SXSW Preview – Nadine – Nadia Hulett

by Alex Teitz

 

                Oh My is a different album. It mixes jazz elements and complex arrangements into a fluid dynamic sound that permeates the space between the device and the ear. Then it extends the boundaries of what is possible.

 

                Oh My is the debut album by Nadine, a Minneapolis band consisting of Nadia Hulett, Julian Fader and Carlos Hernandez. Hulett has done work both as a solo artist and as part of Phantom Posse. The album took 2 years to create. It was made both in New York City and Dripping Springs, Texas.

 

                Nadine will be at SXSW. FEMMUSIC is honored to have an e-mail interview with Nadia Hulett. We have kept it in original form because Hulett responded poetically to some responses. 

 

NH: emotionally:

 

The prolonged days-weeks-months of getting in my own way:

 

Excessive doubt, imbalance, inertia

 

Logistically:

 

The realities of a long distance collaboration – finding the moments & money to come together to write and record

 

 

NH: After leaving New York City I lived for a bit in providence, upstate New York, and Austin. My time in dripping springs was actually quite short and came after the album was already finished. However, I visited a fair amount – whenever i could – during the making of oh my. the week we recorded there was a turning point for the record. Julian and Carlos felt much freer in the process, and we realized just how important it is for us to write outside of the city (New York City). How it influences the imagination in such a positive way.

 

Dripping Springs has always been sacred to me, an opportunity to start fresh, signs of a new life.

 

NH: I think I challenged how things are often done in a studio because I didn’t have everything written in full beforehand, and i didn’t desire for anything to be rushed. We did not have certain ticking clock pressures in the studio. i wanted it to be a creative place (as it can and should be). So i took my time. I also had to take my time between writing sessions in the studio with Julian and Carlos so that i could work on new songs on my own and save up money for the next session. It made sense to do it that way. The emphasis was on moving slow.

 

It’s good to have space

 

Space / time / distance can really help things – We don’t have to rush rush rush all the time

 

Some things can wait

 

NH: Mmm it was all unexpected ~

 

Everything unfolded as we went and most things were surprises

 

NH: This process has been transformative

Here I am embracing what means the most to me and doing what i can to serve it and share what feels right to share

The collaboration with Julian and Carlos has provided an incredible foundation for this to happen

 

I learned again and again during the process of making oh my that it is necessary for me to work with others on projects. I usually process my feelings and experiences out loud and sometimes even collaborate with close friends on decision making – not because I don’t know what I want but because i need to get what is inside of me out and it helps for me to explore ideas with others. I’ve attempted before to “do it all alone” in bedrooms and found myself in very unhealthy places. I want to recognize what works best for me and see myself grow.

 

Finding ways to communicate and connect with people is vital

 

It’s easy to float out into spacey loneliness when we aren’t regularly feeling seen, heard, held

 

NH: We emailed Jessi Frick (who started and runs Father Daughter with her dad) and she opened the email!

I met Jessi years ago and Julian and Carlos worked with her a little bit in the recent past, so it wasn’t out of the blue

I’ve wanted to work with Jessi and know her better for years, and I’m really grateful that it is happening now.

Jessi has the resources and experience in the industry that I just don’t have yet.

Releasing an album with a label is one way of doing things. I was very interested in exploring this way of doing things, and I plan to explore the many roads that exist and create my own as I continue to learn and grow.

 

 

NH: The process is fluid just like me

 

NH:  I started writing, saw the long list coming & had to stop

 

No one song alone – no one experience alone

 

NH: Assumptions may be made about me because of my role on stage as the performer and singer. Sometimes with men, but not exclusively, an assumption is made that I would want to work with you before I know anything about you. we may be chatting about something and it comes up that i write songs – make albums – perform, and it just so happens you are a producer, guitarist, or whatever. i may have no idea who you are or what you are about but the assumption is often that I should want to work with you or be flattered by your interest in me (and my potential 😉 ). Sometimes I do want to work with you! Perhaps,  maybe. If we connect! What’s the connection? What’s the context? Is there a foundation here or could there be? This is also inherently about choice.

 

NH: Sean Nicholas Savage – let me croon with you

Kadhja Bonet – let me learn from you

Kelsey Lu – let me play with you

Solange – let me sway with you

Lana del Rey – let me mourn with you

Sade & Erykah Badu – let me share my gratitude with you

 

NH: More room for everybody / less exclusive / more qtpoc represented on labels, showcases, tours, and generally running things

No one should get buried in algorithms and have to pay to get their music heard

 

Pay-to-play is a thing i always associated with the acting world, and it’s awful how rampant it is here too

 

 

We can thrive outside these models

 

We can make our own pathways

 

 

We can move on our own timelines