The Emotional World of a Pair of Yellow Socks – The seventeenth shape is a pair of socks

The seventeenth shape is a pair of socks

The songs of Nits are not known for the outspokenness of the emotions they harbour. In this perspective they certainly are quite atypical lyrical expressions in the world of pop songs. Feelings are drawn in a more literary way let’s say, via different detours, most often borrowing the methods used by artists portraying their world in a closeness to the material aspects of this world. In many of their songs you can almost recognise the movement of a hand drawing forms, lines and shapes in a certain rhythmic gesture. That’s perhaps how I’d describe a song like “The Bauhaus Chair”. It’s maybe one of their most emotional songs and yet what is being missed is a chair, not just any chair, but “the Bauhaus chair”.

In Henk Hofstedes lyrics objects are often invested with emotions. Objects are staged as bearers of big emotions. In a beautiful reservedness, with a dusting of timidity maybe, emotions are described from the perspective of an aesthete. And in my opinion, they only gain in expressiveness and profoundness this way. Indeed our feelings always translate a particular way of relating to the world, to the elements and other living beings that constitute it, a relationship delineated by the strict measure of time which turns all our experiences in ephemeral occurrences with all that surrounds us. The melancholy of what is bounded by time and time only, is perhaps the most crucial awareness that guides all our dealings with the world. This constellation of a tiny human being in the immensity of world was to become the backdrop of the work of Nits (some of my favourite Nits songs are wonderful sketches of this idea: the unsurpassed “Moon Moon” and the sweet “Moon and Stars”). And they carefully carved out, selected and staged elements they found in their world to become the framework on which to attach all these different emotions. It is like a natural thing to them, the expression of emotion whereby music and all the senses of the artist go hand in hand; this music has the eyes and the sense of touch of the plastic arts.

You could easily retrace the history of Nits along a line of objects that were meaningful to their world and experience of it. The craft of making things by hand – like a true artist – seems to have been at the core of their musical creations as well. It’s a modus operandi which slowly but surely slipped into their work in the early days, never to disappear. These objects seem to protect us just a little longer from transience and ephemerality. They are witnesses of a past – which can linger in their presence – they are like little vessels that can capture and hold time for a little longer, just like a photograph or a video can …

Of course one of the most obvious examples of this accord between a thing and an emotion, is the song from the album “angst”, where the existential Stimmung – angst – stands shoulder to shoulder with the inconspicuous object that is a pair of yellow socks. Such an odd juxtaposition really, but then not so much for one who is familiar with the ways of Nits. The part that objects play in the communication of feelings in the Nits universe can simply not be overestimated; things are leading actors in the world of Nits, they can be mere daily objects or artistic works, but also elements of nature like trees, clouds or rivers. They most often carry the weight of the emotional life. In a way this frees up the artist; look at the lightness and carefreeness with which Henk Hofstede dances along the instruments on stage. Objects have not only lightened the burden, but they can also offer great comfort and solace through the beauty of their “simply-being-there”. The socks through their soft texture and happy colour are the perfect answer to the disturbing emotion of angst. The socks are a part of grandma too; she still feels close through the memory of the handiwork that made them. Hands were busy in the Hofstede household; these Nits musicians just continue this work and world of previous generations through their songs. It’s a universe where everything comes together seamlessly.

The list of things is endless. I will one day continue the story of all these Nits objects that go so well with their music and which they carefully assembled as curators of a world. For now I just want to mention a few crucial “things of interest”, as there is for example the MASK. This song by the same title expresses so well the reservedness with which Henk Hofstede approaches emotions. But his attitude towards them is never a cover-up, quite the contrary, he found a way to immortalise them through little stories or scenes – just like those of a novelist – that feature cherished elements that anyone can understand and empathise with, things we are all familiar with.

The feelings that accompany the loss of a mum and dad e.g. are most beautifully conveyed in songs that feature a little flower – a viola – and a petite allumette that was found on the concrete floor of the kitchen of the family home. Tactile reminders of a time with mum and dad. And the loss of De Werf is soon countered by the soothing presence of a tree and a bird. This tree – with its enduring companionship and strength – that survived the fire, allows Henk Hofstede to write one of his most beautiful love songs. Cherished memories of happiness and joy can be rekindled in times of sadness and heartache, all of which can be reunited through the image of a car as in the “Neon” song “Peugeot 504”. Desire is portrayed by a strawberry in a song about a girl or by passion fruit in “Angel Of Happy Hour”. Every feeling or state of mind seems to have its object. Fear is hiding under a canoe. The helplessness of a shirt waving in a meadow… And in the song “The Train” a window reflects the existential question “Hey, what are you doing with your life?”.

A story is being told through these different objects and the music of Nits rearranges them in a universe of its own. In their work Nits achieved an intimacy with world that is very endearing and unique and which only the greatest of artists and poets are able to attain. And by such seemingly simple means really!

Joke Roelandt, November 2024