About.
On the cusp of releasing his fifth collection of songs, Niel Nasset is a seasoned musician with boundless depth, soul, and passion in his pursuit to create music that matters, that tells a real story, that reflects the raw truths in our lives to inspire others and, most importantly, to leave behind a legacy for the ones he loves.
Deeply intuitive, wise, and connected, the emotion in his songs is palpable. And the purpose of this album in particular— I Saw You in the Muck—is to translate that human struggle and raw honesty into songs that people can identify with.
“In earlier albums, much of my music was hidden behind metaphors,” Niel explains. “The only way I can really talk is through the music.” Indeed, music is the language he is most fluent in, language often spoken only with himself, though he writes the words he wishes he could express to other people. “I wait till the lights are off and it's quiet. When I'm alone. That's where most of my lyrics come from. Lyrically, I say all the things I wish I could say to people's faces. All the relationships I've had. Family, girls, friends.... ‘I'm sorry. I wish I was different, too. But I always loved you. I would die for you. And I know I ruined things. But I had a chance. And I can still make it better.’”
Producing this particular album is a “necessity,” as Niel is very aware that time isn’t always on our side. He recognizes that tomorrow may not be ours, but right now is. And it’s this reality that’s driven his motivation to finish producing the songs and this album that are top of mind. “To be honest, it’s a necessity for me, I could get smashed by a bus tomorrow, and I could have had the greatest song in the world at my house and it would never be out there. It’s a way to leave a thing for my kids, for somebody.”
A child of the ‘80s, Niel didn’t start playing till college, recording his first album in 2008. “I went to college, lived by myself, had a piece-of-shit guitar, started strumming chords like anybody else when they learn. I was too scatterbrained to focus on learning, so I’d make up my own shit. I bought a digital recorder and recorded a 7-minute song. Next thing I know I was in a studio recording my first 5-song EP. I was recording before I ever played in front of anybody.”
But performing his songs came later. After a long struggle with self-doubt, he’s finally found the courage and desire to perform his music. “I did want to perform at the beginning. I was just too nervous. I wanted to be in the spotlight but did it in such a passive way. I would see people on stage and wonder how they were so confident. But I am confident now. I want the stage. I want to perform my songs. Not let them just trickle out. No one has time for that in this day and age. If I just open up and play every song like the time I wrote it. I told you it was a fear of failure but I think it was a fear of success. What if one of my songs does something?’”
And back to this album—it’s about growth, honesty (with ourselves and others), and emotional maturity. “I've actually cried singing these songs in the studio. I've cried singing them in front of an audience. They are real. They are personal in every sense. I am who I am.”
He goes on, “I’m definitely a lot better than I used to be as far as mind-fucking yourself.”
And we’re real happy about that, because when Niel writes, he writes from the soul. And when he performs, it’s from the soul. And that’s what leaving a legacy is all about.
