ISSUE #42 MMUSICMAG.COM Q&A Norman Seeff NATE RUESS His latest project proves that going solo is fun, too AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS OF This record refl ects your happiness. albums, which is fantastic. It’s not something supporting Some Nights—the platinum- When you think about being happy, you I’m equipped to do. His references are selling, 2012 breakthrough album by his think about puppy dogs, roses and whatnot. amazing. That’s what I look for in anyone Grammy-winning band fun.—Nate Ruess My favorite happy song of all time is “Mint I’m making music with—the references. You was feeling good. So good, in fact, he Car” by the Cure. When I make mix CDs or can’t create something unless you have the opted to temporarily step away from the mixtapes or playlists for people, I always fi nd ability to look back and appreciate it. trio and go solo. It was a bold move for myself looking for those songs that are sheer the singer-songwriter, but it’s paying off. joy. I wanted to explore that on this album. How did Jeff develop his guitar solo? His album, Grand Romantic—a fi ttingly I’d never done that before, and I’m proud of I think he had read an article where I’d said titled set of massive-sounding earworms it. I don’t think I crossed that scary line of my favorite Wilco song was “More Like the partially inspired by his romance with being too overjoyed. You never want to feel Moon.” It has a classical guitar solo at three designer Charlotte Ronson—features braggy about it, either. As a songwriter, I’m different times in the song, and it’s always guest turns from Beck and Wilco’s Jeff not out to be like, “Look at me. I’m so happy.” like a three-minute solo. He knew the era Tweedy. It also boasts the same infectious of Wilco that I was particularly looking for melodies and pop-rock pomposity that Your music refl ects a mix of genres. in the song—and he was able to channel made fun. tunes like “We Are Young” and As soon as the iPod existed, it changed that. That’s probably my favorite moment “Carry On” such smashes. the way we had access to everything. on the album. Growing up, I was an alternative kid, and How’s it feel to be a solo artist? then a punk-rock kid, then indie rock. It A glockenspiel in “You Light My Fire”? Sometimes it’s strange to not be in a band. was one kind—or nothing. Having an iPod That was the culmination of a whole bunch But I’ve been having a blast. There are perks offered access to everything. You’re not of different glockenspiels and xylophones. I to not being in a band—like having complete stuck with your collection of metal CDs, or decided I wanted to do something slightly Dire creative control. You don’t have to worry whatever it may be. And as a songwriter, Straits-y. I was just getting ready to go into about the other people’s schedules, or even anything can get me. the studio—seriously, I was getting dressed— having to have a conversation about the and I wrote the entire track, riff, everything, music. It’s not like it’s ever been a problem Beck also embraces different styles. in like two seconds. That’s always a great in the bands I’ve been in—I’ve been very lucky Beck is one of the pioneers of that whole sign when something just comes, and you’re with people—but at the same time, there’s “screw the genre” approach. He does a able to put it all together in two seconds. something nice about total freedom. great job of shape-shifting throughout the –Kenneth Partridge ‘There are perks to not being in a band—like having complete creative control.’ 24 M mag 42.indd 24 1/17/16 3:57 PM.