Earlier this year I had the opportunity to have a conversation with Nat Gem, front man for The Mandem 91, and incredible solo artist with a catalog spanning back to 2018 with Human Musik, 2021’s The Vending Machine Demo, and this years Please Don’t Panic. His production ability, songwriting skills and unique vocal style are constantly evolving, and he has the ability to collaborate across genres. Comparing Tomato Bisque, to Looking For Love, to IM In Love?, it’s easy to see the range of Nat as an artist, solo and collaboratively.
It was crazy how [IM In Love?] happened. Wildelson and I were kickin it one night and he was set on making this sort of drum and bass beat. He chose the source material and I color coded sections to kinda work out where transitions should happen. Then like the next day we were kickin it with Jesiahs who then recommended certain cuts and drum edits. It’s sometimes good having a second perspective. Jesiahs was the main dude who pushed the upload. We had been sitting on this mp3 for years because I lost a lot of the original files when clearing out my computer. He’s been hella supportive of my art and also wills. A1 day 1. I can also over produce sometimes so he was there to help me dial back a lot of stuff and keep the magic simple.
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
Years is crazy it’s got to feel good to get it out there! When did you first start making music and why?
Took piano lessons since 8 and started in church band in middle school. I originally wanted to be a worship pastor. So I wanted music to save people I guess hahaha. I’m not subscribed to the judeo Christian god anymore though. I started making music to write a song about my crush in 8th grade. I ended up marrying that same girl at 18 lmao.
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
That is such a cool evolution! I also used to be Methodist Christian until a certain pastor really turned me off and I started researching other options. But the music was always my favorite part, I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to think it can save people. Pretty amazing to marry that same girl. That’s like the top 5 love stories I’ve heard.
Hell yeah man shouts out religion hahaha. We had a good run but I’m out here living through more love stories I guess. Yeah man music saves me everyday!
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
If you had to choose like top 5-10 musical influences, who would it be and why ?
Damn off top,
Sade
Alex Turner
Anderson .Paak
Jay Z
Kanye West
Sade was one of the few artists that wasn’t like on Christian radio that I was allowed to listen to so I really gravitated to her stuff all through childhood and high school and I still listen to her stuff all the time. Fuck I forgot Jack White. Alex Turner for his swag, Jack white for his rawness, his craziness, his stage presence, and his obsession with limiting himself on purpose. I aspire to be as cool as Alex Turner, though I may fail ima keep tryin. Anderson Paak got me through a lot of lonely nights and busy days throughout college. He is an incredible musician, he pivots well, everything about his style I’m in love with. My first mixtape that I made was called Human Music and the cover was heavily inspired by venice. Fuckin’ love that dude and everything he’s about. Jay Z, I wish I had access to his discography as much as other people growing up but this is something that I went back and listened to a ton. I would wanna say like 3 or 4 years ago that was like my number 1 spotify artist. Like I was primarily just exclusively listening to The Blueprint, Dynasty, and Reasonabe Doubt – all three of those are fuckin amazing. Kanye West contextualized a lot of concepts that I had thought about but didn’t realize somebody had already done. He laid the groundwork in many ways for a lot of music that I gravitate towards, despite you know worldviews and stuff like that, he is unabashedly in tune with what he likes to listen to and is quick to pull the trigger on it.
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
All extremely impactful artists that molded a generation. I saw Jack White make a guitar from scratch one time and it fascinated me to no end. What Is something you would like to accomplish creatively in the next 5-10 years?
Yoooo I stole that dvd from the library forever ago. It might get loud
1. Go on a domestic tour
2. Hit 10 cities and make a documentary from it.
3. Meet people who not only have good ideas but the motivation and skills to make it their own reality quickly.
4. I will play “by your side” by Sade in a stadium for my mom.
Then I think I’ll be ok. I thought I wanted to start a church, and settle down with the love of my life. But I think my ideas of both have changed. Church is a regular community with like-minded individuals who cherish divinity. The love of my life was always music and no person could or should live up to that comparison in my mind.In the next 5-10 years I want that tour to communicate my own desperation to be at peace. So yeah I want to tour and perform covers and originals on my synth. These days I’m just tryna not have these goth baddies fuck me up
What about you man?? What is something you’d like to accomplish in the next 5-10 years? Oh shit I also wanna start a band and record 2 albums with them.
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
Tour is a great goal, performing is an art, I have yet to hop on a stage yet but that’s on the list for sure. My pops was in a band while I grew up so I’ve always been around live music. I want to start a band at some point, like shoegaze but with my style of production. I’m also tryna grow @sunset1kcity into a lil ecosystem for artists and small businesses.
That’s dope bro
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))
Thank you! Still putting in my 10k hrs but I love the process. One last question for now my guy, I really appreciate your time. Are there any projects or collaborations we can expect from you in the coming months ?
Feel free to plug any projects you or the homies are working on
Yeah man I got a music video for settle in droppin on the 28th with Benjamin Alistair.
I’m working on a third soup tape with Jackii moon to complete the soup trilogy
The first one was called “taste the soup”
The second was “where’s the spoon”
This one will be called “aha!”
I got a joint with Malick that I wanna work on after I get back from Cali this week
I’m also working on releasing 4 more singles for my pal Wildelson who goes by Sun God Delson for his debut project called “DELSON64”
Those are the main focuses for now
Natty Gem💎((aka Dro Pesci))