Nick Cave has revealed his New Year’s resolution.
The songwriter is a whirlwind of energy, whether that’s through soundtrack work, a book with Sean O’Hagan, or the much-anticipated new album from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, widely expected to land at some point in 2024.
The Australian artist is used to a heavy schedule, but he’s still creating time to take stock. Answering two queries on the Red Hand Files – a kind of slow-motion AMA – Nick Cave was asked if he had a New Year’s resolution, and the “three single words that you like the most…”
Tackling the latter, he said: “Three of my favourite words, and ones I find myself using more and more these days, are ‘Having said that’. I am also fond of saying ‘On the other hand’, and Seán O’Hagan tells me that the word I use most in our book, Faith, Hope and Carnage, is ‘However’.”
The songwriter added: “I like all of these phrases because they acknowledge one point of view but also tender another, they preface the presentation of a stabilising counterargument. This is something not much liked in our contemporary culture, it is unpopular on social media that trades primarily in a currency of performative moral outrage. ‘Having said that’ is the bothersome and deflating enemy of polarisation, self-righteousness, intolerance and hubris.”
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Nick Cave went on, insisting that it is vital – in a polarised world – to understand other arguments. “But as the world divides into its various factions, these are words that are increasingly important. Difficult as it can be, I try my best to apply them by questioning my own thoughts – what actually is the argument from the other side? In doing so I have found that there are very few disputes, conflicts, disagreements and ideas that these three unassuming words can’t help to mediate by broadening and strengthening the conversation.“
“Some may feel they are the undermining opponent of conviction, hostile to progress and action, but they are not. These three small words give conviction its sense of humanity and prevent it hardening into a blinkered and uncharitable stringency. ‘Having said that’ is the precondition of empathy, it is the capacity to see and understand the other side, to show that we have the necessary willingness to hold two contrasting ideas in our hand at the same time.”
Closing, he said: “And so, Ellen, my resolution for the coming year is to practice, as best as I can, more open-mindedness and understanding of other viewpoints. I wish both of you, and all readers of The Red Hand Files, the very best for 2024 and may happiness and good things come your way.”
Find the letter in full at the Red Hand Files.
Re-visit our lengthy conversation with Nick Cave in the Clash archive.
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