Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Nightbird Casino
Nightbird Casino is a studio-based musical project/duo based on the west coast of the US. They have released two albums; Gregorian Nap (2020) and Russian Carpet (2022). They are currently finishing their third album, Commerce & Horse Polo, due out in early 2026.
Interview is with James Moore, guitar/vocals/keys
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
Listening to classic rock on the radio in the bag of my parents station wagon. I specifically remember I was really into The Beach Boys, which hasn’t changed in the last 30 years.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I was attempting – poorly – to write music in high school. I’ve been in bands since then and it all happened relatively slowly.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Nightbird Casino has been around in some form since 2017. Me [James Moore] and Kelly Hutchinson [ the other member of NBC ] met in 2016 or so in another band. We both felt stifled creatively, I guess you could say, and left to start out own project. We didn’t have any intentions of recording or releasing music necessarily, I think we just wanted to see what would happen. Being that there were just two of us, we had to kind of learn every instrument and get very creative. A few years later, we were stuck inside because of covid and spent a month writing and recording our first album. Since then it’s been a pretty steady trickle. We stalled a bit the last few years – after we released our second record in 2022, we spent a year playing shows, working with a touring band, and releasing singles, trying to “break out” I guess. That ended with both of us being sick of this and not knowing if we’d ever make more music. The third album has been slowly evolving over the last year and we’re almost done with it at this point. I think its existence kind of surprised us both.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I’m probably the worst person to ask that, but I suppose I’d say imagine if Radiohead and mid-2000s NYC post-punk revival music had a baby.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
That trying to appeal to people is a waste of time. Trying to conform your own artistic vision to what you think will go viral on TikTok is futile, not to mention compromising your integrity. Just make whatever you want, and someone will like it. Or not. There are no rules.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I do most of my recording and mixing out of my home studio. Most recording is done on an iMac using Logic Pro X and too many plugins to name. Instrument wise I have too many to list so I’ll just name a few of my favorites: my Telecasters and my Rickenbacker 360 knockoff; my MusicMan Stingray, Vox amps (AC30, 15, and 10), Waldorf string synth, Moog grandmother, my Asaden ondes martenot, a very old upright Baldwin piano, and most importantly pedals … so many pedals.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’ve been listening to The National a lot. Also Crosses, TAD, Fleshwater, and Failure have been in heavy rotation. The TAD album “8 Way Santa” is kind of amazing.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I’m sure they do in a subconscious way but I try to keep my personal experiences somewhat separate from my music. I don’t write lyrics about my life … people might make that assumption. I know the average listener assumes lyrics are always personal stories, but mine tend to be stream of consciousness, maybe based on something I’ve read, or just changing topics from stanza to stanza, based on what words and ideas sound nice together,
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope listeners can find their own meaning. I think the best music is music anyone can relate to or find meaning in. There’s no “message” I’m trying to put out there. There’s nothing worse than preachy music.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I suppose I’ve learned that if you take something you love and try to monetize it, you can end up disliking it pretty quickly. Trying to make music a job was a mistake, and now that I’ve stepped back and taken the “who cares how many likes or streams this gets” approach, it’s much more enjoyable again. The last few years of releasing singles and stressing about marketing was hell. This album has been so much more enjoyable.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
We played at the Viper Room a while back, which was cool, so check that box. I guess Austin City Limits. I was there a few years ago and thought that would be a fun festival to play.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Thom Yorke, it’s no secret he’s my biggest influence.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Our official website is nightbirdcasino.com. You can find us on facebook and IG at @nightbirdcasino. We’re on every streaming platform that exists, as far as I know, so just look up Nightbird Casino wherever you prefer to listen to music.
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’m looking forwrd to the day we can sit back and just listen to this album in its entirety – I’ve been listening to half finished versions, recording vocals, and narrowing down our setlist for months. We started with 35 tracks, we’re down to 14 at the moment.
