With unwavering determination to explore various genres and timelines, Nourished By Time has developed a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly modern. In his newest album, ‘The Passionate Ones’, songwriter/producer Marcus Brown confidently expands upon his 2023 debut, weaving a complex narrative of political disillusionment, aspirations, and – importantly – hope.
In 2019, Marcus Brown, at the nascent stage of his musical venture Nourished By Time, made the decision to sell most of his belongings and fit what was left into his 2014 Mazda 3 before embarking on a long journey from LA back to his hometown of Baltimore. After two years of struggling in Los Angeles, he grew weary of trying to make ends meet while pursuing a trend that seemed unresponsive. “I was dealing with mental health issues and didn’t quite grasp the music industry,” Marcus (who had been releasing music under a different alias before NBT’s inception) recollects. “I lacked finances and the time to create music; the entire system felt like a scam.” After expressing his frustrations in a heartfelt conversation with bassist Carrington [Edmondson]'s mother, Marcus decided to leave Los Angeles and began mapping his winding route back home. He made stops in Salt Lake City (“really cool”), Las Vegas (“somewhat annoying, it’s like Times Square”), and the flatlands of Kansas, staying in budget hotels along the way and getting to know a significant part of the USA for the first time. “I wasn’t in any rush. I had nothing else to occupy my time,” he laughs now. “Those drives were pretty wild; I remember my leg swelling from hours on the pedal. The journey provided me a fresh perspective – you learn a lot if you pay attention.” Marcus adds: “Driving back to Baltimore was probably the best decision I've made; it offered me so much space to write. I felt trapped in LA, constantly working yet still unable to afford anything.” But did returning to his roots feel like regression? “I was already stuck!,” he chuckles. “Going back to Baltimore was like starting over. I needed a positive change in my life, and going back to square one was the best way. I've always trusted my ability to create music, so I was excited to have the freedom to do more of that.” At this point, only two tracks had been released under the Nourished By Time name: the funk-infused gospel track ‘De Ja Vu’ and an early version of ‘Rainwater Promise’. “Nourished By Time was my last shot at music,” he reflects, recounting the period straightforwardly: “If you want to be an artist today, you have to make sacrifices, and I needed more time to create music without the constant pressure of paying rent.”
This resolute mindset to sacrifice for ambition heavily influences Nourished By Time’s aptly titled new album, ‘The Passionate Ones’, which was released this summer. Today, Marcus is talking with DIY from Utrecht, Netherlands, as part of an 18-stop European tour promoting the new LP. He sounds fatigued and occasionally distracted while making his way around the city during the call. “Oh wow!,” he interjects at one moment, “sorry, I just saw someone nearly get hit by a bus.” Nonetheless, he is an engaging interviewee - eager to listen and speak, and his conversation style mirrors his songwriting approach. He reveals himself openly, without delusions of grandeur, and exhibits a laid-back demeanor, yet he should not be underestimated, as he deftly displays sharp insights or an eloquent remark now and then.
“I never really considered myself a leftist artist. I was just writing music and becoming more politically aware,” he shares.
After moving back to Baltimore in 2019, Marcus frequently traveled north to New York, staying with his then-girlfriend or friends, as Nourished By Time evolved from a hesitant start to a confident stride. He spent years writing continuously and self-releasing various tracks, discovering his artistic identity with newfound freedom. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, opportunities were beginning to unfold thousands of miles away.
Eventually, a British music enthusiast came across Nourished By Time’s self-released tracks online, which – even now – distinctly embody NBT’s mix of shimmering synths, drum machines, and resonant baritone. This fan introduced the tracks to ambient pop artist Bianca Scout, who then played the songs for London tastemaker label Scenic Route (Acopia, BLACK FONDU), resulting in them contacting Marcus to learn more about the project. It’s a classic case of the butterfly effect that every songwriter imagines, if only for a moment, when uploading their music to platforms like Bandcamp. “It felt like a series of internet referrals,” he describes the sequence of events, calling it “a rather traditional yet modern way of being discovered” – a fortunate break for an artist whose unique blend of nostalgic
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With a bold determination to explore various genres and time periods, Nourished By Time has created a sound that is both timeless and distinctly contemporary. In his latest album 'The Passionate Ones', songwriter and producer Marcus Brown builds upon his 2023 debut with assurance, weaving a complex narrative of political disillusionment, ambition, and – importantly – hope.