GVN Talking Comics Exclusive: Writer And Musician Scott Hoffman’s Musical Inspirations For His Book ‘Nostalgia’

The one great thing about comics is that they reach out to all kinds of people. Even people whose creative endeavors may have nothing to do with the genre we all love. So, when Scott Hoffman (aka Babydaddy), co-founder of the disco glam band Scissor Sisters, had the opportunity to try his hand in the comics world, he jumped in with both feet. The result was his first five issue comic mini-series entitled Nostalgia, which is a futuristic noir story inspired by his life in music.

Although Scott studied writing and music at Columbia University, he was not unfamiliar with the comic genre. Being a huge fan of the DC Vertigo label with their edgy and mature themes and great artwork. For his first series for ComiXology, Hoffman teamed with artist Danijel Žeželj, whose unique talents merged perfectly with the story he was trying to tell.

‘Nostalgia’ Synopsis

The series explores what it means for artists to share themselves with the world. It’s also about how we look at our past and redefine our own stories, and how art is a way to transfer our lives and memories to other people. Most importantly, it examines the idea of fame, connection to the world, and where connecting to other people will ultimately take us, especially considering the dangers of being so connected and constantly inundated with the inner workings of other peoples’ lives.

The third issue of Nostalgia comes out this week (June 27th) on ComiXology with the final two issues releasing July 5th and July 11th respectively. Recently, Scott revealed to us his exclusive playlist (not too surprising for a musician) that inspired him during his creation of Nostalgia. This also includes his insights of each selection and their impact.

Nostalgia Music Playlist

Curated by Scott Hoffman

Depeche Mode – The Things You Said – I enjoy thinking about what Nostalgia’s music would sound (or feel) like, but I’m also glad that I don’t have to decide. Depeche Mode would definitely be an ingredient.

Nathan Micay – Did U Know I Cannot Die – I love listening to instrumental music when I write, especially stuff that takes me to other worlds in my head. Nathan Micay is beautifully transportive.

FKA Twigs – Two Weeks – FKA Twigs manages to be nakedly emotive even when she’s swimming in synthetic ambience. Humanity seems to be increasingly (and perhaps hopelessly) seduced by technology’s promise of escape and comfort, and I find that contradiction fascinating.

Fire-Toolz – Soda Lake With Game Genie – Sometimes, to me, the future sounds like something familiar turned upside down. In the case of Fire-Toolz, it’s everything familiar at once pieced together in a way I would never expect. This patchwork of nostalgia is completely sci-fi to me.

The 1975 – Love It If We Made It – I thought about “The 1975” a lot when I was writing Nostalgia, and no song of theirs came to mind more than this one. It’s an anthem for our digital world. “Modernity has failed us.”

Desert sand feels warm at night – グリッサンド  – desert sand feels warm at night does exactly what it says on the box: it’s evocative, transportive, and makes me feel something.

Drexciya – Running Out of Space – More future sounds from more than 20 years in the past. The oceans were a running theme in Nostalgia, and I couldn’t do that without some Drexciya.

David Bowie – Always Crashing In The Same Car – Bowie is inescapable when I think about rock/glam stardom and the artifice of fame. But I also always return to Low when I think about science fiction; it’s an album that feels otherworldly and from another time.

Nine Inch Nails – I Do Not Want This – With “The Downward Spiral,” NIN followed in Bowie’s footsteps and made sci-fi landscapes that fall in line with an increasingly digital world, more desperate and broken than anything before it. Trent was on my mind a lot when thinking about this angry, self-deprecating rock star.

Romance – Once Upon A Time – The postmodern future is a dark sea teeming with the floating detritus of Celine Deline’s repitched, completely-out-of-context vocals snippets. This album really shaped some of Nostalgia’s more angsty, forlorn passages.

You can find Nostalgia by Scott Hoffman, Danijel Žeželj, Lee Loughridge, Steve Wands and Rian Hughes on ComiXology. The first two issues are already available with issue 3 coming out on June 27th.