Square One Coffeehouse, Lancaster, PA 11/22/2003
By Cheryl Zack
To the John Mayers of the world: move over and make room for Alex Nackman. The genre of the singer/songwriter is getting its due notice, thanks to such successes as Mayer, Dave Matthews, and the like, and Nackman fits right into their musical world. His energetic and upbeat melodies, coupled with insightful lyrics and superb guitar skills make this young artist one to watch. I had a chance to not only experience his musical talents, but to have a few words with him after his show.
CZ: You're from New York?
AN: Yes, I'm from New York. I’m from Westchester, which is a half–hour north of Manhattan, but all of my music-related stuff is based out of New York City.
CZ: And you're a student at Franklin and Marshall College?
AN: I'm a sophomore at F & M. I'm 20 years old.
CZ: How long have you been playing music ?
AN: Well, I've been playing guitar for nine years, and I'd actually been playing violin since I was about five or six, and just kind of switched over to the guitar when I was about 11 or 12, and I actually didn't start writing songs til about two years ago. It's hard to figure exactly how it started, I just started trying to figure out every single cover song I could ever play, then just started experimenting with my own stuff, and it worked, so I wanted to see where it went, and so I'm putting myself out there a little bit.
CZ: What are some places you've performed at so far?
AN: Well, in New York, at CBGB's 313 Gallery, on the Bowery, and the Underground, which is right near there, right off Broadway, Triad Theater, and the C-Note, which is all the way on the East side, and several others in New York, and here in Pennsylvania at F & M College plenty of times, of course, and at Square One a few times, and a few other local places, but most of my stuff is out of New York right now.
CZ: What do you think distinguishes your music from, say, John Mayer?
AN: Wow, that's a good question...I try to combine a lot of different sounds, uh, and I have a sound that's maybe, you know, similar to John Mayer, but I have kind of a jazz side, and very rhythmic, but I also try to add in more Radiohead type of songs, and Coldplay as well, so I think what separates me from the others is my diverse interests, and the eclectic sound of My music. I have a lot of influences, I don't just lump it all into John Mayer or Dave (Matthews), I really try to open it up to all sorts of music; and I think another thing is that I really spend a lot of my time on my lyrics; and the stories behind my songs....everything is personal, I never write anything looking at other people, I mean, I guess there's some influence, but everything I'm playing is coming from something that I have personally experienced.
CZ: When did you decide you want to do this for a living? Or is that even your plan?
AN: Well, I haven't really decided that yet. I'm a student at F & M and things are going really well there, but yet I really love the music thing, too. I guess I just want to see where this takes me. But that's so unpredictable, whether or not something's going to happen, because in music it's so tough....
CZ: Are you finding it hard to break into markets?
AN: Yes and no; I get so much positive feedback online; from the website you can download songs online. I put a lot of stuff on there for people to get, and I get tons of feedback, which is great, but it's always hard getting people to come to shows, and promoting, and getting my name out there; I mean it's great when I get an email from somebody in Kansas that likes my stuff, and it's so great to hear that, but at the same time, that person's not going to be showing up at my next Manhattan show, so....you know, in that way, it's tough, so I'm just kind of seeing where it goes, and hopefully something.....
CZ: What are you studying at F & M?
AN: I'm studying government.
CZ: Wow, that's a pretty tough field, too!
AN: Yeah, absolutely!
CZ: Any other things in the works for you?
AN: Yeah, I'm recording a CD right now, in Philadelphia, I'm recording with one of the producers who co-produced "Moondance" with Van Morrison, so I'm really eager to see the end product of that. I think right now he's actually on tour with Van Morrison for a few weeks, but I'm really excited about that.
CZ: For other musicians out there: how do you make your contacts with people like that?
AN: I have a database that has engineers, studios, rehearsal studios, and you can just type in your zip code and get the top choices, and I called them and went over to check the place out, and he checked me out, and we just clicked right on, and he's got such a great vision, he's right on my wavelength, and I'm really, really excited to get the product going. I played several songs that are kind of in the running for possibly making the CD, but with his vision I'm sure things will go well, so I'm really excited about that; and I'm not sure exactly when it'll be finished, but I'm hoping it'll be finished in January, for release in late February or March.
CZ: Are you independent or do you have a label?
AN: No, I'm fully independent right now, which is tough financially, I have to be careful with that. But I'm just putting my stuff out there and hoping somebody, the right person, hears it and wants to pick it up.
(For the record, I hope so, too, Alex. Visit http://www.alexnackman.com)
CZ