Music Valley Archive makes clothing & collectibles to help you rep Nashville's old school soul. Here on 5 Archive, Music City-based artists, creators and small business owners share their 5 current obsessions.
—————
I hail from Dallas, TX. I grew up around two loving and supportive parents. They both had professions in the design world, so art and music were always celebrated. My older cousin Greg gave me my first guitar, and my Dad showed me my first chords on the piano. I moved to Nashville in 2006 with a dream to make music around like-minded folks. I’ve released 5 records and 1 EP, and have toured here and overseas. These days I try and spend as much time home with my wife and two daughters, and fill my creative time with painting and writing songs. I’m currently working on my next full length record with Dominic Billett, and have my first solo art show at Julia Martin Gallery in May of 2024.
Turnip Green Creative Reuse
I can’t tell you how many goodies I have picked up from this spot. I am always on the hunt for cheap, second hand art and building supplies, and Turnip Green never ceases to surprise me. I’ve snagged loads of stuff, from high quality oils, to canvas, picture frames, scrap wood, and even some badass candle holders I am using in a mask sculpture. I’m a big fan of piddling around, and this might be my favorite place to do so. It’s also a great place to buy creative stuff for your kids!
Tiew Gang vegan noodle soup at Degthai
I love the quick easy service, the minimal menu, and of course the food at Degthai. My main go-to is the Tiew Gang, and I definitely pin it as my favorite soup in town. It is a creamy spicy coconut broth, with a slew of veggies, noodles, and fried tofu. I’d eat a bowl right this instant. As a secondary choice, Jay’s Special or the Pad Thai are also favorites.
King Tut's
We live off of Nolensville Rd., and the international food options close by are great. But as a pescatarian, some of the best places are meat-heavy, so it can be tough. King Tut's not only has some delicious looking meat options, but they also have the finest falafel I have ever tasted. It’s also worth mentioning that Ragab, the owner/chef, is not only a great cook, but also a sweet and gracious host.
Franz Kafka
I have slowly been making my way through all things Kafka in the last few years, and am still fascinated by his writing and life. I was first given The Trial, and absolutely hated it. After listening to a New Yorker fiction podcast of some unearthed, unfinished stories that I really enjoyed, I tried The Trial again and fell in love. Strangely, I found the dark and morose themes to be fascinating and humorous even. I love his bridging the gap between tangible real life and anxiety-ridden absurdist encounters. It’s fun stuff, and different than anything I have ever read.
John Cale
About every 6-10 months I get heavy into John Cale records. For those not familiar, John Cale is a Welsh musician/songwriter, and one of the co-founders of The Velvet Underground. He has released solo records and collaboration records for the last 60 years or so. He’s one of the few artists that I keep returning to for inspiration. His writing and delivery is artful, but he’s also not too proud to sing a rock 'n’ roll song when the time is right. My personal favorite albums are Vintage Violence, Fear, and his collaboration with Brian Eno on Wrong Way Up.
We invite every guest to add 5 songs to the WMVA 61.5AM Sunday Mornings Playlist, a collection of music for mellow Sunday mornings. Here are Andrew's picks:
- John Cale, "Gideon's Bible"
- Ngozi Family, "Kumunda Kwa Bambo Wanda"
- Spencer Cullum & Erin Rae, "The Drum"
- Dion, "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
- Styrofoam Winos, "In Your Room"
🔹andrewcombsmusic.com
Join our mailing list below to get future 5 Archives.