Meet Neil Carson | Composer/Arranger and Saxophonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Neil Carson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Neil, what do you attribute your success to?
Having a constant stream of creative output. As a composer, the key to fulfillment and success is always having a new song I’m working on, always focused on the next thing I want to say artistically. Artists don’t have anyone building their career for them, so it’s up to us entirely to keep reaching higher.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Like many freelancers, my career is a jigsaw puzzle of many different musical pursuits. First and foremost I consider myself a composer/arranger; but I’m also part saxophonist, part teacher, and part mixing engineer. Generally I’d categorize myself as a jazz musician, but with strong rock and pop influences. In college I studied jazz saxophone/composition and fell in love with jazz big band writing such as Count Basie, Thad Jones, and Maria Schneider. However I always loved for more mainstream stuff as well, like Earth Wind and Fire, Metallica, Third Eye Blind and Green Day.

My career began in 2016, and the first 2-3 years or so were stumbling in the dark trying to figure out how to get gigs, which gigs to take, which ones to turn down, how much I should be paid, what my time is worth, and countless other things. I had lots of talent as a player/composer, but no idea what was involved in the professional side of being a musician. But I was persistent, I kept going––not because I was necessarily brave or tenacious, just because I didn’t know what else to do. I kept at it, and eventually made my way. Only in the last 3 years or so have I truly felt secure financially, artistically, and in my overall identity.

My 9-piece band New Nostalgia is the project I’m most passionate about. It’s my attempt to combine my jazz, pop, and rock influences into one sound, with a huge horn section out front and a rock band in back. It’s the project I truly believe in, the one I want to see go all the way and succeed. We put out our first record in 2019, got semi-sidelined by the pandemic, and really picked up steam in the past couple years. We went on our first tour recently, which is quite an accomplishment for a band of 9 people, and I look forward to finishing up our 2nd record for release in spring 2025.

Of all the hats I wear in my career, I put composing/arranging first because I devote more time to my writing, take the most pride in it, and I believe it’s where I’ve truly made my artistic mark. Whether I’m writing original material or arranging existing material, I believe my music strikes a balance between complexity and accessibility, appealing to both casual and adventurous listeners. I like to think that anyone who listens to my music can find something to enjoy in it somewhere. In my opinion this balance is what makes my music special and sets it apart from other stuff out there.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a HUGE Chicago pizza fan, so we would do a Chicago pizza tour across the city. First Lou Malnatis and Pequod’s for deep dish, then Phil’s Pizza in Bridgeport for thin crust, followed by Side Street Saloon in Roscoe Village for tavern-style and probably finish up making a homemade pie.

For live music we would go to Fulton Street Collective, Chicago’s best truly independent jazz venue in the city, which has beautiful art adorning the walls and showcases fantastic local musicians.

My friend would have to visit in the summer so we could head to the lakefront – the “concrete beach” at Montrose Harbor is an amazing place to dive into the refreshing cold water on a hot, humid Satuday night.

Last stop would be a bonfire on my patio, because there’s truly no better hang in the universe than a bonfire with good beer and food friends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to: (1) Gary Lindsay, the best teacher I’ve ever had, who gave me the tools to write music and without whom my band New Nostalgia would not exist; and (2) my parents, who have encouraged my musical pursuits and believed in me completely since day one, and without whom I would not have had the courage or confidence to become a professional musician.

Website: newnostalgia.band

Instagram: instagram.com/neilcarsonmusic

Other: New Nostalgia instagram: instagram.com/new_nostalgia_songz

Image Credits
Sam Bulleit Harvey Tillis Janet Takayama Rebecca Ciprus