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1.) We’re very happy to have some time today with acclaimed folk musician Nolen Sellwood; greetings and salutations Nolen and welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we charge down the musical Q&A rabbit hole, how is 2024 treating you and yours?
2024 has been treating me well! I am going into my senior year at University studying psychology and political science while dabbling in music here and there. I have been working a lot on my craft and possible futures in it, working with some other musicians and artists nearby just to combine ideas and concepts for possible future releases if opportunities arise. But until then I just like to hang with my friends, jam, and play video games! I am also competing in this year’s university bowling team which I am very excited for.
2.) Major kudos and accolades on your freshly-minted new album Cadence to the Flame! Starting at the top, can you talk about what inspired this raw and powerful sophomore LP?
My biggest inspirations were folk singers of the late 60s early 70s like Nick Drake and Lesley Duncan. I’ve always found myself captivated by their sound. Taking all of my learning experiences from the first album and using that to understand what it was to make music and what it was I wanted to make helped us craft this beautiful record. John Wright and Steve Lehto who are my producers also inspire me to be myself in my music and never shy away from what makes my music mine. I’ve come a long way and always struggled with how people are going to perceive my music and worrying about if everyone is going to like it or not. But I’ve realized that the music may not be for everyone but for the music that it is meant for they will find meaning in it as I have in the music I’ve fallen in love with.
3.) How is Cadence to the Flame similar tonally to your freshman album Otherwise? How is it different?
The similarity is that it is very acoustic-based. Every song derives itself from acoustic guitar and tries to keep those elements throughout the pieces. But I think the albums are really very different. Since I had never recorded anything or had any formal training in music I used Otherwise as a learning opportunity in what it was like to make music. Cadence To The Flame was me taking all of those elements and crafting these songs with Steve and John to actualize them to their fullest potential. We spent a lot of time experimenting with sounds and percussions but we needed to focus on what we could do to help guide the song in telling its story without getting in the way and I feel like we did a very good job.
4.) The opening ditty on Cadence to the Flame – the gorgeous tune State of Being – is drawing rave reviews, with some armchair pundits comparing it stylistically to the nigh legendary Nick Drake. How did this new song come about?
This song came about just during my routine guitar tuning experiment nights. All of my songs are in wacky tunings which add a tonality very unique to the music. I spend hours exploring tuning and breaking strings but in that exploration, I craft songs like this. The symbolism reflects on the fear of opening yourself up to being loved. Sometimes we think what we are is undesirable or unworthy of love but when opened up to it we can realize that maybe the love is what we need to push ourselves to a better self. Some elements come from a book called The Art Of Living by Erich Fromm which helped me learn about what it is to love and how we can work on loving more in our lives.
5.) Can you introduce our ever-inquisitive readers to some of the incredible musicians who lent their musical alchemy into making Cadence to the Flame a reality?
As I have said, John Wright and Steve Lehto have been incredible in helping craft the instrumentation with John on bass and Steve on guitar and other instrumentation like strings but we also have my two best friends from school Sam Hovda on trumpet and Owen Reinert Nash on percussion. Sam and Owen have been playing with me live a bunch recently as they were band kids in high school so they know more than me in a lot of cases but it also creates an awesome environment to just play music with your best friends.
6.) In your humble opinion, what differentiates Cadence to the Flame from the Distinguished Competition on the 2024 music scene?
I can’t really explain it. It isn’t trying to appeal to something popular that exists now that gets clicks or a set structure. The music just is as it comes from the heart and body. I often run into the issue in my generation where when I say I make music it’s often thought of that I make some sort of rap music when in reality I don’t think you could get any more opposite from what I make. This album is different in the way that I am different from anyone else in my life. It’s my story and it’s the music in my head that I hear every time I look in the mirror.
7.) Cadence to the Flame is released via New Folk Records. What makes New Folk the perfect home for you and your music?
Ever since I stumbled into New Folk Records it just clicked from the start. Everyone there understood the music and understood what it meant. Without the help of Bob McMenoman in financing a music dream for a broke college student, Ken Onstad in managing this project, April Onstad on design photography and social media, Krista Vilinskis in providing PR opportunities, John and Steve for making the music with me, and my friends and family for the support none of this would have been possible.
8.) With the new album now out and about in the world, what does your touring/performing dance card look like in the coming weeks and months?
Well, this summer had some good shows. We would love to do more but work and school love finding a way of getting in the way of plans. But I have been making plenty of musically talented friends in university. The dream will always be to be able to play and gig for a living but school will always be a priority until that becomes a reality.
9.) You’re based out of the beautiful state of Minnesota, home to such music greats as Eddie Cochran. How do those particular stomping grounds inform you and the music which you create?
Honestly, I’ve been very interested in the British scene of songwriting more than anything. However, I do go to school near where Bob Dylan grew up which is quite a pleasant surprise as I meet a lot of Bob Dylan fans who are acoustic folk enjoyers where I’m able to really connect with and gain a mutual love for the genre.
10.) Who are you inspired by, musically-speaking?
Nick Drake has always been my number-one inspiration. His tragic story has touched my heart and his music even more so. If he was able to get out there and use his pain to touch so many people with his music maybe I’m able to as well. I am also very inspired by a select set of early Michael Franks like the Tiger In The Rain album. If you know me you will know that I have a very particular taste in music but the jazzy style of Michael Franks sometimes has just enough of that emotion for me to really love. Recently I’ve been diving heavily into Iron & Wine which has to be probably the best living example of great folk music.
11.) At the end of the day, what do you hope listeners walk away with after giving many-a-listen to your beautiful sophomore LP Cadence to the Flame?
I want them to walk away feeling something that they may have never felt before. I want them to listen to the music and connect it to their own lives and maybe gain new perspectives on their issues, worries or lives. Music is a powerful thing and even if just one person has a better day because of a song of mine then I will know that all of the time, effort, and money we have spent will have been worth it.
SOCIALS:
Website: https://nolensellwood.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolensellwoodmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolen.sellwood/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nolensellwood9500
