Nap Eyes continue exploring the realm of improvisational song-writing with the third single from their upcoming album, Snapshot of a Beginner. With frontman Nigel Chapman tossing out a stream of consciousness for the band to shape into songs, “Mystery Calling” seems to elaborate on the process itself.
“This is another improvised-origin song,” explains Chapman. “On one level it’s basically a description of my homebody ways, and it’s also about the way our mundane routines can seem to pull us away from what I’m referring to as ‘Mystery’ in the song– that is, away from the discovery and creation that seem to be more valuable and important activities in themselves, despite being deemed superficially ‘non-practical.’ Now, this irritation and sense of being drawn away from what’s important is probably mostly illusory. This is because the cosmic mystery is probably accessible even in the midst of the most boring and stressful busywork. At the same time, as any good procrastinator should know, there is quite a lot of good that comes from letting the mind ignore apparently pressing worldly activities in order to let it roam, explore, discover and create.”
And perhaps there’s some truth in that. The creative mind needs room to breathe. But, as any responsible editor will tell you, it also needs to be honed and disciplined.
Nap Eyes are still easily carried by their sound; a modern minimalists mixture of Bob Dylan and Lou Reed, but some of the proof remains to found in the pudding.
“Is there a chance I could be wrong?
Is there a chance I should just forget about my song?
I’ve got some work to do today,
Not the kind that’s fun to play,
I’ve got some work to do today,
Maybe I should forget my song,
Just procrastinate,
. . .All I do,
Tra la la, treigh leigh leigh”
Whether the song is intended as a self-aware example of creative pitfalls, or simply the subject of irony, it certainly comes off as a slow day at the song factory. It sounds good and it looks good, it might even reference something profoundly significant, but we would probably starve if we had to survive on it.
Nap Eyes new album, Snapshot of a Beginner, is expected to be released March 27th via Royal Mountain Records / Jagjaguwar, in partnership with Paradise of Bachelors.
Tour Dates
03.11.20 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
03.12.20 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *
03.13.20 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
03.14.20 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill *
03.15.20 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *
03.16.20 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *
03.17.20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
03.19.20 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos *
03.20.20 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre *
03.22.20 – Victoria, BC @ Lucky Bar
03.25.20 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
03.27.20 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
03.28.20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
03.29.20 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
03.30.20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
04.01.20 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
04.02.20 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
04.04.20 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
04.05.20 – Urbana, IL @ Rose Bowl Tavern
04.06.20 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
04.15.20 – London, UK @ The Moth Club
04.16.20 – Liverpool, UK @ Leaf
04.17.20 – Glasgow, UK @ The Hug and Pint
04.18.20 – Leeds, UK @ Hyde Park Book Club
04.19.20 – Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
04.20.20 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin
04.22.20 – Paris, FR @ Le Point Ephemere
04.23.20 – Brussels, BE @ Volta
04.24.20 – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
04.25.20 – Utrecht, NL @ Ekko
*with Destroyer