PiK
An Interview With NEDS
When a baby is born, it is a miracle. Two humans meet, through every near death experience they didn't recognize... From different places on this planet... Centuries upon centuries occurred before you, and somehow in some magical way you & another human can manage to love each other in this life... Love is our overall purpose right? To create a bond that can never be broken, a promise to each other. More magically, creation of life... but sometimes an anomaly may occur. See, when a fertilized egg is in the body, random random random cases cause the fertilized egg to SPLIT! Many hypothesis can explain this, but miraculously the human body can then decide to continue & grow these cells as two different humans. This is the case for Identical Twins.
Welcome to People I Know, this is first of many and today I've dedicated some time to interview not only an incredible artist, but also MY twin brother NEDS...
NEDS photographed by AngelicMouthWater
DS: Devin Summer
N: NEDS
DS: NEDS, hi.
N: Ay, how you doing?
DS: I don’t think people will understand the gravity of how crazy it is you agreed to do this project, I think last time you were publicly NEDS was during the 2017? 18? Summer run!
N: Yeah, no. It’s been a good-long minute since I’ve done anything solo. Publicly I don’t think it’s been done since “Can’t Get Over You”. A bunch of internal rebrands. CM becoming a big part of my musical outlet. But we’re back on track, we’re back on track.
DS: You promised us an album that October... As a fan and a brother, I’m disappointed.
N: I did. I’ve always wanted to release an album in October. The color of the trees, the smell of seasonal candles, the weather and clothes. After I performed those songs, I took a good minute to reevaluate the work, making small changes here and there you know? Once December hit, my whole everything got shifted. I went through a nasty scenario and had to pause and really start taking things serious. Nothing we did really matched my idea of an October album, I was being pretty harsh on myself. But in the midst of all that CM was born and we all got locked inside together and I was able to learn what taking things serious meant. Applying everything now! Sorry to disappoint though.
DS: [Laughs] For the sake of the interview I won’t act like I don’t know you or what you’re up to, but what’s new and what ARE you up to, for the people reading this?
N: With any free time I can, Just finishing up my parts with CM, wrapping that project soon.. if I can say that? Trying to align a few things for the solo, imma try to get some stuff out this summer, whether it’s a show or single like; I’m ready! Uh. There’s two huge projects that boggle my brain but, those I’ll keep under wraps for now. Not in a dumb mysterious way, they just seriously need work and are not ready. Besides that though just trying to get healthy, doing some photography projects for the homies when they need.
DS: Side question based of your response regarding CM. When we work together in that setting, do you see me as your brother Devin in your band, or do you see me as another artist working with you?
When I look at Meech and Zel it’s like, these are obviously my friends but people ask me all the time “so your brother is in your band too?” And I’m like that’s my bro but that’s NEDS in that band. Do you feel that way?
N: Yeah, nah. I don’t know how to describe it. Like that’s my brother. Obviously in relation but like that’s my BROTHER and I see all you guys that way. It’s not homie homie homie, "oh hi twin" it’s like y'all are my for-real-brothers. It’s so hard to describe. [Laughs]
DS: But in a creative setting do you see it as a collaboration as artist? Especially in the context of the band?
N: I think in the studio is when you least feel like my twin. I see Devin, my bro, turn into Devin Summer if that makes sense. It’s a gear we’re in that doesn’t show in any other space. On stage I can low-key see you as my brother, like if you trip or forget your lyrics I’m laughing hard as fuck but, in the studio I’m just like “bro can you try it this way, oooo that sounds fire hit that note not this” you feel?
DS: Oh hell no [Laughs]. On stage is fucked up.
Welp, trying to move on from that, what do you think life really is?
Not the experience of life, or the biological version, but the cosmic/mystical spark?
N: The fact that this is even real is crazy. The belief of soul and any possibility to how we got here and its purpose. It’s all too perfect, it makes me suspicious. [Laughs] Like legitimately against all the odds, we as humans have made it this far to even be in a body and be alive. Whatever that means. So you say mystical spark, it’s DEFINITELY & exactly that. I don’t know what it is other than beauty.
"
WHAT
THE
FUCK
IS
GOING
ON
"
NEDS photographed by AngelicMouthWater
DS: In 2021 you had a surgical operation on your stomach that kind of shook the platform you stand on. Were you in fear for any of those moments, and would you even say scared for your life? I’d assume changing the context of my previous question life = experiences and things we take for granted.
N: Honestly I wasn’t scared more than I was just nervous. Getting out of the hospital then going back being like “what the fuck is going” was nerving but I definitely felt like it was just an obstacle. I did adopt a pretty good sense of gratitude coming out of that. I remember talking to Alex as soon as I got out the second and final time, I was sitting in the passenger of the truck and felt the most uncomfortable I’ve ever felt, like unimaginable levels of fake and antsy. Trying to hold a conversation with this fucker [Laughs]. That’s the closest thing I can think to what death feels like. Just knowing that can be a normal thing or real again to anybody makes me motivated to get everything I can going while we’re young. It’s also a double edge sword because not everyone has that type of mindset. So often times I come off very frantic and pushy. Darian will always tell us “slow down, we’ve [got] plenty of time” but I’m like “nooo noo you don’t understand how fast time goes away”. And I apply it to everything, I heard someone call it “existential courage” . I want to get everything off my chest RIGHT NOW, you know? I want to tell you how much you mean to me, I want to hang out, I wanna get this done, I wanna do this and that. It’s exhausting, but if we all lived that way I think we’d be more unified. [Laughs]
DS: “Existential Courage” reminds a lot of “Analysis Paralysis” where, you get so caught up in analyzing the details that you just get stuck in an overanalyzing cycle, but the way I perceive “existential courage” is being in a place where I analyze my life too hard and fear the possibility of me fucking it up. But, instead of that scaring me it pushes me in places I would've never gone.
N: Yeah exactly. I'm constantly worried about the worst so until then, while that hasn’t happened, imma go pedal to the floor on everything.
DS: I could see that being a little dangerous too though. I understand both perspectives cause obviously you gotta “stop and smell the garbage” every so often cause it’s the small things and the “you didn’t know what you had till it’s gone” deal. Sometimes you can be a little too fast and you just realized you were going 98 through the best years of your life.
BUT with that being said, being in a hospital and stepping out the door is like “ight what we getting into tonight”.
N: Yeah it makes it hard to relax sometimes cause even to apply it to music, I could be on my time-off-buns-out with a drink in my hand, in my head thinking “fuck I gotta finish this and get started on this”.
But I do have that experience behind me now where, I’ve learned to be present and be easy on time.
DS: It’s funny I have always seen myself as the fast, messy, rambunctious, loud brother. The Zack to your Cody type shit. But looking at it I’m kinda recognizing I’ve watched you navigate crisis mode for a hot sec.
NEDS photographed by AngelicMouthWater
DS: There’s a person in your life that haunts you, what do you think love is and coincidence. Do you think this person was someone from a past life? Why do you think you can’t get away from it & is the universe involved?
N: [laughs hysterically] oh shit! It’s definitely the universe playing with me, because with what I can gauge at least, there aren’t clear signs that it’s someone that needs to be by my side in a certain way. But I will give it to you that, it is clear the amount of times it’s been too relevant. Which, I guess, leads to coincidence. I think said person is a huge life lesson and a reminder to act natural and go for shit.
DS: That’s very valid, definitely lessons to take away. Especially for you. I kind of have a question that ties that one and an earlier one in a second but, first. You and me kind of have a similar view on relationships. We were raised almost old school, not the misogynistic kind, just stereotypical “classic”.
What do you think happened in our development that influenced us to gain these views and share them not only between us, but most of our friends? Do you think energy attracts people around you even before you grow into those current day versions?
N: I don’t even know. I think maybe it was just being exposed to a plethora of different people during school and using any common sense we could as a young teenager to understand that, not accepting a certain person for who they are wasn’t right. And that energy becomes true with who you surround yourself with.
DS: You often choose silence. Earlier I spoke about being the loud brother, and I kind of touched base on it with the question about this person you’re being haunted by. Even in a creative setting I tend to say a lot of words and paint a picture with a lot of explanation. During this down time between Mungo and Cleo I haven’t really gave being social a rest. I’ve observed and have been told by others you are very silent. Is that easy for you? Are you stuck in analysis? Why silence for you?
N: It’s something I’m working on. As much as I try to be the outgoing guy, it’s not naturally in me to say things and talk to people. Probably because it’s something I used to hate. Once I started stepping into environments where I would actually have interesting conversations and meet nice people and network I realized I actually loved those small interactions and being more outgoing, but it’s so imbedded from the past that I still struggle. And since I haven’t been too conditioned to being outward like that I tend to say shit that, later I’m like “did that come off bad?". Sometimes being quiet is really nice. I can watch the film unfolding and it’s no harm no foul, I haven’t stirred the pot so I’m just guilty by association.
"It’s real passion and care going into everything, the small details, the rollout. So when it comes just, enjoy and indulge!"
NEDS photographed by AngelicMouthWater
DS: My next question... Black Yacht Rock.
N: Dude.
DS: [laughs] I think he’s silly for putting that one under the rug. It didn’t click with me till earlier this year, like right at the first warmth I felt.
This is my time to shed light on something.
N: I still can’t believe how subtle that release was, one story post and was like “wait this is his project”. Just from begging to end like “whoa”. He really has a hidden gem right there, sure it’s “low effort” but not everything has to be commercial and reputable, like that hit a spot for me. It was so fresh to just hear that coming from dude in that way.
DS: For those reading, we’re talking about 'Black Yacht Rock Vol. 1 ‘City Of Limitless Access’ by Pharrell'. That project is absolutely insane. You thought '3-15-20' was low-key… nah. Pharrell dropped a full fucking album last year and to my knowledge it’s really his first project since GIRL? 2014.
I still think, and I don’t know if he’s signed or independent but, he probably had someone tell him “yo you signed this contract saying you’d release this many projects in this amount of time and so far you’re behind on your quota so you gotta drop something” and he decided to put together the best ten track in existence.
I still a-thousand percent believe my interpretation of ‘11:11’ is about a female in his life that committed suicide and he’s explaining his grief. That song almost every time gets me emotional as fuck. There’s been moments where I’m singing along to it and I choke up? I’m so fuckin serious like I can’t get through it and I’m stuck like bro, this guy is explaining grief in a way I’ve never ever ever heard before. It’s a very “Hey Ya!” feeling good today song but lyrically he’s definitely going through something, And to imagine Pharrell being so vulnerable and using that project specifically to talk about it? When you got songs like ‘caged bird free’ on it? Man.
Also, us coming from Florida background, spending summers there and having family we rarely see these days. 'Going Back To VA' makes me think of Florida.
“I miss the, Seagull shit on my windshield, the loud thunder when it rains”, like why are you so specifically specific.
N: Dude yeah. Everything was hitting in that album. 'Just For Fun' had me floored because it sounded like a weird pop-rock anthem but then that chorus hits and it’s that classic Pharrell chord change, summer-feeling background vocals. Shit made tears immediately come to my eyes. Smacking the steering wheel and all. Y'all gotta peep it like NOW!
DS: Another thing real quick about that album, bro is so good at summer. Like ‘Fun Fun Fun’ from Despicable Me. Can't go wrong, he knows how to do it.
Anyways I’m tryna see the rest of my day. What’s on the horizon for NEDS, basically asking twice but what’s one thing you’d like to share, or talk about if we haven’t?
N: Man, imma really come back from the shadows. I don’t want to say “try” cause it sounds half-assed but imma push some things out and get to sharing what’s been in our world. It’s real passion and care going into everything, the small details, the rollout. So when it comes just, enjoy and indulge!
NEDS photographed by AngelicMouthWater
PiK
BY
DEVIN SUMMER
PHOTOS BY
*ANGELIC MOUTH WATER
