27 San Francisco
THE INTERVIEW
July 9, 2009. 8:32pm
Dir. Travis Mathews: hey, so what's happening in your room right now?
Nathan: haha, i'm laying in bed, surrounded by freshly folded laundry, listening to jody watley on vinyl and talking to you
Travis: nice. that paints a good visual
Nathan: it's dim and smells like laundry
HIS UNIQUE SEX APPEAL
Travis: I know that you chose not to take off your clothes for IN THEIR ROOM. How did you feel watching the final piece when you realized that everyone else took clothes off?
Nathan: totally fine. the piece was supposed to capture me, and that's me...i kinda love that i'm the only one actually, i'm old fashioned i guess
Travis: I like it too. what else do you think it might capture about you?
Nathan: well, again i think each chapter is supposed to be specific to the boy. i'm the kind of guy who, though i of course appreciate a great body, or nice ass, find other things to be the truly sexy stuff. what someone's all about under the surface, that's the good stuff. so, in their room was a piece on intimacy most of all, and i think i was pretty intimate. therefore, i think that my unique brand of sex appeal definitely came through. i was very happy, i thought it was very honest and thoughtful.
Travis: nicely said. people who've watched, people who dont know you, have described you as sweet, melancholy and sexy. they've also said that you're the introspective voice of the video.
Nathan: and in a very simple and obvious way, it's lovely because it's such a snapshot of my life right now, at this moment. aw, that's sweet. melancholy worries me though, damn that Catherine Wheel record!
Travis: I like that too and i think it will only grow as a snapshot, zeitgeist kind of piece with time. melancholy worries you? does that not feel like you?
Nathan: well, i just don't think i'm a sad person
Travis: i guess i think of it in a more nuanced way, not just sad.
Nathan: but when we filmed that i did have a very heavy heart, so i guess that read on camera
HIS TOP 10 LIST
Travis: tell me about your top ten list. you had a hard time narrowing it to ten, huh? what didnt make the cut? if i remember right you had 13 things in mind?
Nathan: oh, crap...i can't remember. i would have to see it. besides, i'm stoned! haha
Travis :uh oh.
Nathan: did blueberries make the list? or fruit bats?
Travis: no!
Nathan: i love both of them
Travis: fruit bats, the band? neither made it
Nathan: no, the animal, the band is cute though
Travis: you had a couple of other animals in there too, elephants and big dogs
Nathan: did i? that's telling i guess
MUSIC
Travis: You had lot's of music references in your Top 10 List, what have you been listening to lately, other than JW?
Nathan: been revisiting a lot of michael jackson...i know i know, but i really am kinda devastated.
Travis: I hear ya. the day he died it was blasting from every car, in every store.
Nathan: also been listening to a lot of devo
Travis: lots of older stuff
Nathan: yeah, i don't listen to much new music anymore
Travis: if you were putting together an impromptu playlist right now what would be some songs on there?
Nathan: oh, jesus. ok, i'm literally gonna start just flipping through what's on my floor and name off stuff i'd listen to at this second
Travis: yeah, dont overthink it. just a few morsels
Nathan: book of love – boy; heidi berry- up in the air; noise addict – girlfriend; jane's addiction-been caught stealing
Travis: Im sure you noticed that music played an important role for most of the ITR guys, you maybe the most. what's that about?
Nathan: it's everything to me. it's my oldest friend. it's influenced pretty much everything i have ever done from my appearance over the years, to where i move
Travis: what do you mean, 'from my appearance?'
Nathan: well, when i was young, music defined how i expressed myself through my outside appearance typical teenage music nut
Travis: i think your passion for music definitely comes through in the video. any thoughts on how it seems to be a unifying link between you guys?
Nathan: hmmm, i'm not really sure. i think it's interesting, but i certainly don't think it was planned. but definitely a hapy accident
Travis: im wondering if for a lot of gay men music played a role in escape, fantasy, other possibilities
Nathan: well, i think you are also interviewing a pretty specific group of gays though, i mean let's be real, butt readers would be into music....one would think
Travis: for sure, but why? i dont really have an answer. it is a duh question, but i wonder
Nathan: that would get me started off on a whole other tangent though, i'd start rambling about how the internet killed how music is meant to be consumed....it's not pretty
BUTT-LOOKING GUYS
Travis: you put "facial hair" as one of your Top 10 Favorites. what's going on there?
Nathan: it's sexy. Simple. i likes me some scruff
Travis: agreed. and it seems to be an important piece to a larger image among gay guys right now, this return to natural masculinity. what do you think?
Nathan: i think it's interesting. and good i guess. but everyone's different. i have always been attracted to masculine guys, it's just a preference. there are some guys who love hairless twinks who shave their armpits. to each his own i say
Travis: true enough. i was referring to the specific group of Butt readers I shot. There was almost universal agreement on some things, facial hair or hairy pits being one of them.
Nathan: haha, again though, it's a very specific group you shot...there are bound to be shared aesthetics
Travis: exactly! I love delving into them, so to speak.
Nathan: totally
Travis: even though it's a specific group that i shot, i have real doubts that we've seen this many Butt-looking guys (and admirers) in San Francisco since the 70s...
Nathan: well, it's trendy, sorry, it is. haha
Travis: trendy=fleeting and cyclical, so i wonder if we'll see a return to clean clean clean as the "look"
Nathan: it's a popular aesthetic...there's a huge throwback going on right now to pre aids gay life. go to any dance floor with alternative gays....the poppers smell is overwhelming
Travis: for sure. and some reclaiming of sex and romanticizing of a time when most of us were babies -or not even born yet. poppers, really?
Nathan: oh, yes
Travis: I was just asking someone where you find those
Nathan: don't get me started
Travis: started about what?
Nathan: i mean cool, go for it lady....but that shit gives me a headache and i hate that it's so invasive for those not doing it
Travis: my friend seemed to think that you go to porn-vid stores
Nathan: they all have them
Travis: i havent experienced this yet -on the dance floor. really, the video stores? that feels very 70s too
Nathan: yeah, any of the castro porn stores
Travis: open some windows will you
Nathan: haha
Travis: you're having a big party at sf underground for your birthday next week. should i bring my inhaler?
Nathan: haha, you may want to...i'm sure there will be that element.
ON DATING
Travis: so are you welcoming 27 as a single man?
Nathan: i dunno, there are still 8 days
Travis: damn!
Nathan: truthfully, i am in a strange situation currently. yes, i am single.... i guess strange is the wrong word...complicated
Travis: you wouldnt be in san francisco if it was otherwise.
Nathan: you said a mouthful. that's the thing, he's such a breath of fresh air from all of that bullshit
Travis: aww, that's great. so when you find your man complicated and strange or otherwise what should his bedroom look like...if he's gonna knock your socks off?
Nathan: hmmm. there should be personality clues and artifacts. i like to see his interests reflected in his space. and if i already dig you, and then i see a good vinyl collection...it's on. haha
Travis: nice
Nathan: a little mess is always good too...not dirty, but some stuff should be out of place it means he's not insane
Travis: like they're not too too anal, but alive and real
Nathan: exactly, he does things and gets busy
Travis: dyou have any dealbreakers, assuming you're already into someone at least somewhat?
Nathan: i'm sure i do...and i'm sure they are all super shallow. bad taste, poor manners. those are not that shallow i guess
Travis: not at all.
Nathan: cologne
Travis: ugh. tell me about it
Nathan: yucka
Travis: lets hope that doesnt make a resurgence…
IT'S THURSDAY NIGHT
Nathan: i have not really slept or eaten well the past couple days. i'm about to put on some tea, and chill out at home. maybe a little bad tv. exciting i know
Travis: some solo time.
Nathan: i should go to the eagle ot tubesteak....but i need to just breathe
Travis: should, meaning that you should be promoting your party? self-promotion is exhausting.
Nathan: yeah, just being out there. yes, yes it is
Travis: get some rest and ill see you next week wafting though popper fumes on the dance floor!
Nathan: haha. it's a deal!
