Everything about singer- songwriter Nathan Ball feels unforced. A natural, easy, calming presence, his music scales universal emotional highs with as much fluidity as it descends into moody introspection.
His latest single “Stateline” is demonstrative of just that. Written whilst on tour in Australia, trying to capture the spirit of life on the road, Nathan found inspiration in the long dusty roads, life in transit, new people, new faces and new spaces. He confides, “It’s an adaptation of the story of Icarus ignoring advice and flying too close to the sun and meeting his demise. It’s a coming of age love song about dreaming your life away and the innocent beauty of young love, only to be brought back down to earth and all its reality.” “Stateline” glows with warmth, as jangly guitars and driving percussion create an all-encompassing atmosphere, layered with emotion-fuelled lyrics that tug at your heartstrings.
Based in Cornwall, the outdoors is a huge catalyst for much of Nathan’s material, with the songwriter sharing, “It’s where I write best; by the sea, in the mountains, in the woods. I love being totally immersed in nature so naturally those themes find their way into the music. I love being in the ocean – just being in it and feeling totally insignificant. It’s a reminder of the order of things.”
Nathan’s work fuses two chief loves – classic songwriting and an eagerness to experiment and push sonic boundaries. Perhaps unexpectedly, he finds inspiration in left-field house music. “I love the way it makes you feel – it’s euphoric, but sad, introverted but expressive. I love that darker side of the genre.” His love for the electronic world led him to a feature with seminal British electronica act Faithless and as a result he is now touring as their vocalist, where he will be headlining festivals including Wilderness and The Glade Stage at Glastonbury.
Nathan’s songs have impressively amassed over 60 million streams to date. He’s had the pleasure of supporting artists such as Bon Iver, Van Morrison, Ziggy Alberts, Matthew and the Atlas, and has also performed at festivals including Boardmasters, Green Man, Secret Garden Party, British Summer Time, All Points East and many more.
“Stateline” is the first single to be released from his upcoming EP Lost Track of Time, with new label partners V2 Records.
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