Interview with R.Nelson

I came away from Songs and Music by R. Nelson, Vol. 1: Grown Man Energy appreciating its commitment to the album format in an era dominated by singles. R. Nelson crafts an emotional narrative that unfolds across four distinct acts, tracing the rise and fall of a relationship with honesty and restraint. Blending contemporary R&B, neo-soul, and soulful alternative influences, the production creates an immersive atmosphere that complements the introspective songwriting. The emotional maturity at the heart of the record is whhat impressed me most.

Themes of love, accountability, heartbreak, and acceptance are explored with genuine vulnerability, allowing each chapter to feel purposeful within the larger story. For me, Grown Man Energy succeeds because it rewards patience, inviting listeners to experience the complete emotional journey. It's a cohesive, thoughtfully constructed debut that proves storytelling remains one of music's most powerful strengths.

Interview with R.Nelson

Your album feels like a complete story rather than just a collection of songs. What inspired you to structure Songs and Music by R. Nelson, Vol. 1: Grown Man Energy as a narrative experience?

You know, I’ve always loved storytelling. Even before music, I was writing stories, poems, and just letting my imagination run. So when it came time to make this album, I didn’t want it to be just a collection of songs. I wanted each song to stand on its own while also serving a larger story.

I always compare it to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Every movie tells its own story, but they’re all connected to something bigger. That’s how I approached this project. Every song has its own beginning, middle, and end, but together they create one larger experience.

I guess you could call it the R. Nelson Musical Universe.

Many of the songs feel deeply personal while remaining universally relatable. How much of this album comes directly from your own experiences?

The songs came from a little bit of everything. Some came from personal experiences, some from observations, some from journal entries, and some from poems I’d written years ago. The interesting part is that some of those experiences are still unfolding.

I like leaving a little mystery in there, though. I’ll let listeners figure out which songs came from where. That’s part of the fun.

The title Grown Man Energy carries a lot of meaning. What does that phrase represent to you personally?

You know, I actually enjoy explaining this because every interview gives me another opportunity to talk about the philosophy behind the title. The music is important, but so is the meaning behind it. So I’m always happy to revisit it.

“Grown” represents the experiences that shape us.

“Man” represents responsibility, accountability, and character.

“Energy” is the capacity to do work. It’s what you put into the world and what you bring to every situation.

Put those three together and you have the philosophy behind the album.

Why is it important for artists, especially male artists, to express vulnerable emotions?

These are human experiences.

Men are often taught to suppress emotions, but emotions don’t disappear just because we ignore them.

There’s a Shakespeare quote I’ve always liked: “If you prick us, do we not bleed?”

That’s really what this album is about. We’re all human. We all experience love, disappointment, doubt, hope, and growth. There’s nothing weak about telling the truth.

Songs like “Gravity,” “Do I Deserve Love?” and “Unable to Love” represent different chapters of the album. How did you decide which moments of the story each song would represent?

(Laughs.) Gravity, Gravity, Gravity… That song caused quite a stir at my job.

With “Gravity,” I had to establish the attraction. It’s that moment where you’re drawn to someone, and no matter how much you try to ignore it, there’s something pulling you toward them.

Then you have “Do I Deserve Love?” That song turns the focus inward. Instead of asking about the other person, it’s asking whether the main character feels worthy of receiving love.

Then comes “Unable to Love.” That’s the realization that maybe the problem wasn’t that love wasn’t there. Maybe the character wasn’t able to return the feelings that were being shown to him.

Each song answers a different emotional question, and together they move the story forward.

You blend contemporary R&B, neo-soul, soul, and alternative influences. How do you approach combining these different sounds while maintaining your own identity?

You know, as I mentioned before, I listen to a lot of music.

Obviously, there’s R&B and Neo-Soul, but I also grew up listening to Soul music from the ‘70s. Do I Deserve Love? was really my ode to that era. Then there’s Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock, and of course Go-Go. I’m from Washington, D.C. This is Go-Go Central, baby.

Before I introduced R. Nelson to the world, I was already a producer making music for the roller skating community. One thing we always valued was originality.

I simply brought that same “Energy” to this project.

I don’t ask, “What genre am I making today?” I ask, “What does this story need?”

Your production style creates a cinematic atmosphere around your storytelling. How important is the instrumental landscape in helping communicate the emotions behind your lyrics?

It’s extremely important because I’m trying to sonically place people inside the story.

The lyrics tell you what’s happening, but the instruments create the setting.

“Unable to Love” is a perfect example. That song needed to sound exactly the way it does because the emotions behind it demanded that sound.

Before I think about making something that sounds good, I ask, “What should this moment feel like?” Then I build the music around that emotion.

You have described your music as emotional documentation. When writing songs, are you more focused on capturing a specific moment in your life or creating something listeners can apply to their own experiences?

Yes! No further explanation needed. (Laughs.)

Your creative process includes AI-assisted workflows alongside traditional songwriting and production. How do you use technology as a tool while keeping the human emotion at the centre of your music?

When you think about it, every generation of music has embraced new technology. Drum machines, DAWs, MIDI keyboards, samplers… they’ve all become part of the creative process. But at the end of the day, they still require human input, human ingenuity, creativity, and talent.

My Big Bro has a phrase that has really stuck with me:

“AI is a TOOL, not the answer.”

That’s exactly how I approach it. I use AI the same way I’d use an MPC, a Maschine, FL Studio, or Omnisphere.

But the actual song? The lyrics? Those come from the heart. They come from poems, journal entries, observations, and lived experiences. Technology can help shape an idea, but it can’t live your life for you.

As an independent artist operating through Ashy Knuckle Productions and Nelson Creative Group, how important is having complete creative control over your artistic direction?

(Laughs.) Now you’re talking to RJ Nelson, Owner and Founder of Nelson Creative Group and Ashy Knuckle Productions.

Before I even started this journey, I researched record labels and found that, in some cases, the creative process became what I call “art by committee.”

To me, that’s not fair to the artist.

Artists should be allowed to express themselves the way they intended. That philosophy became the foundation of R. Nelson, Geese Da Goon, and hopefully every future artist who joins Nelson Creative Group.

Your music has received international radio support, playlist placements, and coverage from independent curators. How has that response influenced your confidence as an independent artist?

Man… this gives me a chance to tell a little backstory from my roller skating rink days.

As Geese Da Goon, I’m not going to tell people it was easy because it wasn’t. I was constantly told that no one wanted to hear my music by some of the DJs.

But I didn’t let that stop me.

I took my music to the world.

Then things started happening.

Playlists. Reviews. Interviews. Radio.

I served in the United States Navy and physically reached four continents.

My music has now reached six continents.

Hello, Antarctica… I’m trying to get there next. (Laughs.)

Looking back now, I can honestly say:

“Y’all can have the rinks… I’m after the world.”

I’m grateful to every curator, journalist, radio station, and listener who gave my music a chance.

After completing this first volume of Grown Man Energy, what have you learned about yourself as a songwriter, producer, and storyteller?

I’m going to break this down and then bring it back together.

As a storyteller, I’ve always had an active imagination, and I have to thank my mother for encouraging me to read and write from a young age.

As a songwriter, I still find old poems and realize they could become songs with a little tweaking. I’m still discovering that ability is in me… somewhere, somehow. (Laughs.)

As a producer… man, this is where I really get to be creative. If it feels good, let it ride. If it sounds forced, let it go. Come back later with fresh “ENERGY.”

When I put all of that together, this project taught me just how capable I really am when I stop overthinking, buckle down, and get to work.

When listeners finish the album from beginning to end, what do you hope they understand or feel about their own relationships and personal growth?

(Laughs.) Didn’t I answer this question before?

No? Okay.

Understand that this album is a journey… a movie, if you will.

Life isn’t always pretty, and neither are relationships. Sometimes you’ll be forced to ask yourself difficult questions, and hopefully you’ll have the courage to answer them honestly.

It’s not about pretending to have all the answers. It’s about being willing to confront the questions.

If this album encourages someone to have one of those conversations with themselves, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. And if they simply enjoy the story along the way, that’s a bonus.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out R.Nelson on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist