Born in Paradise, California in 1985, singer Nate Smith, in my opinion, is one of the biggest up and comers in music.
Due to tragedy in 2018, Smith caught his big break which looking back on it was heartbreaking but also gave him the drive to create something that took the country by storm. He lost everything he had to a Camp fire which still to this day is considered the most destructive fire in California history. Smith’s family survived the fire and was safe and for that he was thankful, but he struggled to continue moving forward after the devastation.
So, he turned to music.
He used a guitar that was loaned to him and co-wrote a song titled “One of These Days,” a song about his hometown of Paradise and how he hopes to see it return to glory. There’s a video on YouTube from a local news station in San Francisco where Smith performs the song before anyone had any clue who he was. The song was a local viral hit and helped citizens get through the pain they were all feeling. Smith decided he wanted to help more people get through difficult times through music, and that is what he set out to do.
Smith would then move to Nashville, TN where he saw his music career. In 2020, his song, “Widlfire,” went viral on Tik Tok and this time reached even more people than he could ever imagine with it reaching over three million views. A few months later, in November of 2021, he signed a record deal with Sony Music Nashville and dropped his first major label debut “Raised Up.”
Since then, songs like “Whiskey on You,” “Bulletproof,” Here’s to Hometowns, and “Fix What you Didn’t Break,” have all received praised and millions of views online.
I have a soft spot for Smith. Not one to listen to a ton of country, I find Smith’s style to be really ear catching and along with Morgan Wallen and Bailey Zimmerman, he would be considered in my top three favorite modern country artists. He does a rendition of Nirvana’s–you know the best rock band of all time, Nirvana– Heart Shaped Box and while it sounds exactly like the band’s original, Smith puts his own twangy twist on it which makes it a good listen.
If you want to enjoy what I am going to call right now, “the best concert the State Fair will have this year,” buy your tickets and show up on Tuesday, August 12.
Nate Smith will not disappoint.
Brandon’s top five Nate Smith songs:
1. Whiskey on You
2. Here’s to Hometowns
3. Bulletproof
4. Hollywood
5. Fix What You Didn’t Break
