Rising Country music talent Nate Smith is ready for a huge 2025 after scooping the Academy of Country Music Awards' coveted New Male Artist of the Year gong last year. The powerful chanter, 39, rose to fame after his song Wildfire went viral on TikTok in 2020. However, it's now that the wheels are fully in motion for his career to take off - and he is grateful for advice he has received from some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Nate, who originates from Paradise, California, has already had huge hits with the likes of Avril Lavigne and Alesso - and has just announced a massive collaboration with Hardy. While he shows an impressive range of styles to fit his Country tones with a mesh of other genres, he admits that working alongside such names has been huge for his progression. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror ahead of his European tour and UK Country 2 Country sets he gushed about Sk8er Boi singer Avril, with whom he has twice collaborated with. He said: "She's one of the most genuine, present people I've ever met.".
He added "the way she lives" is the best advice he has taken on board from their working connection. "The way she lives, is the advice," he confessed. "She's present, she's in the moment. She's enjoying life, like she's not letting anything overwhelm her. She's got it dialled.". Nate went on to reveal his thoughts on what the secret to a successful tune is and how his Country vibe comes from within the lyrics. Explaining his writing process, he said: "I mean, everybody writes differently, you know. I'm really one of those people that I believe that the melody is so important, like, the melody is how you sing along to the song.
"I want every song to be sing-a-long-able. That's my goal. If they're not all hits, they're all going to be catchy and they're all going to be something that you can grab right away. That's the most important thing to me.". Revealing further why he feels Country works so well for an audience, he added: "I think for me, what makes a good Country song is a good story. It's really about being brutally honest. It's about being transparent. It's about telling. Sometimes it's the grey, it's like, everything's not always perfect, you know? And being honest with those challenges.".
Nate spoke about how he grew up with worship music and working in churches and said that will always be a huge part of who he is. However, he confessed Country music allows an artist to open up on topics and concepts that might be harder to do so in other occasions. "Concepts like drinking and these kinds of things," he said. "But what I love so much about country music is that it allows you to talk about things that wouldn't be okay in certain other other genres. So to me, it's about embracing that first and foremost. And I think your only way to really make it in Country music anymore is to lean into your own personal styles.
"I think you just have to lean into what you like, but making sure that you're true and you're honest with your storytelling. I think that's where it's at. But I love the diversity that's happening and everything [in Country music]. It's great...Country is a very human genre.". While a big future awaits, Nate will always remember his past success too - and not only due to his accolades. Following his banger with Alesso, he left a permanent reminder in the way of a tattoo on his arm. Their song titled I Like It - which was played at the Super Bowl last weekend - marked Nate's first number one on dance radio. "I actually got the tattoo here," he said as he showed off his artwork. "[It says] I Like It and did the Skull Head with, like a little disco ball for dancing right here, and everything.".
He quickly joked Alesso hasn't lived up to his side of the deal yet, though. "Alesso said he's supposed to get one, so he hasn't yet. So I'm kind of judging him a little bit." he teased. "We've gotten to perform it and stuff out and everything. It's really been a really big song for me and him.". Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
