Renowned guitarist, singer and songwriter Nathan Smith’s brand-new album of original works, Here’s to the Now has just been released and it is a masterpiece!

The first two singles from this album hit radio stations nationwide during May 2020 and can already be heard on stations nationwide.  DECISIONS, a song about love and relationships not always working out the way we think they should, and not always happening when we expect them to was originally written by Nathan many years ago – before he got married – and is about waiting for someone to respond to your feelings while still hurting from a previous relationship.

The second single, CLOSER, is very special to him. Nathan wrote Closer – his first ever gospel release – about how grateful he is to be a child of the Creator. “I am aware of the pressures of the world and the media to ‘perform’ and to get to the ‘top’. But God says His grace is enough; it is all we really need, and the rest is just detail.”

Featuring twelve original tracks, the album was named after the opening song. “The name is apt because of the message behind the song, which is to live for today, to not worry about tomorrow, and to learn from the past.” As for his favourite song he jokingly says that it is like asking somebody to choose their favourite child. “I like every song, but for different reasons.”

Besides the song, Closer, that is very special to him, the song Aidan, is a heartfelt tribute to his nephew. “My nephew Aidan contracted an auto-immune disease which, in just eight months, took his life. He was just 22 years old. I wasn’t planning on writing a song, but the day before his funeral my mind suddenly filled with images of Aidan’s life. He had such personality and a great outlook on life, even in his last days,” says Nathan. “Aidan is a tribute to a life well lived and comes from a very deep place in my heart. It is also a dedication to parents who have lost a child; it is a terrible thing to endure.”

Song selection can be a challenge for any artist. In Nathan’s case, he relied on input from colleagues. “Because of my extensive musical background and session experience, a big challenge was to create an album with a coherent sound and to not let every song run in a different direction,” he explains. “I did pre-production for about eighteen songs while I was on tour in the Netherlands. From there I got feedback from colleagues on which ones seemed best and twelve tracks made the final cut.”

The final selection appears to be spot-on if comments by several renowned local artists are anything to go by. “Finally, a change of scenery in the music industry. I can listen to this all day long.  Get out those headphones, you need to hear this…” says Bobby van Jaarsveld. And Riana Nel agrees: “Here’s to the Now is one of those albums you can listen to every day of the week. So melodic with killer lines. Skilfully done!”

It is perhaps best summarised in the words of Dewald Wasserfall: “Here’s to the Now transitions seamlessly between soaring rock riffs, soulful blues and nuanced acoustic folk. Catchy melodies and stellar musicianship tie it all together.”

Nathan has also received praise from Francois van Coke, who describes the artist not only as a great guitarist, but also an amazing human. “His solo effort shows off his power as a songwriter too, with great blues influenced pop songs.”

Nathan grew up in a musical family. “Both my parents were music teachers and playing music has always been quite a natural thing for me. I started playing guitar at the age of eleven and soon found myself performing live in venues and on national television. I discovered my love for writing music at the age of thirteen.”

Having spent around 26 years in the industry, Nathan is a seasoned musician with many experiences and stories to share. A career highlight, he says, was playing at various Soccer World Cup events in 2010. “Besides the huge stages and crowds, it brought so many people together in spirit.”

He is inspired, says Nathan, by entertaining people and delivering something that’s likeable to the ear. “I’m also dedicated to the craft of playing guitar, which is a whole other inspiration to me.” But the talented guitarist’s hands are not only good for making music. “I love handyman work. My daughter even calls me ‘Handy Manny’, thanks to her mom,” he laughs.

While renowned for his session work, original work has always been at the core of Nathan’s love for music, with 2006 seeing the launch of his solo album Songs from a Diary. In 2009 he released an experimental album with Mark Heydenrych, Paddy Smith and Kyle Rutten called The Nathan Smith Project – The Sum of All Things.

Commenting on his brand-new single and upcoming album, he says: “I love how you can instantly connect with people you don’t know on a deeper level of emotion and understanding through music. I want people to relate to the stories behind the music while appreciating the artistry.”

The final word, however, goes to Ricus Nel. “What an absolute pleasure and privilege to get to listen to one of South Africa’s top guitarists! What a guy and what a muso! What stands out most is his humbleness and kindness towards all people. Well done!”

TRACK LIST

Here’s to the now

Dry Cry Smile

Running Out of Control

It Feels Good

Alice

The First and The Last

The Investment

Plastic Man 

Scientists Say

Decisions

Closer

Aidan

Here’s to the Now is available on all digital platforms here:   https://bit.ly/3eB7Mvw

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NathanSmithOfficial/