Nine Inch Nails Austin City Limits Interview

Trent Reznor talks about the latest incarnation of Nine Inch Nails.
Watch Austin City Limits on PBS. For more visit acltv.com.

[@jessica5497]

He is beyond industrial. A Renaissance man, like Bowie.

[@itsafridayonceagain7192]

Fo' sho'

[@liviafbf]

like Bowie, like Byrne

[@Fitzroy_Fox]

Anyone else find Trent's speaking voice calming and relaxing? Like I can totally listen to him all day.

[@ZenPoet]

I wanna sit on his lap on a rocking chair while he reads me a story.

[@Crunkachu]

Same.....Very calming

[@ruairimasun1073]

around when I first started listening to NIN, I saw an interview with Trent talking about being able to hear things in his songs after 50 listens. I thought this was stupid at first, like how could I not hear something that's playing in my ears? but then what do ya know it's true. the more you listen to it the more you pick up, especially on the downward spiral

[@newyorkreload]

The multi channel mix in 2004 really enhanced how much that album has.

[@ZenPoet]

Especially once you finally get a DAMN good pair of headphones with which you hear everything.

[@JasonChamberlain]

The ambient noise coming out of the right channel is so spooky.

[@thelastdisciple]

jesus christ, i thought i was losing it. i was looking over my shoulder for ghosts lmfao

[@JasonChamberlain]

hahahaha

[@RealMNeutral31]

thelastdisciple The guy there was breathing into the mic too much. That is where some of those sounds are coming from.

[@crime_wavcorp]

lol..fuck, i was just getting ready to check my side door. kept hearing odd noises.

[@Automation.Records]

I have been watching this in the dark and that definitely spooked me.

[@throttleitup]

Love Trent.Dude is a student of the arts.He will be one that's remembered.

[@uneedtherapy42]

I'm really not a huge NIN fan but I freakin' love this guy... I think he is going to write some music in the future that will blow people's minds. He is like a classical composer to me in the realm of Debussy or something. I know people will disagree with that but I think he is.

[@hernandz1000]

Actually I also think he is. Especially in that album called "Still" you can clearly notice his piano skill it's so sad and deep.

[@hernandz1000]

I totally agree with that. Most of ppl judge him bc of his heavier songs, but he deserves to be so much more recognized in terms of music creativity.

[@Crunkachu]

He already has.....I believe..... Many songs are even more relevant now than 30-35 years ago when he made them

[@prospectnyc]

This fucking guy is like a fine wine. He gets more awesome with age, and he was already awesome to begin with.

[@goodknight37]

Trent is my favorite living artist. His albums are an experience.

[@rickywilcoxson6933]

behold the Industrial Superhero Trent Reznor

[@plasmametroid]

Damn good interview... His wealth of life experience leads him to say alot of inciteful & practical things. Time and time again, he's constantly moving forward. never idle.

[@SiennaArmstrong]

I really like how Trent can talk about his experience of touring, making music and listening to music. Its honest and he reminds me that this is how really great artists are work, objectively, ever evolving and carefully crafting music that has 'soul'. I feel sad because I will probably never meet him or see him in real life. I am grateful I was alive to be able to enjoy the music he has made. He is genuinely unique and inspirational.

[@plasmametroid]

Who's to say you won't see him in real life? He's back on tour. For as many times as I've missed each round, I eventually saw him 2 years ago. Dont doubt it.

[@masonbologna]

did u die????

[@andre.fiel.]

Don’t give up. I watched through the internet when they played the “last NIN show ever” in 2009, and I thought I’d never see them live. But he came back in 2013, and I got to see them in 2014. And he’s coming back again. Keep your hopes up.

[@Sioakela]

Gosh, so beautifully articulated. Particularly 9:30 onwards, he really elaborates on a topic I care about. He's got a beautiful mind.

[@johnst3296]

Some of us still listen to music like that Trent...thanks for yours, I've enjoyed since 1991 🖤

[@YeahManMillionaire]

Honest, articulate and genuine. All the main aspects I respect in a human being. My hero.

[@MonkyMonk729]

Fantastic interview. I love that he points out how taking the time to really indulge in the experience of listening to music undistracted, and keep coming back to it to really unravel the mind of the artist- is so critical in becoming the musicians we become. It's a shame that music is "consumed" the way it largely is today. I was born in 1971, so there was a brief period as a kid where my parents would buy the music I was into on vinyl (mostly KISS and other random crap), but then cassettes came along and that's really what I grew up listening to. And cassettes were great because of the walkman... you could listen to YOUR music anywhere. Then of course CDs reigned supreme for a couple decades, and then Napster/File sharing, etc came along and it felt great to have access to all this music in minutes if not seconds. And that's about the time the music being produced on major labels started going to shit. Things had been slowly moving away from the days of really spending time devoted solely to experiencing music. And THAT really is the beauty of vinyl. It forces you to pay attention. You can't take it in the car, or to the gym, where your mind is focusing on other things. I always attributed the plummeting quality of music this century to a failure on the part of the recording industry to even acknowledge the threat that file sharing posed to their decades old business model. Sales plummeted and they could no longer afford to take risks on signing new original sounding groundbreaking artists. They just stuck to the formula that they know sells... which is shit. I just never understood why shitty artless music sells so well. But I think listening to this interview made me realize at least part of why that is. Trent points out the marginalization of how music is consumed by the masses today. Its background noise. No one is listening critically anymore. (Well not no one exactly, but not most people). There isn't a real connection to the music and the artist that Trent describes as an ongoing revelation that we generation x'ers have just taken for granted. That's WHY we listen to music. That's where the magic is. I couldn't conceive of it being listened to in any other way. Of course musics going to go to shit once there's no real relationship between listener and music, and between listener and artist. Its tragic, really.

[@Crunkachu]

Nine Inch Nails still give the best-life changing-spiritually awakening live shows too.....Fall of 2022 is last I know of but am wishing & hoping & praying for more as so many people haven't experienced this yet & need it in their lives.

[@fukkagoogle2081]

I have watched many many of Trent interviews and this is by far THE best one I have seen! Would love to see the unedited version of this

[@daniellerogers1352]

Phenomenal. I love how he emphasizes viewing things through both the fan's perspective as well as his own. ❤

[@Crunkachu]

He actually cares about his fans 💜❤️💜❤️💜

[@ComicAcolyte]

This guy is a genius been listening for a couple of weeks and I have never connected to an artist like this before in my life and I am a music nerd this guy is insane and so honest about his insecurities and so human that's what makes him the greatest for me so happy I found NIN after my breakup it has revitalised my life and made me finally get back into running 5K 4 days a week I was training for months for it but his sound is incredible for motivation but also meditation and inspiration absolutely love it.

[@Crunkachu]

I know exactly how our feeling-Just discovered in August 2021. Bless you & Bless us all. Wishing Trent will bless us with another love tour..... Then maybe I'll see you there

[@darkChristian]

This gentleman created some excellant music, I am sure they are all stuffed with their own orbit, Trent is the modern day Mozart, Bach,Shakespear etc etc etc...he is very close to their brilliant music like the musical masters of our day, he is classical in his approach to his master peices, he changed the world with his music and a stageshow with it. I hope he finds the pulse of the world and gives us so more gems to listen to, MUSIC IS DYING WE NEED A REVIVAL OF HEAVY METAL, AMEN!

[@Crunkachu]

We need some more live Nine Inch Nails concerts. Moreover though is that Trent is doing well & happy & has a family & this is ultimately his choice.

[@chrissummerville3591]

Dude might as well be Steven Wilson's brother from the U.S., when it comes to his view on vinyl. SW speaks exactly the same on them.

[@pameladevereux4294]

Trent has a very organic approach to his music much the way Picasso had to painting. Very interesting interview.

[@jasonjackson3114]

You motivate me Mr Reznor. Thank you.

[@Miss_Christie]

Yes! I do, too. It's been sad to me that as a response, lots of musicians skip out on the art, lyrics, the thank and fuck yous... It was all part of the experience for me. I'd be transported to a different place, one I needed. Thank you for sharing. 💚

[@raquelmartinez2853]

He smile is precious

[@GuruChaz]

I really enjoyed watching this concert. It's hard to explain the effect. It was so professional that it didn't have to be cage shaking wild, if that makes any sense. I've seen both sides and I love both sides. Thanks for this experience. The mix of sounds in each song is amazing!

[@SIl_Ae]

So inspirational

[@damonbeddingfield2958]

I am a music creator and right now when I am on down time between songs to refresh them the top 2 artist I get inspiration from are Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor. They are both embodied in the art they create. I would really love to be alive when they collaborate.

[@bambipardis9730]

Trent is not stuck up

[@mattbauer548]

nin fans are so exact! love it

[@beezysbeatz4924]

I love his humility with regard to his talents frfr But c'mon Trent, you have mastered song writing and making beautiful 'sound'.

[@musicalentities]

I love this guy :)

[@trippshow3541]

50th listen, Addictive music.

[@d3x3d]

a solid leader.

[@shelbyeatskidss]

god i love his mind. "yeah nine inch nails was like agressive assault of rock. and we became like... a rock band so like im tired of it ive done it it was a rock band, i know i can do this. but i dont want to."

[@shelbyeatskidss]

and also trent you are a dream wizard you stole from my subconscious

[@Crunkachu]

​@@shelbyeatskidssMine too LOL

[@crime_wavcorp]

i wish he would go on joe rogan's show for a few hrs.

[@rogerhoke9725]

We gotta start pushing for that, because I was just thinking the same thing and Joe does look at what people post (or at least someone who works for him does).

[@TheMillersToll]

Toby Moore yes!!

[@Alex-tx2em]

Joe Rogan is overrated.

[@michaelmabe8214]

Toby Moore absolutely, if one pays attention, every little aspect of his music has a purpose, a deeper than face vaule meaning. It's exactly the kind of thinking that I love to see explored on a show like rogans.

[@rudyroman5192]

@@Alex-tx2em so?

[@sanguisbibimus]

Interview audio only comes out of the left channel. Super easy fix to just copy the left channel to the right channel to create a mono signal. Silly for an organization that focuses on music to mess this up.

[@miserable6623]

Why does the audio come up only on the left headphone I'm- I thought they broke and I got scared

[@joebob32x61]

Year Zero lives again!

[@edaciousx]

About 11:30, thats how i felt about burning bright (field on fire). listen once, wth is this... twice, hmmm. third, ok interesting. 10th time, this is awesome!

[@familiarsting4108]

Agreed!

[@valeniusthekat]

VINYLS, NEEDLES AND THAT FRESH BOOK SMELL!!!!! I'm right there with ya babe!!! XD still have Pretty Hate Machine on vinyl (Halo2)

[@KM-zw9qb]

not a huge NIN fan but reznor's a cool guy

[@bambipardis9730]

Trent reznor can do my movie my autobiography

[@robertcombs9364]

the guy even did a score on the documentary CIVIL WAR

[@azaleas1]

love this band, need blu-ray release ACL, make a deal...Atticus and Trent will even mix it for you...

[@nineinchnailslover977]

Come on Austin City Limits, release to footage already

[@azaleas1]

Trent Interview Austin, Texas, US 2013 Austin City Limits ninlive.com

[@edgynerd9326]

Hey BITING THE HAND THAT FEADS

[@michaelreidperry3256]

What a mind!

[@TheJayb5833]

absolute genius

[@bambipardis9730]

Old testament

[@bambipardis9730]

It’s unexplainable you have to feel it

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

Always dressed for a funeral

[@NotRandomHero222]

What is the gasp or whisper at 3:10?

[@Bellhelly]

I think the background noise is just someone playing Minecraft, maby his children, and also the interviewer´s breathing too close.

[@bambipardis9730]

Shift the fly us from people’s mental illnesses that’s an old subject from 18oo’s 👀

[@MCConfuz]

Anyone know which album he is referring to here?

[@danieltamayo8543]

That's got to be Hesitation Marks, the first album after NIN was supposedly over live

[@shawnbennet432]

He's actually out of his element in these interviews, you can tell he has anxiety with one on one interviews.

[@crowchild21]

Ok so you wanted to steer away form reptition in your concerts. You could have switched up the music. Change presentation at each concert. You could have done what you felt like. Instead of burning out and changing you genre to accomplish satisfatory. Just because you getting older doesn't mean you can't produce that same type of music your fans enjoy. If you felt enslaved by touring. You could have limited yourself with the tours you had. This is not a good enough excuse for me. I always felt a understanding appreciation for your older music. Come back Trent.

[@crowchild21]

Your as old as you believe yourself to be. A purest doesn't get worse over time. They experiment learn from it and perfect. Why I don't give up on the band. Is the impression I get with his music. I don't believe he pissed it all away when it comes to talent. He just needs inspiration, that well reconnect him to his fans.

[@odenetix2522]

If you listen to what hes saying, you'l notice he's addressing your concerns. I didnt understand his last record at first either but he's right, its important to emerge from a repetive comfort level and explore

[@GamerX76]

I highly disagree that Trent has lost inspiration lately. "Beside You in Time" from With Teeth is one of the best musical compositions from a mainstream artist I've heard. I think what you all mean is that you miss the angry Trent. He was never just about the anger, he was about emotion. Personally, I'm fine with whatever emotion he chooses to show us in his recent albums. No, you'll probably never get another Downward Spiral from him, but I'm fine with that.

[@jameskievets8055]

crowchild21 Hot tip. He isnt accountable to you so he can pretty much do what ever the fuck he wants.

[@crowchild21]

...

[@tashaschneider1419]

I don't think this satanist takes himself seriously enough.

[@rudyroman5192]

Lol "Satanist"

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

Tasha Schneider Do you always watch videos of people you hate? Seems you’re the one with the problem. You’re sad and pathetic.

[@Wtfu2]

Is it possible to share parts or clips of this to a tktok ?

[@mrburns366]

Right ear is so jealous..

[@mrburns366]

The audio channels are reversed.. the interviewer is on the left off camera and Trent is on the right in relation to him.. the audio is backwards

[@Miss_Christie]

Yes! I do, too. It's been sad to me that as a response, lots of musicians skip out on the art, lyrics, the thank and fuck yous... It was all part of the experience for me. I'd be transported to a different place, one I needed. Thank you for sharing. 💚