Nealson

[Music] Hello. On behalf of Sound Haven Official, my name is Hurricane Raver >> and I'm BBO from Ready VIP >> and we are sitting here with the one and only Neielson. >> How we doing? >> How are you doing? >> So good. So good. >> All right. So, how do you feel your set went yesterday? >> Yesterday was amazing. I thought it went perfect. Um the venue was incredible. I just want to shout out Pepsi Amphitheater. Their staff is just the top notchotch. And you know, I played guitar that sounded amazing. This the whole show, the visuals, everything was really good and I was very happy with it. >> So, this was a new set, new curation of your music and experience. Look up live, right? >> Yeah. Look up live. So, this the show is just about staying positive, looking up, you know, don't don't really trusting the plan. Um, and trusting that everything's meant to happen for a reason. Um, I always really try to emphasize those themes in my my music and my journey because, you know, any life in general can be, you know, a bumpy road and absolutely if you stay positive, you know, things always come out. You'll you'll make it through if you just stay positive and I've learned that throughout my my journey. >> How would you describe your music? >> I would say my music's very um emotional. It's very heartbreak themes and relationship themes, but then it has these peaks of going hard and like letting go. And I think that can it's not like a um darkness. It's just more of something that you feel needs to happen sometimes where it can't always be serious or emotional. Things have to be fun in life. So I always drop like these peaks of fun throughout the the shows and my music. So, with your new music, which you did viewed a bunch of it yesterday on stage, were there any that you feel were those peaks of fun? >> I would say I just made a uh Chapel Ron remix and I played that second to last and that was that just went so hard >> cuz it's a huge like surprise drop and then goes into the old school future bass and I just it it's a such a vibe. So, I love that one. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. I will confirm the chapelone one you just played is better than the one in February that I heard the last >> No, you like that. See, I >> I made that just for the show and uh I I actually was working on that one. I was and I was like I just don't like it. It was a work in progress. So, I redid everything and um it came out amazing. So, >> what is the difference between your Lookup Live set that you played yesterday and your previous sets? Okay. So, the previous set that I did on mainstage was called Higher Purpose. That one was an all original show. And I think as an artist, you really one of your dreams is to play an all original set one day. It's just so fulfilling to you. Um, and so I wanted to like move away from that because I've already done that and I essentially wanted to create like a Super Neielson show and like that's what it was. It was just like the most me possible that wasn't an all original show. >> Yeah. >> So, as an artist, your music goes through different changes. Um, your previous music you stylized and curated based on what you were going for and now that's changed with your new music, your new uh growth. How does that >> get encapsulated in your music? How do you see the change? I think that, you know, everyone comes to a point in their journey where they feel like they have to start the cycle over. So when I originally started, I had this like dream and I was just like, write all this music, get all these feelings out, get all these themes out and like I ran with that. And so like my very first show, it was like more than half my music. It was like a very uh Neielson show like in a way that's like >> probably different than the way a lot of artists start out today where maybe they start DJing and then they kind of slowly build a catalog where I already had that. So I almost after Gold Rush then I played two headline shows one in Tempb and then one in Denver and like that was and you were there. I was there. >> And it was super You were at the Tempe one and it was super fulfilling to me because Denver is where I really started this journey. >> Uh Tempe is where I'm from and like live. Um and so starting the cycle over of like, okay, now for this next phase of my career, I got to go back to the beginning, write new music, write about things that are relevant to me today. And that's what I did. >> Awesome. >> All right. You should know this question's coming from me. When are you growing your hair back out? >> Uh, you know what? You know why I cut it? Actually, this is a little Neielson lore hair. >> Neielson lore. All right. >> So, when I first started making EDM music, I had like shorter hair. >> And then this is when I lived in Denver. That's when I started growing it out. Then when I played my first Denver headline show, I wanted to look in the mirror as I was before I was going to go on stage and look at the same exact person that >> was when I first started. And so much had changed inside of me, but I looked the same. I grew the the scruff out. I was like the same person. And I have actually a picture of it. We can show that right here. But it's it's just an iconic photo of me with my guitar looking in the mirror and um that's why I cut it. So, it's growing back. I wanted to grow like a little bit longer. So, it's coming. Don't worry about it. >> Counterpoint bald is beautiful. >> You know what? That's going to happen soon. So, we'll see what happens. >> I got a pair of clippers. We'll make it happen. >> The next No, he's the first Neielson. He won't be the next. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, what's next for you? You have um you know made it here. We've seen two sets from Neielen in a couple days and this was a journey. You brought a lot of love and passion and work to this moment, >> but now just like that cycle restarted for you a minute ago, it's about to all start again for your next one. >> I agree with you. >> No, you're right. You know what's you know what's very interesting is that I was in a a complete mental space in in March, you know, with the new cycle starting over. And then I'm I was like, cool. Like, I'm going to balance my life. That's what I like kind of felt like I I needed to do because I was going all in on music and I just need to like I wanted to balance things. You know, we're all human beings. Um, and so I was like in this I came to terms with that and I was like at the mall. I was about to go back to Denver for Enzo at Red Rocks and I was like feeling good and I was like writing a bunch of music and I was like man like >> feeling like back to my OG self and then I get a text and I was like do you want to play Coconino and I'm like absolutely thank you so much and it like it almost felt like >> you can't like leave the you know the journey you're on. You're in it and you've built this this thing and and you got to stay focused. So, I think I like learned a lot this past um few months about myself where it's just really just have fun, you know, don't lose that. Have fun with it. Write fun music and just kind of still enjoy it. And this is what this weekend really reminded me of that. So, that going into this next chapter um is really just about having fun, you know, and >> enjoying life. And I think that's where I'm at, you know. >> It's all about >> Yeah. >> You got to keep the momentum. Yeah, I saw a lot of people in niche neielen shirts after the fact. >> Yeah, there was a lot of people. >> I saw a lot of t-shirts getting sold after your sets. >> A thank you. Even the even the merch lady was wearing a Neielson shirt. >> That's sick. >> Which uh I was talking to your mom. >> Okay. Hello. >> Where did all your merch come from? I don't know. >> You know, sometimes you you know, >> sometimes loves you and supports you. >> That's right. That's incredible. >> Shout out to mom, right? >> That's right. Shout out mom. Thank you for helping me with with the merch cuz that that can be, you know, when you do stuff like this, you know, the it's cool, but they it's expensive. Yes. >> You know, music's expensive. It's like you got to pay a photographer, you got to pay, you got to buy merch, you got to promote, you know, you got to be making the music, traveling, everything really adds up. And so, you know, sometimes, you know, you got to ask for help and and luckily, you know, I have people around me that are willing to help. For sure. It really made it special because can you imagine not having merch >> and you're playing Pepsi Amphitheater and there's no merch there and like it it's expensive, you know? Like I'm not I mean, you know, if you you guys have like I don't know if you've ordered merch before, but >> I paid for plenty of merch. >> No, I'm just saying merch. It ain't cheap. >> It's not cheap. >> I bought Boogie Hood yesterday. It's not cheap. >> It's not cheap. cooking up the tags for dinner. >> Exactly. Exactly. And then of course like art, you know, the more that you buy the cheaper it is, but like you know, I'm just saying it's it's like definitely, you know, we all have bills and stuff, so >> not to out you on all that. I just It was adorable. I love I was like, "Wow, half the family support just is >> Absolutely. It really means so much to me." >> Cuz your brother was here today, too, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I think it's just like, you know, it means I think about this a lot and just, you know, a lot of people don't have that or they don't have that support system around you and the fact that I do is, you know, why I'm here. So, >> yeah. >> Awesome. Well, this will be my last question if that's all right. We can, you know, wrap it up here for me. Um, with all of the change, all of the new music, which of your new songs most encapsulates that journey? Which is the new Neielen? That's a good one. There's a really sick one. Um, [Music] check Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Fire Neil, >> right? You like that? >> You're here. That was awesome. Thank you for sharing. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. For sure. >> All right. I guess my final question will be, how does it feel that someone is getting your signature tattooed on their arm? That that was incredible. Like you you see these videos on like Instagram or whatever of like that happening and and it was such a cool moment that tattoos are forever. And the fact that you know you can you can not only impact somebody so with your music but who you are as a person that they they want to tattoo their your signature on them is really incredible and so meaningful and I I it meant a lot to me. Like I I can genuinely say that and I'm so excited. Like they're they were so nice and that's so cool. Like that's so cool to me. It's like >> you made it. that means you >> No, I don't know. That's just so incredible to me. I'm I'm very grateful for them and that energy is >> is means everything. That that's that's what this is all about is is just impacting people positively and impacting people in a way that they'll they'll never forget these moments, you know? Like that's why I I bring people on stage. Like that's why I really go into the crowds after because I want people to like never forget how you made them feel. >> That's real. >> Perfect way to end. >> Absolutely. Well, and on Ready VIP, we have a tradition. We always give the artists the last word for a shout out or anything they want to say, their mantra, their their one special thing that is just meant for anybody listening. For Neielson, >> I would say never give up on your dreams. I would say care about others. You know, don't just focus on yourself, but focus on on other people around you because even the smallest things can really impact someone's day and someone's life. And you're not responsible for their whole life, but you can really put people on a more positive, loving, and like spiritual path by just giving them the time of of day, sharing your journey, and sharing your mentality. Um, like being an artist is, you know, it's hard because you're it's very isolating and I think I never want to feel isolated. I want to feel that I have people around me, which I do like you guys, >> that are like supporting you and like if I I know that if I needed to call either of you or any of my fans or anyone in the community and say like, "Hey, I'm like struggling right now," like they would help me. And I just want to always be that person to others because not everyone has that. So, you know, change the mentality of from maybe it's it's about me to it's about other people around me. And I think good things will happen in life when you do that. So yeah, >> thank you. >> That's my message. >> Run. [Music] Run. [Music] Run. [Music]