Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Nathan.
Hi Drew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Thanks so much for featuring me! When I was a kid, I grew up in places that are now filled with high-rise apartments and shopping centers. I was always an emotional child and because of my age I never had the vocabulary to accurately express what I was feeling. When I was 13, I got my first guitar for Christmas. I started teaching myself and watching videos on the internet to learn anything I could. I was obsessed. That’s when the songs started coming. I didn’t know what I was doing but my folks said it helped regulate my emotions. As I grew up to be an adult I was very involved in the Church. Grew up in the halls of a local church and eventually got involved in the worship team. Between sharing the stage there and touring with my band all over, I really grew and stretched myself musically.
During the COVID lockdown, I randomly started waking up really early in the morning – sometimes 3:45-4 am. I had to fill my time with something that early in the morning so I started meditating. During and after meditation (between 30 minutes and 2 hours) I would have these memories flood my mind from when I was a kid out in the country. I had memories and visions come to me that I haven’t thought of since they happened. I got my guitar out and just started writing things down as they came. It became an incredibly healing and transformative process. I found my voice in country music despite listening for most of my life. I know for a lot of folks it was not a great experience but I thrived and within that societal storm, my passion for writing songs and playing music was revived.
I have three singles out with a ton more on the way soon. In 2023, I plan to release my full-length album (with a couple more surprises along the way). Music is my therapy and because a way of processing through trauma and unhealthy patterns. As long as I’m writing songs that make me happy, I’ll be living as my greatest success story. It helps that people like my songs as well! Hopefully, I can work my way to the point where I can afford to do it for a living.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Oh hell no ha! My folks have never really believed that music can be a fair living. I was always encouraged to have a “back up plan.” It was challenging growing up with dreams with reminders of what “reality” was like. Mega-church worship culture also skewed my view of music and what vulnerability realistically looks like. I gave up on music and that part of life after leaving the church. It took years to find the hope I needed to even dream again. I am also currently processing a messy breakup with a woman that I thought would be my person for life. It’s been very difficult and heavy, but I am thankful for the lessons I’m learning through it and the songs that are coming from it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Though songwriting is the goal, I, unfortunately, have bills that music can’t pay right now. I work as a beer/wine program coordinator for two locations of a local brewery. Through putting out more of my music and getting out there, I’m hoping that I work my way up to the point where music is my full time bill payer!
Who else deserves credit for your story?
I have a lot of people that have supported and held me up when I didn’t know how myself. Friends mostly. I’ve become a person that mostly believes “family” is earned, not inherited. My current roommates/best friends, Daniel and Mindy, have been the biggest support system I’ve known and they are truly family to me. They’ve been excited for me when milestones come. They bought my meals when I couldn’t afford to. My other best friend (and my producer) has also tirelessly and endlessly offered his support, his time, his effort, his studio, and his ear (for both mixing and listening to me process through life). I definitely am not where I’m at because of things I’ve done alone. And I will never forget the people who’ve supported me and the love I’ve been shown.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewnathanmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drewnathanmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewnathanmusic
Image Credits
Danny Charland and Kristie Crowder
