Smooth Artist Interviews

Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 1
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 2
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 3
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 4
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 5
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 6
Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy - A Million Shiny Things 7
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Al Nesbitt and The Alchemy
How did your new album/single and overall concept for it come about?

I knew that I was ready to record a new album but I just wasn't sure what I wanted it to be about.  Through an odd twist of events I found myself staying at the Chateau Marmont, in West Los Angles.  It was a wonderful get away and I really started diving in a trying to come up with a topic that would inspire me to write the new album for.  On the third day, I had the epiphany of writing about the very place that I was staying at.  Given its rich history of almost 100 years of being a sort of playground for people not wanting to be watched or seen, part of which was the reason I was there - an artistic getaway with some fun mixed in. 'Blowbacks' is a song about sharing time with someone in Room 53 and the balcony, soaking in all of the fun and watching the lights of Sunset Strip below

If you were to choose to learn a new instrument that you've never played before, what instrument might that be?

Cello.  For sure.  The deep rich tone and qualities of loneliness of the instrument draws me in every time.  

If you were asked (and we are asking now!) for your advice as to what the Smooth jazz format could do moving forward to insure it relevance and growth, what would your suggestion(s) be?

To keep being forward thinking as you obviously have been for decades.  Keep embracing technology and I love that you guys are welcoming to different styles, like ours.  I think that this keeps things interesting for the listener.

At what point in your life did you make the decision to become a professional musician and actually record your own music?

I was 16 years old when I made the decision that I wanted to be a professional musician. I had no idea what that meant, what it looked like but I did know that I didn't want to do anything else.  

Who would you like to collaborate with musically, recording or performing live?

Such a great question.  Several artists come to mind;

Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Jesse Cook, Nicholas Hooper, Paulo Buonvino

What's your absolute favorite part of the World, and why?

Europe with a doubt. The rich history, the love and importance of music in their individual cultures and breathtaking embrace of architecture, art and science are inspiring to experience.