“Nelo”, the new self-titled L.P. has a target release date of February 4, 2014. It is a big, bold, evocative ensemble of sounds that somehow feels edgy and alluring at the same time. And this record is perhaps truer to the band’s roots than any of the other recordings that Nelo has produced in the last few years. The album is packed with effortless live energy, but the story of how it came to be is not so easy.
The band essentially recorded off and on over a year and a half when not on the road. Matt Ragland, the band’s primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist, produced the album and was adamant that no idea go untested. The result is a very personal record that deserves to be self-titled.
Nelo, named for a strategy in the card game Spades where one loses every hand in order to win big in the end, is led by the team of Matt Ragland and Reid Umstattd (lead singer). The name of the band draws likeness between the strategy in the game and the experience of songwriting, where one often takes the loss and pain experienced in life and uses it to create something distinctly positive.
Ragland and Umstattd met as kids at a summer camp outside of Austin, TX but did not become friends until years later. Ragland, who had begun writing songs, heard Umstattd sing by chance one day during a camp retreat, a pivotal moment for the duo that soon developed into a deep musical bond and friendship. By the time the two had graduated college, Ragland had already written multiple albums worth of songs and asked some musician friends from high school to join forces and form a new band.
In 2009, Nelo released “Two Years Ago”, an EP produced by Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, John Hiatt) and recorded over 4 days at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio outside of Austin. The band began touring extensively making stops at Austin City Limits Music Festival, South by Southwest, and CMJ Music Festival. The following year the band released “Ordinary Scene” (2010), a full length LP that Ragland produced himself. The record was mixed by CJ Eiriksson (U2, Steve Lillywhite) and debuted in the top 5 of the ITunes rock charts.
Perhaps the best part about the Ragland/Umstattd dynamic is that crowds can feel that they are a team. Ragland’s songwriting is hard to describe. On the one hand it’s faintly familiar, but on the other you’ve never heard this before. His lyrics are packed with content and meaning, and one gets the impression that his songs need to be written. Whatever he’s searching for, it’s deep and not often found in rock music. Umstattd’s singing is equally as inspired. He sings with an ease and passion that would make the best of singers jealous. He’ll leave you saying to yourself “that guy was just born to do that.”
David Sierra (drums), Matthew Muehling (guitar/bass), and Dave Scher (also guitar/bass) complete the team and their level of musicianship is world class. Nelo has been compared to an array of acts including Kings of Leon, The Killers, Dave Matthews Band and Eddie Vedder due to their positive, powerful live energy coming from tight, cohesive songwriting and a healthy dose of improvisation. This is a deep, honest, and energetic rock band that’s not afraid to smile.
Roots
Nelo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You dance for a girl
You stop and turn your world around
You watch the faces go
You bring in the missing ones
Your heart feels like the sun
You see the flowers in your hand
You stop and let it go
I walked today- it was just the same
Because I remember everything
When the words were spoken at my feet,
They seemed to say: "Let's get back to our roots"
Rain come, come and wash me out
I sit and think of her
My sun is burning out my eyes
So I bathe in the snow
She comes to me at night
I see her in the hall
I walk closer, closer to the light
I reach but she is gone
I walked today- it was just the same
Because I remember everything
And when the words were spoken at my feet,
They seemed to say: "Let's get back to our roots"
Yeah, oh let's get back to our roots
Angel, you guide my hand- I'm opening up my eyes to feel you
I know that I can see this girl
You swim in my soul when I am sleeping
You are my love, my love I'm dreaming, yeah, yeah
Oh, you know I'm waiting, yeah, yeah
Oh, you know I'm waiting
Well, I know the patience surely goes
I guess that you must know
I see the perfect kind of light
And I'll sit and watch it glow
Well, I know the seasons change,
But I dream through them all
Well, I'll sit and think about my light
And I'll wait for the call
I walked today- it was just the same
Because I remember everything
Well, I don't know what you've been told
But I must say: "Let's get back to our roots!"
Yeah, let's get back to our roots
The lyrics to Nelo's song "Roots" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to touch on themes of love, self-discovery, and the importance of staying connected to one's true identity. The song begins with an exhortation to "save it up" and "let it go," suggesting a need to release some pent-up energy or emotion in order to better connect with others. The second verse makes reference to a lost love ("I sit and think of her") and the desire to rekindle the passion that was once shared. The chorus echoes this sentiment, urging the listener to "get back to our roots" and rediscover what truly matters in life.
The third verse introduces the theme of spirituality, with the singer invoking an "angel" who guides his hand and opens his eyes to new experiences. This could be seen as a metaphor for the singer's inner voice or intuition, urging him to trust his instincts and follow his heart. The final verse reflects on the passage of time and the changes that inevitably come with it, but ends on a hopeful note: "I'll sit and think about my light / And I'll wait for the call." This suggests that the singer is confident in his ability to stay true to himself and remain connected to his deepest values, no matter what life throws his way.
Overall, "Roots" is a powerful and evocative song that touches on some of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience. By exploring themes of love, loss, spirituality, and self-discovery, Nelo has crafted a poignant and memorable song that is sure to resonate with listeners from all walks of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, boy come and save it up
Addressed to someone, asking for help to save something. The 'boy' is being called on to dance for a girl to bring back light where there's heartache.
You dance for a girl
The song's subject dances for a girl.
You stop and turn your world around
Stopping to take a breath and regroup, turning things around.
You watch the faces go
The subject takes in the world around them, watches everything that's going on.
You bring in the missing ones
The subject is a unifier, brings together those who might have felt left out.
Your heart feels like the sun
The subject has a bright, warm feeling in their heart.
You see the flowers in your hand
Imagining flowers in their hand or feeling their warmth in their palm.
You stop and let it go
Taking a moment to reflect before moving forward.
I walked today- it was just the same
The song's subject reflects on a recent walk and how it was not different from others. Life is cyclical.
Because I remember everything
Regardless of everything else happening around, the subject can still vividly recall details of the past.
When the words were spoken at my feet,
The song's narrator recalls hearing something important spoken to them.
They seemed to say: "Let's get back to our roots"
The words are a call to remember one's history and origins.
Rain come, come and wash me out
The song's speaker calls for the metaphorical washing away of something.
I sit and think of her
The subject of the song thinks about the woman they love.
My sun is burning out my eyes
The song's narrator is overwhelmed by feeling their feelings for this person, almost to the point of blindness.
So I bathe in the snow
Trying to cool down from their intense love, they imagine taking refuge in something cold like snow.
She comes to me at night
The woman the song's subject loves feels ever-present, even in their dreams.
I see her in the hall
The woman's presence is felt even in mundane everyday situations.
I walk closer, closer to the light
The song's subject is drawn to the light and positivity of their love, wanting to get closer to it.
I reach but she is gone
The woman they love is out of reach at the moment.
Angel, you guide my hand- I'm opening up my eyes to feel you
Metaphoric line speaking about the spiritual way the song's singer sees his love.
I know that I can see this girl
The singer is confident in his love and feels like he can visualize her perfectly in his mind.
You swim in my soul when I am sleeping
The subject of the song feels like the woman they love is always with them, even when they're sleeping.
You are my love, my love I'm dreaming, yeah, yeah
The song's subject emphasizes their love and their belief that this is real.
Oh, you know I'm waiting, yeah, yeah
The song's narrator is eager for the woman they love to come back to them.
Well, I know the patience surely goes
The singer knows that at some point waiting patiently will come to an end.
I guess that you must know
Assuming that the love interest in this song knows this already.
I see the perfect kind of light
The subject sees something pure and beautiful in their love or relationship with others.
And I'll sit and watch it glow
The song's subject is willing to wait and watch to see what happens with that light, like nurturing a seed before it blooms into a flower.
Well, I know the seasons change,
The subject knows that life is cyclical, regularly shifting and turning like the seasons.
But I dream through them all
But the song's subject's dreams persist despite the changes of the seasons or the changes in their relationship.
And I'll wait for the call
They will continue to wait and be ready for what the future might hold.
Well, I don't know what you've been told
The artist acknowledges that everyone might have preconceived notions or coded information but trusts themselves enough to stay true to what they believe in.
But I must say: "Let's get back to our roots!"
The song's subject seeks to remember their origins or appreciate what's simple and straightforward, away from any noise of the world.
Yeah, let's get back to our roots
Returning to the roots of something or someone is what the singer craves the most.
Writer(s): matt ragland
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DímeloWilton
Awesome!