Episode 10: Jennifer Haupt with Charles R. Cross and Nabil Ayers
Episode 10 Promo
Jennifer Haupt
Jennifer Haupt is the author of the novel ‘In the Shadow of 10,000 Hills’. She's also the editor of ‘Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19’, awarded the 2021 Washington State Book Award for General Nonfiction. Her work has been published in ‘O, The Oprah Magazine’, ‘Psychology Today’, ‘The Rumpus’, and other publications, and she curates the popular ‘Psychology Today’ blog “One True Thing,” a collection of essays and interviews for authors and readers. ‘Come As You Are’ is her second novel.
Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross is the author of nine books, including three ‘New York Times’ bestsellers. His 2001 biography of Kurt Cobain, ‘Heavier Than Heaven’, has been published in 30 languages, and was called “One of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star” by the ‘Los Angeles Times’. Charles was Editor of ‘The Rocket’, the Seattle music magazine, from 1986 through 2000, which was the first magazine to do a cover story on Nirvana. He writes for many newspapers and magazines, lectures on pop culture, and he’s presently at work on a memoir.
Nabil Ayers
Credit: Viking; Gabriela Bhaskar
Nabil has written about race and music for ‘The New York Times’, NPR, ‘Pitchfork’, ‘Rolling Stone’, and ‘GQ’. His memoir, ‘My Life in the Sunshine’, was published in June 2022 via Viking/Penguin.
Nabil is the President of Beggars Group US, where he has run campaigns for The National, Big Thief, Grimes, Future Islands, and St. Vincent, as well as reissue campaigns including Pixies’ album ‘Doolittle’, which was certified Platinum in 2019.
At age 25, Nabil and his business partner opened Seattle's Sonic Boom Records store, which they sold to a longtime customer in 2016. As a drummer, Nabil has performed in several bands including The Long Winters and Tommy Stinson. On his own record label, The Control Group/Valley of Search, Nabil has released music by Cate Le Bon, The Killers, PJ Harvey, Patricia Brennan, and his uncle, the jazz musician Alan Braufman.
About the Episode
HIGHLIGHTS:
Jennifer Haupt talks about her new novel, ‘Come As You Are’. Set against a backdrop of Seattle in the early '90s, ‘Come As You Are’ is a compelling love story and family drama that addresses the question: Can we alter our dreams and stories from the past to create a better future for our children?
In the second half of the show, we’re joined by two giants of the real Seattle grunge world: music journalist Charles R. Cross, author of the award-winning 2001 biography on Kurt Cobain, ‘Heavier Than Heaven’, and Nabil Ayers, co-founder of Seattle’s iconic Sonic Boom Records store and author of the new memoir ‘My Life in the Sunshine’. Charles and Nabil share their memories of and insight into that pivotal moment in music history.
Jennifer:
The significance of the title and Nirvana, particularly Kurt Cobain, in the novel
How Jennifer depicted drug addiction, anxiety, and grief in the story
The death of Jennifer’s own sister and how that informed the novel
What music, especially the music of Nirvana, means to the main characters
Music as a religion; Kurt Cobain as a god-figure in the novel
Jennifer’s brush with celebrities: Dizzy Gillespie, author Wally Lamb
How seeing live music helps disparate people bond
What “Smells Like Teen Spirit” means to Jennifer
Charles
The difference between Kurt Cobain’s public and private personas and his attitude toward fame
Kurt’s struggles with drug addiction, mental illness, and gastrointestinal problems
Kurt’s family history of suicide and his own many suicide attempts
How Charles found out Kurt had died
Why the ‘Nevermind’ album is great
Why naysayers of Nirvana should listen to their MTV Unplugged performance
When Charles first heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
The genius of Nirvana’s music and their impact on the culture
Nabil
Nabil’s new memoir, ‘My Life in the Sunshine’, about trying to connect with his father, funk, soul, and jazz legend Roy Ayers
Seattle in the early 1990s: music, record stores, clubs, atmosphere in general at that time (“Everyone here just looks like they’re in a band”)
Sub Pop Records
Bands Nabil saw play live in Seattle clubs that became grunge legends, like Mudhoney, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Nirvana
Tales of when Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell used to shop at the record store where Nabil worked
OK Hotel Nirvana show Nabil saw when Nirvana played “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time
Opening Sonic Boom Records in Seattle in the ‘90s and interacting with the many great bands that frequented and played at the store
Listen to the episode then migrate to the Rock is Lit Vault for the uncut interview with Charles R. Cross and outtakes from the Jennifer Haupt and Nabil Ayers interviews.
MUSIC AND MEDIA THAT APPEAR IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
“Come As You Are” by Nirvana (instrumental)
“Piggy” by Nine Inch Nails
“Hurt” by Oliver Tree
“About a Girl” by Nirvana
“Come As You Are” by Nirvana
“Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana
“Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam” by Nirvana
“Something in the Way” by Nirvana
“I Hate Myself and Want to Die” by Nirvana
Audio clip of Kurt Cobain talking about his stomach problems, drug use, suicidal thoughts
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (Kurt solo), MTV Unplugged
“All Apologies” by Nirvana
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” live at the OK Hotel, 17 April 1991
Clip of Michael Stipe inducting Nirvana into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014
LINKS:
Jennifer’s website, https://www.jenniferhaupt.com/
Jennifer on Twitter, @Jennifer_Haupt
Jennifer on Instagram, @jenniferhauptauthor
Charles’ website, https://charlesrcross.com/
Charles on Twitter, @charlesrcross
Nabil’s website, https://www.nabilayers.com/
Nabil on Twitter, @nabilayers
Nabil on Instagram, @nabilayers
Link to Nabil’s ‘Rolling Stone’ article on Nirvana’s OK Hotel show, “The Night Nirvana Changed Everything,” https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/nirvana-smells-like-teen-spirit-first-performance-1154128/
Link to Nabil’s ‘The Stranger’ article on Soundgarden, https://www.thestranger.com/music/2017/05/18/25153388/soundgarden-will-never-be-the-first-seattle-band-anyone-mentions-but-for-me-soundgarden-was-the-first-band-that-changed-everything
