Advert characteristic with Martin

Nate Smith is a part of Martin’s Showcase class of 2024: discover out extra in regards to the Showcase programme at martinguitar.com, and on this yr’s Martin Journal.

Nate Smith’s self-described “anthem nation” provides uplifting and catchy tunes, by way of the lens of an natural, rock-influenced sound. Nate’s songs characterize the aspect of Nashville that’s good for singing alongside too, ideally with a beer or whiskey in hand.

Having initially moved to Music Metropolis at 23, Smith later returned to his house city of Paradise, California. However in 2018, his home would burn down within the Butte County Camp Hearth – one of many worst wildfires the state has seen. This tragedy, although, impressed Nate to put in writing his breakthrough monitor, One Of These Days, which paid tribute to Paradise. The response to the tune impressed Nate to return to Nashville and begin enjoying music professionally.

His subsequent tune, Wildfire, went viral on TikTok in 2021. Not lengthy afterwards, Nate discovered himself signed to Sony Music. Since then he’s honed his “anthem nation” with singles like Whiskey On You and Bulletproof, in addition to his debut self-titled album.

The place did music all begin for you?

I began singing after I was 9 years outdated to Elvis and Garth Brooks. My mother and father have been at all times listening to them. My mother would at all times put Garth concert events on television. He was my hero then and nonetheless is. And my grandma was an enormous Elvis fan – she at all times had his music enjoying after I would go go to in the summertime. I cherished the rasp in his voice and the songs have been so memorable – I’d attempt to mimic them.

My dad purchased me my first electrical guitar after I was 13. Shortly after that, I began enjoying acoustic guitar. I used to be a worship chief at youth group so I received actually comfy performing with an acoustic guitar. I spent lots of time writing songs with simply me and an acoustic. I nonetheless do to at the present time. Generally all you want is simply you and a guitar. I feel that’s additionally why I really like nation music a lot: it’s sincere.

After I was studying, I used to be drawn to Blink 182 and different pop punk acts. As I continued to put in writing songs and carry out, it was at all times with a guitar. Often an acoustic. I’m very a lot a rhythm guitar participant, partly as a result of the music I take heed to – the rhythm drives the songs. A few of the bands I grew up on, like Blink 182 and Nirvana, have quite simple chords and strumming patterns. So my method to enjoying guitar could be very related: easy. I’ve not been a very technical participant, however for me the sound of a Martin acoustic lends itself very properly to large chords!

What’s your historical past with Martin guitars particularly?

I’ve at all times cherished Martin guitars however rising up, I couldn’t afford one – so the truth that I get to group up with my favorite guitar firm on the earth is a dream come true. I received my first Martin guitar nearly 10 years in the past and it was only a reduce above all the opposite acoustics I’ve owned all through my life. Martin has at all times been my absolute favorite. They keep in tune, they aren’t chasing tendencies, they’re simply tried and true! It’s the one acoustic guitar I’ll ever want once more. I’ve put it by way of hell and it nonetheless by no means fails me. I now have 5 of them. It is likely to be turning into an issue!

Your debut single Whiskey On You has been licensed double platinum – what has it been like watching that tune get so enormous?

It’s superb to see the followers sing Whiskey On You night time after night time at all the reveals with such ardour. I at all times thank them in the event that they despatched the tune to their poisonous ex! And with Whiskey On You going primary it gave me the boldness that I may do it once more. I’m so grateful to nation radio for giving that tune an opportunity. It set us up so completely for World On Hearth.

That tune World On Hearth has seen related success – what about it do you suppose resonated with individuals?

I feel it’s only a tremendous relatable tune. A few of us go straight to the bar after a break up and it often by no means ends properly. It looks like time is the one factor that actually helps us get by way of issues. The tune additionally attracts from my very own private expertise with hardship that got here from the fireplace in 2018 in Paradise. We had misplaced our entire hometown. I assumed to myself, a relationship can really feel like this in a roundabout way – it’s a must to begin once more at sq. one. I feel lots of people can definitely perceive that.

You’ve cited all kinds of influences in your sound. With that in thoughts, how do you retain your sound and your songwriting targeted?

I feel parts from all of those artists and genres are applied into my music now, whether or not it’s sonically or lyrically. I feel nation music is actually in a singular place proper now the place leaning into your influences and the sounds you want is accepted and radio is actually supporting that now. It’s humorous that there’s a wide selection outdoors of nation that goes into me, however nation is what comes out.

Does your time spent as a worship musician nonetheless affect your music?

Completely, it does. I’ll at all times have my religion. Main worship ready me and taught me easy methods to play for a crowd, create a set listing, make errors onstage and join with people on a deeper degree. Some individuals received their chops on Broadway. I did it in church buildings.

Since your music has taken off, has your method to songwriting modified in any respect, and what has shifting to Nashville taught you?

I don’t contemplate myself a songwriter. I contemplate myself a tune finder. Rusty Gaston at Sony Music Publishing instructed me to search out the best tune in Nashville whether or not I wrote it or another person did. I take nice pleasure in mining nice songs and that can by no means change!

After I’m in search of a tune, I first take heed to the melody earlier than the lyrics as a result of I really feel like melody is what makes a tune catchy. If I would like individuals to sing alongside to my songs, it must be memorable. Shifting to Nashville, I’ve realized that in the event you love this city, it should love you again. I feel it’s a must to make lots of mates right here, they usually need to be real connections.

After the 2018 wildfire, you wrote the monitor One Of These Days in tribute to the city of Paradise, CA. How did you method responding to such devastation with a tune?

When you haven’t discovered hope within the reply, it’s a must to maintain wanting. The whole lot you do has to have hope in it. With out it, we’re simply reactive to all the unhealthy issues that occur to us. You additionally need to be keen to say sure to the decision when it comes. It’s important to be resilient and when alternative comes, it’s a must to go. I’d not have a report deal if I didn’t transfer to Nashville. I additionally realise that nation music is like no different style on the planet. It actually has the chance to heal and relate to our happiest days and our darkest days.

About Martin’s Highlight programme

Artists are the lifeblood of Martin Guitar. From Johnny Money to Joan Baez, numerous influential musicians helped make Martin what it’s at this time. Now, Martin has set its sights on the subsequent era of musicians with the brand new Artist Showcase. This system goals to have a good time artists who’re making waves within the trade, and serves as a platform to attach the artists with Martin’s world viewers.

Six artists are kicking off the Highlight for 2024. They’re Drayton Farley, Devon Gilfillian, Ian Munsick, Pleasure Oldakun, Nate Smith and Hailey Whitters, and collectively they characterize the vast span of music being made on Martin guitars: from soulful classic R&B to eclectically-influenced pop, and from uplifting nation rock to uncooked, unflinching Americana. On this collection of interviews, Guitar.com sits down with the six artists that make up the category of 2024.