A long time ago, at a SceneSC house show, my first band played our first show with a man named Nathan John Klages. Little did I know that meeting this brilliant musician would lead to an ultimate friendship and also opening for one of our favorite bands, Stepdad, a few months later. All I knew then was that I was watching an extremely talented man play music full of loops and haunting vocals while also telling extended stories about cats and other things between songs. Recently, I asked him a few questions in order for you to get to know him. From his answers, you can definitely tell he is great at telling stories. Here we go.
What is your name?
Nathan John Klages
What is your spirit animal and why?
For so so so many reasons. (side note) My favorite movie has always been dumbo, the thing that I could always relate to from a young age was that his biggest flaw was also the very thing that made him great. Everything in my life right now is an example of that.
How would you describe your music?
The feeling when you went to your first sleepover and got scared and wanted to call your mom to pick you up, but you didn’t and the next day were so glad you stayed.
My music is awkwardly personal.
What instruments do you play?
Violin, piano, guitar, bass, washboard, mandolin, banjo, synth, drums, accordion, computers, ti83+.
How did you get into music?
I originally started out on violin because my best friend played, and I wanted to hang out more with him, so I begged my parents to take me to his lessons. He quit the next week, but I kept at it. I had a horrible injury in high school that left me unable to play sports ever again so my world was turned upside down. I turned to music to try to make sense of all of it. Music has since been an outlet for me to try to figure out myself and the world around me, to ask myself how I feel about things and to try to come up with some sort of answers. At the end of the day I’m usually left with more questions than answers, and the process begins again.
What is the most incredible show you’ve ever played?
In Vermont I played a show at a prestigious venue, and it was so lame. I hated everything about it. It was the type of show where the audiences is annoyed that there is music.
When I left, I was loading my gear into ny car, and there was a bum trying to talk to me. I said, sorry I don’t have any money and kept walking, to which he said, I didn’t ask you for money. I asked if you could play me a song. So I did, for 4 hours.and he knew every single word to my songs. At the end we were both crying.
What is the weirdest show you’ve ever played?
Shamrock IV. Way in the woods about an hour from Atlanta at this guy named Extra Cornbread Steve’s house. The directions to get there were basically a hand drawn treasure map drawn by Frank Hurricane (of Hurricanes of Love). It was the lunar eclipse, and when I arrived I was told, “the generator blizzew, you cool playin acoustweez?” It was a heavenly time, people banged on pots and pans in the woods, one act had a demonic puppet that killed the performer and got sale blood all over everyone. In the morning, my car wouldn’t start, so I got to spend an extra day with extra cornbread Steve, while trying to convince AAA to tow me out of the thicket (they didn’t, and this guy named Shitty Bedford had to tow me in his F150 about 5 miles to the nearest paved road.
What are you up to right now?
I spent the majority of 2010 and 2011 playing shows all over the U.S. (except the west coast..). I’m currently wrapping up things for my 2nd full length record and planning the release for that. It will feature several brand new songs as well as some previously unreleased favorites from my live set such as “Dishes” and “Leave Them”. This album was recorded in winter 2011 when I had to take a few weeks off of tour because of my grandfather dying. I spent about two weeks every day and night in the hospital with him, and he wanted me to play music for him during the days. I had my guitar, violin, and banjo with me, along with a 4track recorder, and I recorded these songs late at night in the waiting room over the course of these two weeks as i couldn’t sleep much. I went back out on tour after his death and forgot about these recordings until August, when i started to record a new record with Darin Rajabian (NIghtlife). Using these as guides to how i wanted to record, Darin pointed out that this WAS the album. SO i added some bass, and we set about mixing the tracks.
Anything else?
I’m in a van right now to sxsw with Chrome Sparks, Nightlife, and the rest of Stepdad, which I am now a member of, playing guitar, keys, background vocals, and misc percussion. We all wish you were with us.
Below are a bunch of links to Nathan K’s music and social network sites. Also, I posted links to the bands that Nathan is affiliated with. They are all fantastic Michigan bands so you have to check them out. Thanks so much to Nathan for this interview.
If I Die EP (for free):Â http://noisetrade.com/nathankmusic
Official Website: http://www.nathankmusic.com
Facebook:Â http://www.facebook.com/nathankmusic
Bandcamp:Â http://nathankmusic.bandcamp.com
Twitter:Â http://www.twitter.com/nathankmusic
Stepdad: http://www.stepdad.us
Nightlife:Â http://nightlifepop.bandcamp.com
Chrome Sparks: http://chromesparks.bandcamp.com
