Brent Nuffer

Jan. 24, 2007

ArthurAutumn - otherwise known as Brent Nuffer - has been playing in bands for at least a half-dozen years, beginning with the group Figurehead in 2000 - and he’s been singing for way longer than that, so to say that music is his passion is something of an understatement.  He’s already a member of Lansing/Detroit pop-rock outfit Studiotone - a band that’s been getting plenty of notoriety around the Motor City region.
But Nuffer’s talents are too big for just one band. So, in addition to his work with Studiotone, he’s also embarked on a full-blown side solo project (hence the moniker ArthurAutumn), and is breaking hearts and shaking up things all the way around with his debut disc, StyrofoamPillsHeartbreakShaker.
“My work as ArthurAutumn is meant to explore a more folky, moody, ambient sound than what I do with Studiotone,” Nuffer/Autumn explains, “and it’s also an effort to explore other types of music that I enjoy.” 
Those types of music are wide-ranging and impressive, as Nuffer cites everyone from Billie Holiday and John Lennon to Rufus Wainwright and Chuck D. as the driving musical forces in his life.
“I am influenced by and appreciate so many different artists,” he says. “There are so many folks to draw from.  But I think both my solo work and Studiotone have a unique sound in comparison to anyone else out there charting today.  So we’ll leave it to others to decide what we sound like.”

A DIFFERENCE
On StyrofoamPills..., Nuffer wrote and recorded all of the songs, and worked with musician friends both from inside Studiotone (Studiotone’s guitarist Josh Woodland, who played bass) and beyond, as well as with producers Zack Pearce and Glenn Brown.  But there’s a difference between the creation of ArthurAutumn songs and Studiotone tunes. 
“Yeah, songwriting for ArthurAutumn is a bit different than working with Studiotone,” Nuffer explains. “Most of the ArthurAutumn songs are written on an acoustic guitar, front to back; it’s more of an organic approach to (song)writing.  I’m able to see the vision through with little outside influence, just voice and guitar, and there’s something charming about that to me.  Then I’ll take the songs to Zack, and we’ll build upon them.” 
Studiotone, by contrast, writes as more of a unit, usually with one of the band members coming up with a piece of music that the whole band collaborates on.  “I really enjoy that also, but it can be a bit more nerve-wracking,” Nuffer chuckles. “The others can tell you that your part sucks, y’know, so that’s different.  But as far as lyrics and melodies go, they just kind of come when they want to, and don’t when they don’t.”
But once they do, there are plenty of places for those songs to be showcased.  Studiotone have already released two albums, Digital Radio and Where You Left Off, and of course ArthurAutumn’s StyrofoamPillsHeartbreakShaker is just out. 
“I’m currently playing out as much as I can, especially with ArthurAutumn, trying to get the name out there,” Nuffer confirms, “trying to promote the album and get it heard.  With Studiotone, there have probably only been about two months that have gone by in which we haven’t had a show, so I’m very proud of that too.  Also in Studiotone, we’re currently writing, and may even do a live album this year, as I’m feeling the rock vibe again.” 
Fans of both Studiotone and those wondering what Nuffer’s new sound as ArthurAutumn might be like will be treated to the opportunity to hear both projects when Nuffer brings them to Union Street Station in TC on January 26-27, while Nuffer as ArthurAutumn will be performing a special early opening show on Saturday the 27th (at 8 pm) to introduce Northern Michigan to his newest musical endeavor.
“The biggest challenge is just to be heard,” Nuffer says, “times are changing all the time, and you really have to get out there, so you hold on tight and hope you get a shot, and if you do, you make the most of it and are grateful.  I’m looking forward to working on both projects, the new Studiotone tunes and thinking up the next direction for Arthur Autumn;  it’s going to be an exciting year - I can feel it.