Velvet Negroni

Photography and Interview by Drew Reynolds.

Minneapolis-based Jeremy Nutzman recently released his sophomore LP as Velvet Negroni entitled Neon Brown (released via 4AD). Drew Reynolds caught up with Jeremy ahead of his opening slot at Tame Impala’s recent Madison Square Garden gig.

 

Neon Brown is being released on 4AD. Were you into any 4AD artists growing up? And how does it feel to be on such an iconic independent record label?

I listened to a bit of The Pixies and got into Efterklang a little.

You’re a visual artist as well as a musician. What inspires your art?

My visual art is inspired by a lot of things, but mostly my immediate environment mixed with bad memories.

You recently opened up for Tame Impala at Madison Square Garden. What was it like to play in a venue of that size? 

Playing Madison Square Garden was kind of a trip. I didn’t really have any expectations…or maybe I did; who knows?  But I do know that it felt much more normal than I would have liked it to.

You weren’t allowed to listen to secular music growing up. What was your first show? Did your parents know about it?

My first show was Andrew W.K. with Apex Theory and The Lost Prophets. My parents absolutely did not know I was in attendance.

What’s your favorite track to play live from NEON BROWN?

Of all the songs on NEON BROWN, so far “WINE GREEN” is my favorite track to perform live.

If you could collaborate with one living artist or dead artist who would it be and why?

If I could get up and do a session with any artist living or dead, I would definitely collaborate with Banksy because he’s got that ILL FLOW, especially on a drum and bass type of track.