 |
| Seattle cutie Christian Nelson |
If you are a clutterer you will appreciate this song. If you are an organizer you will appreciate this song. If you have a sense of humor - you will like this song! I couldn't help but to reach out and ask for an interview. I was pleasantly surprised to connect with Christian Nelson, songwriter and aspiring educator, composer and producer of this song.
Rachel:
What was your inspiration for the song "Hoarders"?
Christian: Like many people, there are areas of my life in
which I exhibit mild hoarding behavior. For example, the back seat and trunk of
my car are littered with library materials: books, CDs and DVDs. If I didn't
pay at least $10 in late fees each month, I wouldn't feel I was doing my part
to support this worthy cause. Though it would be even better if I occasionally
read some of the books I check out. I also tend to accumulate piles of magazines and
newspapers, especially the local sections, as they have all the good stuff:
relevant news, comics, puzzles and Ask Amy…er…rather, the horoscopes. (Does
that sound manlier?)
Hence the following line from my song “Hoarders”:
You
never know when you might
Need last year's newspapers
Need last year's newspapers
That said, my primary inspiration was the A&E
reality television series, Hoarders.
The first two or three episodes left such an indelible impression on me that
the following lines flowed forth with great ease:
I’ve
got 10 lifetimes’ worth of supplies
Rotten pumpkins, carrots, lettuce and rice
Kitty litter, rotting meat and some sludge I can’t identify
Rotten pumpkins, carrots, lettuce and rice
Kitty litter, rotting meat and some sludge I can’t identify
Rachel:
What are your favorite lyrics from the song and why?
Christian:There's something subtly humorous and poignant about the line
Comfort is hard to come by
You've got to save it for later
I think these lyrics most succinctly encapsulate the spirit of the song.
Christian:There's something subtly humorous and poignant about the line
Comfort is hard to come by
You've got to save it for later
I think these lyrics most succinctly encapsulate the spirit of the song.
Rachel:
What type of thought went into the lyrics? How did you gather the information?
Christian: My primary consideration was to capture the
absurdity of many extreme hoarding situations, while still being respectful.
That said, I couldn’t resist using one of the more amusing sound bites for the
song’s intro: https://soundcloud.com/brokenbyclouds/broken-by-clouds-hoarders
Perhaps the song’s greatest shortcoming (aside from
shoddy production value) is its presumption that hoarding fills some sort of
emotional void. In hindsight, I’m not sure this is an entirely accurate
conclusion. I’d be interested to hear what you and/or your readers think of
that.
Rachel:
What went into making the graphic for the song?
Is that food really spoiled?
Is that food really spoiled?
 |
| Slightly aged tangelo |
Christian: The food in question is a slightly aged tangelo. I
use the present tense because I still have it, all these months later. You
should see it now! (Just kidding.)
It was pretty simple, really. I used one of those
fancy Ziplock bags you can write on (after cutting away the Ziplock logo, since
they didn’t return my calls about sponsoring my music project ~ harrumph!) and
took a picture of it in front of a slightly messy fridge. It’s not really as bad
as it looks, I swear!
Rachel:
Do you watch any of the reality hoarding shows?
Which one?
Which one?
Christian: Only
the aforementioned A&E series.
Rachel:
Who is your ideal listener?
Christian: Anyone with money and influence! No, no, no…I like
to think my music rewards the careful listener, as I only write songs when I
have something compelling to say. And/or when I feel compelled to say
something. Not always the same thing, to be sure. However, I definitely endeavor
to avoid trite sentiments. My songs also tend to “go somewhere”, if you will,
via fluctuating musical and lyrical dynamics.
Lastly, the inveterate critic within wishes to add
that “Hoarders” was the first song I recorded on my own, using GarageBand
software. Fitting, in that my incompetence necessitated throwing everything and
the kitchen sink into this “Wall of Filth” demo. One can see the progress I’ve
made by listening to the much more streamlined “The Universe Loves Me”. https://soundcloud.com/brokenbyclouds/the-universe-loves-me
Christian
Nelson is a songwriter and aspiring educator born and raised in the vicinity of
Seattle, Washington. His solo recording project is called Broken by Clouds. He currently works at a teen emergency shelter,
as well as a K-5 after-school program.
“Like”
Broken by Clouds on Facebook, to keep up to date on new songs and upcoming
performances: https://www.facebook.com/BrokenByClouds
Purchase
Broken by Clouds’ first full-length compilation, Infinite Mortality, for $4.99: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brokenbyclouds5
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest
