Nom De Plume: “Success for us is people listening to our music and enjoying it. That’s it”
Nom De Plume is a Maryland and Wyoming-based band led by singer/songwriter and guitarist Aris Karabelas and innovative bassist Michael Magee. Having debuted in 1999 with their album Lovely Land, it would be another nine years before the outfit returned to the scene with Ashes to Argyle. All of that, however, is in the past.
Circle The Dream is Nom De Plume's brand new record, and it's a wonderfully eclectic and cathartic ten-track offering I've fallen completely in love with.
Getting the sense that Aris and Michael had an artistic arc worth exploring, I felt compelled to see whether they'd be up for an interview. Thankfully, the pair were more than willing to open up!
Chatting about their mutual love for The Grateful Dead, what success means to them, and why they have more faith in the music industry than most, please welcome Aris and Michael of Nom De Plume!
Aris and Michael - welcome aboard! I'm really excited to introduce you to our ever-growing audience!
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, could you tell us about your respective musical journeys and when the two of you first crossed paths?
Aris: I picked up the guitar fairly late, or early, depending on how you look at it. I was 16, going on 17, and completely absorbed in it. Music was everything to me, and it still is, haha. I started writing songs immediately as I was learning each new thing on guitar. I formed Nom De Plume in Baltimore, then moved and reformed the band in Boston. I met Mike through our former drummer, Dave Roderick, who also appears on the last song, Daylight on Circle The Dream. We’ve been making music together since then, and I’ll let Mike take it from here.
Mike: When I met Aris, I had been playing guitar in bands for over a decade. I was in between bands, and one of my best friends, Dave, had just joined Nom De Plume as the drummer. Aris relayed to me through Dave that he was looking for a bass player, so I decided that a change of instruments would be the thing to do. I’ve been playing bass with Aris ever since.
Right, moving onto your brand new album, Circle The Dream. It's such a beautifully eclectic and immersive record. Each track feels like it lives in its own universe while still tying into the bigger picture, if that makes sense.
Is there an overall theme that runs through the album, or did the connections between songs emerge naturally as everything came together?
Aris: Thank you very much for your feedback on the album! It means a lot! And yes, what you are describing makes perfect sense. Circle The Dream is a concept album, though each song stands strongly on its own as well. Nothing was forced. The songs emerged naturally, with a real ebb and flow to the writing process.
The album ended up reflecting what was going on at the time, both personally and creatively. Some songs just clicked into place like puzzle pieces for this album, while others didn’t make the final cut because there were simply too many to choose from. In fact, we’ve already mapped out ideas and songs for our next two albums. I think one unifying element to this album is one of longing and resilience through life’s upheavals and dissatisfactions. Though I must say I am a big fan of leaving interpretations to listeners, who find their own meaning and connection to songs.
Mike: There is a theme, but one of the things that we believe in is that every song has to stand alone. When we’re working on a song, that is the only focus. We’re not concerned with how it will fit in the album, just how to make the song the best possible version of the song that we can.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? And, if you could each "steal" one song in the world and claim it as your own, what would you go with and why?
Aris: Wow, that’s a hard one to answer; I love so many artists, and there is such great music I’m always discovering. It’s nearly impossible to choose just one. I am truly inspired by a wide range of musical styles. No matter the genre, what really inspires me is artists who show not only skill, but also originality and authenticity. I’ve had many instances when I wished, “Oh man, why didn’t I write that song!”
A more recent example is Father John Misty’s song Buddy’s Rendezvous sung by Lana Del Rey. I think it’s such a beautiful and moving song and performance, and I love the instrumentation. That’s just one. If we had all day, I’d name more.
Mike: Listing the top 10 musical influences for each of us would be hard, and the influences that are driving each song will depend on the song. I love asking people who they think a song sounds like, and every song gets different answers.
I will say that one band we have both listened to and whose songs we have played in cover bands is The Grateful Dead. I think that their dedication to each song being its own unique work fits what we do.
What would “being successful” in the music industry look like for Nom De Plume? And, do you see it as an imperative or more of a cherry on top?
Aris: Being successful for us is not defined by the music industry per se; for us, success is making music on our own terms. The process of creating our third record after a long hiatus, in and of itself, has been a success for us. We persevered, we rallied, we stayed committed. The music industry can make the work of music feel like constantly chasing a carrot dangled in front of you and never being satisfied. On the other hand, to me, success is being present in the moment, enjoying and savoring each creative accomplishment.
Mike: Success for us is people listening to our music and enjoying it. That’s it. If more people are listening, then that’s good. We are making the music that we would want to hear and that we hope others will want to hear. As long as people enjoy the music, then whatever else happens is a happy bonus.
What are your thoughts regarding the music industry of today? And, if you were able to, what changes would you make to it?
Aris: I know it’s probably easy to go into a list of things that aren’t so great about the music industry today, but I’d like to go in a bit of a different direction. What I DO like is that avenues for pursuing music are no longer as monolithic and impenetrable as in the past. Today, there are options for independent artists to record, self-publish, and self-promote.
What I’d change is the disparities in earnings from streaming revenue. It seems that it wouldn’t take much to allow artists to make a living wage off their streams.
Mike: I think that the music industry today is changing faster than I can keep track of. The one consistent thing is that it is about making money for the bands and companies at the top. I don’t know if I would make any changes if I were able to. The butterfly effect is as real as the law of unintended consequences.
Do you feel artists have a responsibility to comment on the times we’re living in, or is music’s role more personal and timeless?
Aris: Personally, I don’t like to date a song by explicitly addressing current events. It doesn’t feel right for me. I opt for personal and timeless as having the greatest impact. It’s certainly not my place to define what other artists can or should do in this regard, so by all means, if that’s what rows your boat and pushes your art forward, have at it.
Mike: I don’t think that artists have more of a responsibility to comment on the times than anybody else. Our making music doesn’t give us any more insight into anything than the lived experiences of others. Some of the greatest music has come from social commentary, but some has also come from all the other facets of human life.
If Nom De Plume could collaborate with any musician or band, who would it be?
Aris: Another question where I can’t pick just one! Currently, I’m really enjoying Sunny War’s music. It’s very appealing; she has elements of traditional blues and soul, yet makes it so unique and interesting. I love her phrasing on the guitar and her authentic voice. I would love to have the legendary Daniel Lanois, who produced Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind and so many other great artists, produce us! Love the swampy feel, amazing!
Mike: I don’t know if there is a singular musician or band that I would want to work with. I do know that each collaboration is a musical conversation that can lead to new and interesting places. I enjoy the journey that we can have together and seeing where it can lead.
Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us Aris and Michael! It's been great getting to know you better!
Before we sign off, what’s next on your creative radar, and do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to leave us with?
Aris: Right now, we are focusing on touring and promoting Circle The Dream, while also planning for our next record, one day at a time. And for my words of wisdom, I’d say strive as much as possible to be your most authentic self!
Mike: We will be making more music in the not-too-distant future. What it ends up sounding like we won’t know for sure until we’re both in the studio, but the one thing I do know is that it will sound like us, whatever that is. My only words of wisdom would be to live your life the best that you can, whatever that is for you.
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