The Nichols Family Gospel Hour – Self-Titled Album Review

Experimental in its approach and haunting in its delivery, this album sounds a little bit like what a videogame or a film that was recorded from start to finish would sound like. Interludes with sounds of digging, distant voices, and police sirens make sure the album has no opportunity to be monotonous. These guys are quite obviously adept musicians who understand how to write quality songs using violin, piano, and guitar. In the press release we received, band member Darren Nichols comments on their music, saying, “I really have no idea what it is or what genre it would fall under.” And that’s why this album is so damn interesting and great. It seems like they have a story to tell, and the execution is excellent.

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Written by
Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing Editor of South Seattle Emerald, and Co-Chair of the Seattle Arts Commission. They also previously served as the Executive Director of the interdisciplinary community hub, Northwest Film Forum, where they played a key role in making the space more welcoming and accessible for diverse audiences.

Vee has two narrative short films. Searching Skies (2017) touches on Syrian refugee resettlement in the United States; with it, they helped co-organize The Seventh Art Stand, a national film and civil rights discussion series against Islamophobia. Reckless Spirits (2022) is a metaphysical, multi-lingual POC buddy comedy for a bleak new era, in anticipation of a feature-length project.

Vee is passionate about cultural space, the environment, and finding ways to covertly and overtly disrupt oppressive structures. They also regularly share observational human stories through their storytelling newsletter, RAMBLIN’ WITH VEE!, and are pursuing a Master’s in Tribal Resource and Environmental Stewardship under the Native American Studies Department at the University of Minnesota.

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Written by Vee Hua 華婷婷
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