Brent A. Nuffer shared his story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Brent, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Oh I would certainly have to say integrity far out weighs the importance of intelligence and energy. For without integrity being found in both intelligence and energy you have nothing, Integrity in your work, dedication, focus, how you treat others is the foundation of it all. Energy and intelligence naturally of great importance, though can be destructive without integrity at the core of it all. At times intelligence and energy can be taught or learned by your daily practices, integrity is something found naturally within your heart. I don’t think it can be taught.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Thank you Canvas Rebel for speaking with me and including our work into your Highlighter Series. For many years you all have done such great work in representing and giving voice to Musicians, Artists and Entrepreneurs. Thank you for including me!
I am a Musician / Artist living in Los Angeles, native to Michigan and I am the Founder / Executive Director of Electric Moon Foundation 501(c)3. We work to bring the Gift of Music & the Arts to vulnerable youth in marginalized neighborhoods here in Los Angeles. As a youth I struggled with trauma and abandonment and I firmly have an understanding of the importance that Music & Art has had upon my life on planet earth. At the time when I found Music & Art it was a very pivotal time period in my life and as each day passes I feel more grateful for the refuge I’ve found within its arms. I knew from day one that Music & Art can be a very powerful and vital element in helping us process the world around us and in turn, through creation, it can help others sort through the feelings they may have inside. A songwriter, musician or artist has quite a unique job or responsibility that can’t be found in most other occupations. I had made a pledge to myself early on as a young punk to respect that and to use the gifts I’ve been given to shine a light upon others at every turn in the best way that I can. Of which ultimately let to the formation of Electric Moon Foundation. Founded in 2022, we set out to get to work right away and earned our 501(c)3 status in 2023. We’ve been deeply grateful to bring our Electric Moon Foundation Music & Art Programs to some of the most impactful and influential organizations here in Los Angeles, such as Alexandria House, The Midnight Mission, Homelight Family Living and the Union Rescue Mission to name a few. All of these organizations have done such amazing work here in Los Angeles and we are grateful to be a small footnote in their programing. We’ve met so many incredible youth in these programs, we feel deeply lucky for each moment to create something that didn’t exist before with all of them. At this point, we’ve got a handful of songs we’ve written with the youth based around the theme of Empowerment, Diversity and Encouragement. We very much look forward to recording them all with the youth! You can learn more about our work here : electricmoonfoundation.org Please also take a moment to check out the incredible work of The Midnight Mission, Alexandria House and the Union Rescue Mission here : alexandriahouse.org midnightmission.org & urm.org
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A very defining moment in my life would have to be singing with a band for the very first time. It was in an old basement somewhere in Saginaw, Michigan some afternoon and I believe it was actually a sunny day. Oh I may have been 15 or 16 or so. I had met some other kids around town and they had invited me over to audition for a band they were putting together. It was the first time in my life that I’d found other kids who saw the world as I did, with similar feelings inside, with an ultimate goal of trying to create something together. Even though, at the time, I had no clue what that was, or what it all meant at the time. They were all from loving homes and I was confused. Though I remember the feeling of being heard and seen for the first time and it was overwhelming in the most extraordinary way. At that young tender age, I had absolutely not a clue how to process it all, but I knew I wanted to run toward this and how it made me feel. I recall nervously stepping up to the microphone, every fiber in my body shaking, as if I would combust and wondering if any sound would come out at all. Was this the moment that would shape me forever? Wondering if this was a safe place where the bullies could not harm me, no one could hurt me here? Were they hiding behind a curtain in this old Michigan basement? Am I safe here? That very first song that I sang with a band was Tom Petty’s “Free Falling.” Oh what a feeling it was. Their were no bullies, no one could harm me here, just the words of the great Tom Petty “And I’m Free!! Free Falling” blasting out through some old PA that was probably build for karoke or something. It didn’t matter how crappy it sounded, all that matter was the feeling it gave me. I was finally free. I knew in those 3 minutes or so, that they would inform me and how I would see the world until my last breath. I had found a handful of other Bee’s who had the same weird stripes as I, and I was going to join these Hive. I was gonna go there, I was home. There has never been a moment where I ever looked back.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I certainly wouldn’t say I’ve used my pain for power, although I do think that pain can be used to your advantage verses disadvantage. We all have difficult things to overcome, some are more difficult and painful than others. I’ve always seen life and the many up’s & down’s, struggles & triumph’s as ultimately an opportunity to learn something, grow in some way. As we can all see, the World is absolutely bonkers right now. I find that by approaching life from this mentality it makes everything much easier to endure. This is certainly not a conclusion I discovered in my 20’s, when everything was so fast paced and a feeling of indestructibility always seemed to lead the way, and probably not for the better. It took years to develop this thought process through creating things based on the world I feel around me, meditation, yoga, and now working with vulnerable youth through Electric Moon Foundation. I feel grateful with every moment with these amazing and inspiring kids and they teach me so much. When pain arrives one can work to grow a beautiful garden out of it all should they choose. One of the very first things the kids learn in our sessions is how to take whatever pain they may feel inside and turn it into a beautiful garden. That’s the power of Music & Art, we can express those feelings, sort them out and soon to arrive will be a song, a painting, sculptor or maybe even a homemade instrument. Always best to make your pain work for you, not against you. One can never stop hiding their pain, it’s always there, many times it shows up in our art and through that process we release it. If we are lucky it becomes someone else’s warm blanket when they need it. Always best to face your pain, look it straight it the eye, and find ways to overcome it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I would have to say I’m deeply committed to the work of Electric Moon Foundation and to the creation of art in whatever form that may be. It is a warm and inspiring feeling to know that both of these things I care so deeply about can live on long after I am gone, and can continue to shine a light upon others. Sure, certain types of music can go in and out of style, but the idea of music and it’s relevance and importance will always stand the test of time. I remain focused, with my heart dialed in to both of these elements and dedicated to leave as much of an output as I can. We are still so young at Electric Moon Foundation and we have big plans for growth and expansion over the next few years. None of this work is easy, except maybe the actual moments with the youth, though that also has it’s own set of responsibilities and challenges. Though I am deeply committed to this work and with each challenge and celebration finding new ways to grow as a human. The kids teach you that if you are truly listening, hearing and seeing them. In the world of Art and service time is of no relevance, you just get up everyday and do the work and it will carry on in its own way.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Absolute true inner peace doesn’t find me all to often. Most of the time in my position I have to carry the weight of many upon my shoulders and I feel that responsibility at all times. I’m Ok with that. This work is not for the faint of heart and not for everyone. That’s not to say I’m not at peace or I’m not happy in any way, it’s just something that comes with the Gig and I’m grateful and more than happy to do it. With that being said I am most at peace creating something, whether an idea, collaboration or a new concept for Electric Moon Foundation, performing on a stage with one of the bands, in meditation or on a hike surrounded by the glow of Nature. You can find me most at peace during those times and I cherish each moment. In fact, it is a feeling of absolute bliss that I often wish I could bottle for others to experience. For I firmly believe there would be no more war and many of these problems and divisions we face today could be diluted to a more tolerable dose. Which leads us back to the beginning of this interview. The world needs Music & Art now more than ever. We need musicians and artists to stand up for what they believe in, create things, present positive conversations, challenge us, as all of these things help a society process things, help us heal and inspire us greatly. They are absolutely essential. True peace is found from within, no one can rattle that from us unless we allow it. The Art of Peace is not always easily found, it takes progress and work, though the effort and the true search makes us stronger every time. I will work to promote sharing the Gift of Music & Art so that others can find the peace and refuge that it provides, and I will never tire.
If we may take a moment to mention! If you find Music & the Arts of importance, you can help support Electric Moon Foundation and the youth we work with. Come on out to The Electric Moon Revue, Sunday October 26th for our 3rd Annual Halloween Bash – Celebrating the Music of Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath!
Coming to Universal Bar in North Hollywood. Some of Los Angeles’ finest songwriters gather to interpret their favorite Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath songs!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://electricmoonfoundation.org
- Instagram: @electricmoon.foundation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/electricmoon.org
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcFWxfxX32c
- Other: Please list my full name as : Brent A. Nuffer
Image Credits
Jasmine Day – Street Style Cinema Photography
