Interview with Gunnar and Matthew Nelson

November 02, 2020

Interview with Gunnar and Matthew Nelson

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Matthew and Gunnar! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Is songwriting the ultimate form of storytelling in your opinion? Do you feel words are expressed more sincerely with music than they are without?
Gunnar: Well I suppose you could call me biased because I’ve chosen songwriting as my particular medium, right? The blessing about expressing oneself through music is that the melodies that accompany your words tend to be a great introduction to the person (listener) you’re trying to connect with- a slick way into the listener’s soul. I look at melodies as the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. So in that way, yes. However, songwriting also comes with inherent limitations- such as trying to fit your thoughts into it constrained space. You only have so much space to work with to get your thoughts across…which you don’t have limiting when you’re writing a novel let’s say. That’s why to me the toughest songs to write are the simplest hit pop songs that have very few words in them. The biggest challenge is to convey something meaningful... in a way that’s never been said before... in very few words... and still make it exciting enough for the listener to get an emotional reaction out of them... a reaction strong enough for it to catch fire. That’s not a small task when you think about it.

Matthew: I think any creation coming from the heart and soul is sincere. What really brings that to fruition is when someone else interprets the music and words in their own mind, and applies to their own situation. I don’t think that’s specific to music, but that’s the medium Gunnar and I have had the most success and feel the most gratification.

CV: How much of your soul do you leave on the table after writing a song or do you have a way of separating your personal self from your artistic self?
Gunnar: I think it really depends. There are two kinds of songwriting: one is writing from personal life experience, the other is what I call the “what if?” kinds of songs. They both do different things to me emotionally after I get done writing them. Obviously songs that come from my own personal life experiences tend to be more emotional to write, but ‘what if?’ songs can be even more challenging to do because you have to project yourself into a time, place, and emotional space that you might not have ever been in before. That’s a completely different skill set that calls on empathy, imagination, and bravery - basically the same chops fine actors need to draw from when they’re being a character that’s completely foreign to the ‘real’ them. But all of our songs are personal to us regardless. These songs are part of us…they are like our children in a way. We have been commissioned to write songs in the past and it’s a different experience and yet it still checks all those emotional boxes. I actually did Sonic Heroes’ Team Chaotix theme a few years back. I had to separate my mindset differently, but I don’t think it’s a straight split from personal and artistic self.

Matthew: I think your personal self and artistic self are intertwined. You might have a balance, but you never really disconnect. When Gunnar and I write a song, it can be like a tennis match, back and forth. That doesn’t mean we’re not completely focused on our emotional game. I’ve written songs on my own, and both Gunnar and I have written songs with other co-writers. You are always bringing yourself to the table.

CV: How would you define sustainability for an artist, at any level, especially in the current musical industry climate?
Gunnar: Doing what you love! Our grandfather Ozzie had a saying that if you’re doing what you love and you’re getting paid, then it’s like having a license to steal. Matthew and I define our success by doing what we love on our terms. We get to do what we’ve wanted to do our entire lives every day and do what the Nelson family has been doing for over 100 years – which is connecting with people. That is sustaining a career, and it’s truly an American story. Getting up every day and pulling up those boot straps, and pivoting to creating in a different way that isn’t on the live stage. You have to not only roll with the punches, but anticipate where to punch next.

Matthew: Our father Ricky Nelson lived practically three lives in a very short time. He always said a career is a series of comebacks. I believe artists at any level have to be mentally prepared to only count on themselves. A variety of factors have changed since Gunnar and I first became professional musicians, but the one that hasn’t ever changed is our passion for music and creativity.

CV: Legacy is but one word that can be used to describe the music of the Nelson Family. How does being a part of three generations of musical pioneers raise the bar for the next generation(s) to come? Has a standard been set, and given all of the family's success to date, can it be surpassed by those who will follow?
Gunnar: We are extremely proud and grateful for our family legacy, and we never looked at it any differently than if we were plumbers or farmers, going into the family business. It’s just the way it was and is. We don’t try and outdo what our grandparents and Pop did, we just try and make our own mark.

Matthew: Our grandparents and Pop had exceptional timing, and their names are forever in the lexicon. Gunnar and I will continue to honor their legacy by keeping their music alive, as well as creating our own. Our dad’s “Garden Party” has the poignant line if memories were all I sang, I’d rather drive a truck. He gave us the best advice when we were 18; he said that he’d trade all his hits for “Garden Party” because he penned it himself. We’ve forged our own success with that. My son Ozzie, who is 6, loves music and he’s really progressed as both a drummer and a guitarist, but his happiness is more important to me than him being a musical pioneer. If it happens, wonderful, but I won’t put that pressure on him. Our parents and family certainly didn’t.

CV: What do you feel is the biggest misconception people have of being a rock star?
Gunnar: I don’t think people realize that we’re not ‘on’ all the time. They think or assume we don’t have a life outside of the studio, or off stage. We have families and run a household just like everyone else. We have chores around the yard and just want the best for our kids and family.

Matthew: To add to what my brother is saying, I think it’s gotten better with social media, because we can give updates and glimpses into our personal lives. There used to be a concentrated effort to not let people behind the curtain. That’s changed considerably. People want to have more connection and people want that realness.

CV: What do you feel is the biggest misconception fans have of you?
Gunnar: I think any misconceptions that persist come from people who are outside of our fan circle - the misguided judgements I’ve heard about so far are the ones that write us off as just being hobbyists, or trust fun kids, or nepotists. Nothing could be further from the truth. But it doesn’t put me out much. Human nature dictates that there are plenty of people out there who need to belittle others to feel better about themselves rather than doing the work and making their own mark. They’re just lazy. Oh well! But I’m proud to say that I think our fans have a very clear picture of who we are and what we’re about. We put a lot of sweat equity into our social media presence, with daily good news videos. Our fans are everything to us and we try to be as accessible as possible.

Matthew: One thing I’d add is that many newer fans are surprised at how different Gunnar and my personalities are. We joke about it a lot in our Ricky Nelson Remembered and Christmas with the Nelsons stage shows, but when it comes down to it, those opposing personalities always come together in our music. That’s our secret X factor.

CV: Your birthday celebration also ushered in a new virtual format for bands and artists to connect and perform for their fans from a single location. MeetHook.Live is a new virtual streaming concept designed to bridge and fill the current performing gap. How did you get involved in being the launch pad for the company's new service?
Gunnar: We met Anthony from MeetHook.Live at one of our performances on the Monsters of Rock Cruise a few years ago. We connected on a musical level, but we clicked in terms of his vision to connect fans uniquely with artists.

CV: Do you feel virtual touring will become the "new norm" in the music industry as we move forward to a post COVID society, especially with current restrictions still in place and as overall concern and hesitation continues to play a major role with both audiences and artists?
Gunnar: I don’t think it will be the new norm, because nothing will replace the live, in-person concert experience. I think it will be a part of the musician’s arsenal. We’re just going to have to wait and see.

Matthew: Right now it’s one of the tools we’re using, but I’m hopeful it doesn’t last too much longer. I think once things ramp up again, it will be part of the discussion to have for our fans, maybe as a VIP feature. It’s never going to replace that connection you have in person.

CV: Will the lure of cheaper ticket prices and the comfort of being at home to see one's favorite artist(s) perform live, as well as the lower overhead and less headaches to the artists themselves, could traditional touring completely become obsolete in the near future?
Gunnar: I just don’t see that happening. Even during the Great Depression you still had people, in our grandparent’s generation, seeing movies and going to concerts. They found a way.

Matthew: I don’t think traditional touring will go away, but it’s going to look different for some time. I think meet and greets are going to be a challenge, and many venues are going to shutter their doors. We have to be optimistic and just sit tight for the time being. Audiences are going to be anxious to see concerts and live music when this passes. And, it will.

CV: What's next coming off the heels of your virtual birthday bash? What can Nelson fans expect to see coming up?
Gunnar: We’re still working with Meethook.Live on monthly events, so be sure to stay tuned via our social media channels and website, www.MatthewandGunnarNelson.com. We also just sent our brand new project, First Born Sons’ first album for final mixing. It’s been years in the making and I can absolutely say it’s the best work we’ve ever done. It's a new direction. Simply put: Great American Country Rock. Unapologetically so. Focused and completely different than After The Rain. We’re very proud of it.

Matthew: Gunnar and I are very excited to connect with our fans virtually through the monthly MeetHook.Live events, and as he mentioned the new First Born Sons project. We have some additional press interviews, and with the holidays coming up, we’re keeping our fingers crossed a few of our Christmas with the Nelsons shows will play. I’m optimistic. We also continue to work with our friends in the band Elvis Monroe, and I’m exercising my indie rock muscles with my band, Red37.

CV: Thank you again fellas for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Gunnar: Thank you! And on behalf of the Nelson family, thank you to your readers for being a part of our lives for the past 100 years. It’s been a privilege.

Matthew: Thank you very much. Cheers to everyone and continued health and happiness.

Check out Nelson at:
Official: www.MatthewandGunnarNelson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NELSONtheband/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MatthewandGun
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelson_band
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3HEfEEQgrrjZ9qgBcwGOCQ

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.