12/13/2023 0 Comments Nathaniel rateliff spokaneThis conversation has been edited for length. On the title track, Rateliff sings, “They say you learn a lot out there, how to scorch and burn / Only have to bury your friends, then you’ll find it gets worse.” But the final verse drives home the album’s central message: “Your idle hands are all that stands / From your time in the dark / But it’s still alright.” We spoke with Rateliff on the phone to talk about the meaning behind some of the songs, his memories of Swift and finding inspiration from Harry Nilsson, among other places. The album is ultimately about finding pockets of joy and light in grief and darkness. And It’s Still Alright is tagged a solo record, but in reality it was made with a village: Night Sweats drummer Patrick Meese and Beach House drummer James Barone, who both engineered and mixed the record, are just a few of the folks who worked on this release. Rateliff decided to record much of the album in Swift’s Oregon studio, even in his absence, and polish it off in Rateliff’s own home outside of Denver, Colo. But I want it to be a slight departure from those days as well, and just look at it as a slightly different way of approaching the writing.” This is a purposeful shift, as Rateliff told us: “For years before the Night Sweats I toured around as a singer/songwriter, and so that sort of writing style I really enjoy and am really familiar with. The softer tunes on Rateliff’s new solo release, And It’s Still Alright (out Friday on Stax Records), may sound like a bit of a left turn, harkening back to his beginnings as a touring singer/songwriter (back when Paste hailed him The Best of What’s Next). Just listen to the unceasing clapping and humming on “ S.O.B.,” one of the more humorous tracks on that 2015 debut, and one of the band’s most popular songs ever. The songs on these releases are very often restless, unrestrained and ruthlessly catchy. Paul & the Broken Bones and Lake Street Dive), 2016’s snappy A Little Something More From… and, most recently, 2018’s thoughtful Tearing At The Seams. Frontman Rateliff’s calling card is his ragged, booming voice, which can be heard throughout the band’s three previously released LPs: a self-titled 2015 debut (which followed a wave of high-energy rock/soul releases from the likes of St. I really strive to deliver a lot of emotion in my music, so my hope is to eventually be gigging independently and creating my own music to tell my stories.Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are known for putting on a rowdy show. Music has always been a storytelling medium for me. What do you hope to achieve and spread with your work? I've certainly grown to be more comfortable with my voice and vocal abilities, but I still get imposter syndrome sometimes. I think that my biggest challenge has always been overcoming my own insecurities with my voice. What do you feel has been your biggest challenge with taking voice Having a supportive and knowledgeable teacher is by far the best investment I've made as a musician. I'm a sucker for learning, so I've really enjoyed the process of being exposed to new things and watching myself progress and develop as a vocalist. What do you like most about voice lessons? I've also started diving into songwriting, which has been a unique challenge in its own way. Lately, I've been really focused on developing my technique and pushing myself to work on more vocally challenging songs. What have you been working on artistically/vocally as of late? Artists like Jeffrey Martin, Nathaniel Rateliff, Caamp, Gregory Alan Isakov, David Ramirez, and the Lumineers are some of my favorites. I've really found that folk, indie, and Americana have inspired me as a musician. Which artists inspire your singing and artistic process the most? I am currently living back in Spokane after spending the better part of last year in Berlin, Germany.Īt the moment I'm finishing up a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Philosophy and am currently preparing to apply to Ph.D.
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