite memories to music, trying to capture, in some
small way, the moments that made the biggest impact
on me. That's how the album, a collection of musical
'postcards', came to be.
Streaming MP3: "No
More Tears"
How did you come up with the idea for
your book How to Promote Your Music Successfully on
th Internet?
[David Nevue] Well, I started promoting
my music on the Internet in 1995. When I began to have
some success at it, I thought to myself, "Man, I wish
someone had shown me how to do all this." So, I thought,
why not be that guy? Why not be the person who shows
other musicians what works and what doesn't? So, in November
1997 I release the first edition of my book. I just released
the Fall 2003 edition and I'm finishing up the 2004 edition
now.
 Mr.
Nevue also has created The Music Biz Academy (www.musicbizacademy.com),
an information repository. It is, he says, "an archive
of everything I've known and learned about the music business." He
covers all aspects of the topic, including music industry
news, career opportunities, and a directory of carefully
selected resources for independent musicians.
With his spirit-lifting music and his humble,
yet authoritative and radical approach to spreading his
music, he is a different kind of music figure. And a much
needed one. Besides offering his music on his own website,
his CDs can be found at MP3.com, Amazon.com. CD Baby, and
FaveStreet.
www.davidnevue.com
www.solopianoradio.com
www.musicbizacademy.com
 Provided
by the MusicDish
Network. Copyright © Tag
It 2003 - Republished with Permission. All Rights
Reserved.
|
