Nate Smith's redemptive, self-assured journey to country music stardom

Nate Smith is a former praise and worship singer from a town called Paradise that almost burned to the ground in 2018.

In that context, the idea that his talent as a singer-songwriter has led him twice to Nashville makes his single "Whiskey On You" achieving chart-topping status in January 2023 a testament to the 37-year-old performer's unshakable faith.

He's finally arrived at his eponymously-titled debut album coming on April 28.

This moment doubles as yet another in which he's been able to marshal the confidence to outlast doubt on the path to success.

"Redemption is at the core of all that's good in the world -- being redeemed while touching lives and souls with a number-one single that focuses on me being myself? Wow. It's amazing. I'm glad that people are accepting what I'm attempting to accomplish," says Smith.

Because Smith's powerhouse tenor is perhaps country music's fastest-rising beloved voice, "Whiskey On You" achieves the rare feat of being a song that very few regard as "just another drinking song" -- it's a stunning standout in a town whose past decade was potentially built on three shots of Jack Daniels and wild fabrications.

Smith's success with "Whiskey On You" has been linked to blossoming from TikTok. However, similar to artists like Priscilla Block and BRELAND, he's been able to use social media as a springboard to land where he should've likely been artistically five years ago in Nashville's industry.

"It's an ever-changing creative game that allowed me to create the grassroots foundation for the momentum that connective songs are allowed to develop."

The album lends itself well to country's radio-ready expectations, but also is so well-delivered that it explodes them, too. Smith has two surefire No. 1 singles on the release -- the already chart-topping "Whiskey On You" and "Wreckage," a power ballad that recalls every bit of country's affection with this style of song from 20 years prior and pop's love of the style two decades before that.

It's the type of song that hits, sticks and honestly changes how people approach the art of production and performance.

"I'm just trying to make the kinds of songs that I want to listen to," Smith humbly notes.

"Melodies that grab you, explosive choruses you want to sing -- all of these things matter to me. I want to physically lead people into feeling the damn thing."

As a self-described "song-finder" and not a "songwriter," he recalls Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston explaining that his key to success was as much to be keyed by him writing great songs as it was discovering the best songs in Music City to cut.

Smith's affable nature, ability and desire to develop himself, plus his quick-minded intellect, has made him a songwriter obsessed with the art of lyrical interpretation.

One thing that Smith loves hearing is piano ballads.

"Wreckage" is a stellar one.

In a town obsessed with banjos and steel guitars, the "raw reality" achieved by stripping away flowery melodic touches leans country into crossover spaces.

"'Wreckage' is a hopeful story that touches on seeing past someone's imperfections and choosing them anyway."

Smith's vocal is a flexible instrument that is so genuinely powerful that, aided by intentional musicianship, it achieves songs that feel familiar in a heart-warming and instantly connective manner.

He notes that learning Blink-182, Foo Fighters and Goo Goo Dolls power chords -- when blended with his time as a church worship leader -- has ingrained in him the ability to craft anthemic, pop-aimed rock songs with country leanings.

"It's all about creating tension and release -- exploding into massive choruses from emotional, intimate spaces."

The power aspect of Smith's album is important for multiple reasons.

Foremost, it involves the inclusion of three-decade veteran mixing engineer Serban Ghenea on the project.

Though many may not know him by name, he's the sonic architect that polished a who's who of the 2010s most industry-changing artists -- Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, Ke$ha and The Weeknd, among a laundry list of pop and R&B favorites.

Now, he's in country music due to one of many stellar intentional choices made by Smith.

Go deeper into the rock rabbit hole with the performer and his California upbringing, yielding breezier, moodier Fleetwood Mac-inspired songs ("Warm vibes, dry drums, analog recording") like "Sleeve" occupy significant space on the album.

He credits his father's adoration of classic rock, allowing him to honestly pursue a sound and style unexpected by contemporary mainstream country music listeners.

When asked about his steadfast desire to be an all-encompassing creator, he smiles, laughs, and offers his most honest answer of the afternoon.

"I'm a chubby, very pale kid from Paradise, California, who's gifted at making congregations of people believe in the emotional spirit of music. I want to make music that hits the listener in the heart and creates impactful moments in their lives."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nate Smith's redemptive, self-assured journey to country music stardom