Q+A: ALMOST NICE
Almost Nice is the moniker created by 19-year-old Ben Szabó from Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the unexpected success of his first-ever song recorded, “Fried Noodles,” he has released a plethora of light and jazzy EPs and singles, with his most recent EP being Pollenpop. With this project, he steps away from the lofi vibe of his earlier work, and into a sound that combines vocal traits of Tyler, the Creator with instrumentals of Cuco. From beginning to end, hypnotic, bouncy melodies mesh naturally into smooth vocals that give the entire EP an incredibly holistic feel.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Almost Nice where we discuss his inspirations, creative process, and Pollenpop.
Do you mind introducing yourself?
I am a 19 y/o independent indie-pop musician under the artist name Almost Nice. I have played the guitar for around 10 years or so, and my biggest dream is to have a passionate makeout session with Joji. I am currently based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Which artists would you say have inspired your sound the most?
I take inspiration from a great palette of different genres and artists. For over a year now, I have been listening to at least one new album every single day. It started as a silly new year’s resolution, but with time this habit has become the central piece of my songwriting process and main source of inspiration. The current sound of Almost Nice is mainly inspired by Her’s, Tyler, the Creator, Joy Again, Current Joys, The Strokes, Sigur Ros, Deb Never, Sunset Rollercoaster, Fishmans, Vansire, Men I Trust, and Kaytranada
Where did the moniker “Almost Nice” come from?
Almost Nice was originally the name of a shitposting profile I used to run on Instagram. The profile no longer exists, but the name sort of stuck with me. I originally chose it because I thought it sounded cool, but in hindsight, it captures a unique vibe that seems to find its way into many of my songs. The fun and excitement of so many things have been practically murdered by the internet. Kids are desensitized, tinder dates are boring, and drugs are overrated. Most things never live up to expectations. And that is something to come to peace with.
Can you tell us about your most popular song, “Fried Noodles”? How did it come about, and were you expecting it to be such a success?
“Fried Noodles” was the very first song I have ever recorded. I was 17 at the time and knew next to nothing about music production. But if it sounds good, it’s good, right? Since then I have read somewhere that some mainstream artists willingly limit themselves in one way or another to create something unique. I can see how that could work out, but make no mistake it was not a creative decision in my case, just beginner’s luck. The state I was in at the time is pretty well described by the EP’s title, on which “Fried Noodles” can be found - “That One Time I Threw Up on a Bus”. Without a doubt, “Fried Noodles” was/is my favourite tune from the EP, but I could have never imagined it being this popular.
Do you mind telling us about your new EP, Pollenpop? How would you compare it to your previous EPs?
Pollenpop is very special to me. I began working on the project during the lockdown and it has helped me cope and learn to live with myself. Having a form of creative output which is so rewarding and therapeutic is something to be very grateful for.
The EP opens with “Princess Ivy.” This song was soooo fun to make. Honestly, at least 30 versions of the song were made after the rhythm guitar and synth chords were recorded. The powerful feature by Lames is also a highlight on the record for me. Really talented kid. The song itself is written about a love/hate relationship, and it reaches its climax with the sentence “You said that you’ll be fine alone.” It is an unfortunate situation where you realise that “I’m currently not looking for a s/o” is no more than a bad excuse. I also love that the song is titled after a transgender camgirl, which will probably go right over most people’s heads.
The second song, “Ur So Nice,” is about gaslighting. The lyrics are pretty blatant and straight to the point. As someone who has experienced something reminiscent of this, the sudden change between the chorus and verse hits pretty close to home. Going from calling the person “Sunflower” and stating that the answer might finally be revealed this time just to go back to being toxic again.
The first song I wrote for the EP was “My Cat and My Best Friend”. Initially, it was written as a wholesome joke for my best friend, but I ended up liking it a lot. I think the vibe I wanted to capture was when some minor inconvenience happens to a kid, but they have nothing to compare it to, so it seems like the end of the world to them. Being “ripped from the void” and talking about how “the sun will die someday” creates a pretty fun contrast to the chorus about rolling in central time with my cat and best friend. The line “We're spending all our daytime savings in empty bars” has grown on me.
You have some insane instrumentals in all of your music- especially in Pollenpop. Do you do all of your own production?
(Wow thank you so much haha)
Yes, I do all of my production. It usually starts with a simple melody or chord progression on the guitar, then I add the drums, bassline, etc. For a while now I have been drifting away from the lofi-sound I used to have, but I still believe that it’s the imperfections that make a song personal. I am still relatively new to music production, so there is a long way to go.
What setting do you consider your music perfect for?
I would consider my music to be the perfect soundtrack for staying at home on a Friday because you were not invited to the party.
Lastly, are you working on anything new now that Pollenpop has been released?
Yes, but it’s super-duper secret stuff. :)