Meet Brent A. Nuffer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent A. Nuffer, Musician/Artist & Founder at ELECTRIC MOON Foundation.

Brent, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a young person, I always had a drive from somewhere deep within. It’s as if I’ve always been running toward something or away from it, at the same time. In constant motion. Searching for something, just out of reach or somehow within it. It’s always been that way. There was a time in my life, in my youth, where I felt confused, a bit lost, afraid, and was in search of something I could identify with, something I could use as a tool or resource to make sense of the World around me. It can be a dangerous place without something to assist in navigating yourself around. Something you can hold on to, believe in, and something to light your way when things get dark. It took a bit of time, but that light I found in the form of Music & Art. It had always been inside of me, I’d seen subtle hints here and there until it fully emerged around my late teen years and developed as I went along. It seemed as though this unexplainable dimension between Art and confusion decided to converge at just the right moment. Whew. Close call. I remember vividly this moment; it was as if someone flipped on the light in my dark attic. I felt free, alive, and ready to forge a path that would uniquely guide me during the specific coordinates of my time here. I found much of that in the music I was listening to at the time, music full of purpose, anger, passion, hope, direction and it sounded as if it was coming from a deep place that only that Artist could get to. I quickly learned that maybe I also possess some of those gifts inside of me. As much as it can seem a blessing to a burden, I knew I could embrace both and make them both work for me and not against me. Actually, on second thought, that took me many years to learn. There are two types of pain, you see, one that you can make for you, and one that can work against you. Through years of trial and error, I had to learn to make the pain work for me. It’s a work in progress that I’m thankful never ends. It’s the fire inside that carries us to next chapter. To make a very long and complex story short, after years of performing, meeting my heroes, taking part in several bands, putting my heart to words in music in recordings, and getting a taste of all aspects of a constantly changing industry, I felt as though I had a bit of wisdom in my pocket to share. Over the past year, I’ve been grateful to dedicate my time and passion to the formation of ELECTRIC MOON Foundation and sharing some of these tools that have helped light my way with others. Through doing the work of a musician and artist, I know first-hand the healing energy of exploring Music & Art can have on the soul. It’s powerful, it’s all-encompassing, and it can be a guiding light. Many times, we see Music & Art programs being discounted or underfunded, and frankly we need them now more than ever. ELECTRIC MOON Foundation works to ensure that all receive the benefits of Music & Art and that it reaches those who need it most. I feel deeply honored and grateful to do this work each and every day. It’s hard work, really hard work, but the reward is in the hearts of others. You can learn more about the ELECTRIC MOON Foundation Mission here: https://electricmoon.nationbuilder.com/donate 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, it’s never a smooth road. In terms of Music & Art, if it’s a smooth road, you may not be on the right path. It’s interesting, in the creative process I’ve always found that if things get comfortable, it’s time to move, shake yourself into a new area, form a new band, maybe go in an area you know little about. I was having a conversation with a musician friend about this the other day. When a musician or an artist truly attempts something that they really aren’t comfortable with, or capable of doing, that’s when it gets exciting. That’s what makes Rock & Roll so exciting and dangerous is trying to reach the unreachable, but ultimately reaching it. Somehow. I’ve always been fascinated with the imperfections of Art. Perfection in Art is a dangerous thing. I want to hear a guitar slightly out of tune, a singer just barely hitting the note at the edge of their range or a piece of art that is raw and unrefined. That’s where it’s at! That’s where the Magic is… 

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
As far as my current focus, it’s been quite a 1st year for ELECTRIC MOON Foundation! It requires pretty much all of me, aside from performing. It feels as though we’ve done so much, but so little at the same time. Though maybe that’s the key, if you feel like you’ve done enough, you’re not able to grow. So always reaching for what’s next is Key. As the Founder of ELECTRIC MOON Foundation, it comes with great pressure and responsibility, it’s not an easy task, there are many challenges, but the rewards are found in the hearts you serve. We’ve been so grateful to work with Alexandria House (alexandriahouse.org) who are doing amazing work in our community. To have the opportunity to bring a Music Summer Camp & After School Music Programs to Alexandria House & Casa Esperanza has been truly inspiring. We are so grateful to know these Amazing kids and to grow with them. They teach us more than we, maybe we teach them. We’ve had the great opportunity to have amazing partners who help us do what we do, Guitar Center Music Foundation, Charitybuzz, Loog Guitars, Hohner & so many more! We’ve gotten some wonderful support from The Killers and had the opportunity to work with them this summer. As far as being a Musician, I’d guess that I’m best known as a Singer, that’s where I’ve spent much of my time. I really adore painting as well, it’s so visual, and free, exploratory & has no boundaries. I don’t think as many people know that side of me. You can see some of my work @ the online 3D & VR Art Gallery @ electricmoon.org It’s such a different vibe from creating music, it takes me to other places I can’t get to unless I’m painting. I’m not sure I’m doing anything particularly different or unique than anyone else, though I know it’s an honest and true path and who I want to be. I think being proud of something requires reflection. When you’re in the belly of the beast, there’s not much time for that, and when there is you’re on to the next thing. So, I don’t really think about it, I’m just doing the work and so very very grateful for the opportunity to do it. 

Any big plans?
Over the next year or so we are looking to build upon our work with ELECTRIC MOON Foundation and expand regionally and nationally. We have so much work to do and we’ve only just begun. We are looking to build or find our own ELECTRIC MOON Foundation headquarters as well, which will allow us to do so much more within the community. In fact, ELECTRIC MOON was looking @ property right before the pandemic. For obvious reasons, that wasn’t a good idea to open our doors. Although, it did lead us to finding a way around so we could still support the Arts, and that was to design & create the very 1st online 3D & VR Music Venue @ electricmoon.org We’ve had the opportunity to do live stream performances, interviews, and we feature bands and songwriters in our Listening Room & Artists in our 3D, VR art gallery. So, the next natural step for ELECTRIC MOON Foundation is to have our own physical HQ where we can do our current work from on a bigger scale, music lessons, performances, retail space, art gallery, and cafe. Head full of ideas! You’ll see…I’ve always been fascinated with the concept of expansion with no line on the horizons. I’ve also got a stockpile of songs written over the past few years, and many of them written during the confusing times in the heart of the pandemic. They are mostly ArthurAutumn songs for the most part, I think. It was a way to process and help understand and get through what was happening. The songs began to become like little maps on ways to get out of this whole thing or just try to understand it all. I’d like to record those songs as well sometime soon. Really sparse and raw, intimate, and just hit the record button, do the songs in one take and you get what you get. Doing a record also requires all of me, and I have to get to a certain space. I’m just not there right now. For now, my focus is upon the work that ELECTRIC MOON Foundation requires all of me. We are just getting warmed up. To learn more about the Mission of ELECTRIC MOON Foundation: https://electricmoon.nationbuilder.com/donate 

In the immediate future, a Production we put on called The Sunday Night Revue will be honoring the Music of Prince on the Main Stage @ Hotel Cafe on November 13th. TSNR was created to help create a sense of community among Los Angeles musicians and each month we select an Iconic Artist and invite songwriters to interpret the music. On December 18th we will have our ELECTRIC MOON Foundation 1-year anniversary holiday show fundraiser also @ Hotel Cafe. We have an amazing lineup planned loaded with some of the finest Los Angeles songwriters by the likes of Tawny Ellis, Manda Mosher, Deb Morrison, Scarlett Rivera, Tiny Fires & Raine Stern. I’ll be doing an ArthurAutumn set as well. So grateful and honored to have these incredible like-minded Artists join us for this very special evening in December to close out the year. Tickets for both shows are on sale now @ hotelcafe.com 

Contact Info:

• Website: electricmoon.org
• Instagram: electricmoon.official
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJfOe3lFuSBxyU-lRkApNg
• Other: https://electricmoon.nationbuilder.com/donate

Image Credits
Priscilla Bouillon
Edson Ochoa