Artist Interview: Nathan Rogue

By Resonate | April 30, 2021

Words by Matt Thomas

2020 may have not been the best time to start a career in the music industry, but Nathan Rogue doesn’t care, coming out strong last year with two singles Energy and Move My Body. Both singles provided a comedic, light-hearted commentary on youth culture layered with a wealth of vocal harmonies and guitar melded beats. Taking inspiration from afrobeat and hip-hop music, the 21-year-old singer-songwriter is trying to put his own stamp on the modern R&B/ pop scene. Imagine Lewis Capaldi, but with the energy of a sweaty worn-down club wrapped in a denim jacket and sunglasses. With big stances on social issues, I caught up with him to talk about South West music and social media. Already with big plans, tours and an album in the works, hopefully, his 2021 will shine through the mist of the pandemic and be a great year for him….

How long have you been making music and has it always been under the Nathan Rogue umbrella or have you been involved in a number of different musical projects?

I started making music not long after attending college, where I studied Music Technology, I was about 16 at the time and had never composed or produced anything before. It wasn’t until I left college three years later when I started to take music more seriously. Working with different people and writing my own songs was when I decided that being a recording artist is an avenue I wanted to explore. It’s around this time my music came under the name of Nathan Rogue. Any projects prior to this were mostly involved in honing and developing my writing and production skills. 

What was your inspiration at the start, what were you listening to? 

I remember the moment a musician offering guitar lessons visited my school, when I was about nine. He was plucking, strumming and hitting the guitar and I just thought ‘I want to do that’ – it just ignited a passion for music in me. I listened to a lot of different genres of music. I distinctly remember going through a phase of listening to Michael Jackson. He would just take complete control of the stage and the crowd with him and everyone would just be living in that moment. 

You’re based in the South West, how has this shaped your career? Is it a blessing or a curse do you think? 

I originally lived in the North West until  the age of about eight and my family moved to the South West. Over time, it was obvious there seemed to be so much more on offer. Noticeably, when I came to focus on music, I was close to the Bristol music scene and London wasn’t too far either. There were good connections made and ideal venues to book gigs. Living predominantly in the Cotswolds it provides lots of open space for walking. This is something I like to do regularly as it helps get my mind ticking over, thinking of new lyrics for potential songs. 

I’ve followed you on socials for a while, it seems like you’re very socially aware, speaking out on issues such as BLM and encouraging health and fitness. Is it important for you to use social media for positive reasons and would you like to see more of it? 

I spend a lot of time on social media, maybe too much time! However, I think it can be used for positive purposes such as BLM as well as keeping a positive mindset and speaking out on social issues around us. I think social media can be very negative for some people, but it can also be educational and offer support and guidance. I’d like to see more people use social media for more positive reasons and if you don’t like something you see just scroll past it! 

Your covers range from Billie Eilish to Catfish and the Bottlemen. Anything you love playing at the minute? 

I’ve always had quite a broad spectrum when it comes to playing and listening to music. I like to play slow songs, such as Bruises by Lewis Capaldi and You Broke Me First by Tate McRae. I also like upbeat songs which just get you in that feel good mood, particularly Supercuts by Jeremy Zucker, he is a personal favourite of mine alongside Role Model. I try to be open minded and varied when covering other music as it can help influence my own work. 

What’s in store for the future? Where do you aim for your music to go? 

Short term, I am looking to release more singles before releasing an album at a later date. It’s been a tough year for a lot of people with the pandemic, but I hope to be performing gigs in the near future and ideally playing festivals when life gets back to normal for us all. I’d love my music to reach out to as many listeners as possible and to gain a loyal fanbase. Knowing that there could be a huge number of people enjoying it and finding themselves relating to my music is what drives me forwards. My ultimate dream is to play at festivals and concerts where I can share and connect with my fans through my music. 

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