Nathan C. Davis | Healing in Hindsight

Local Music Somewhere Spotlight: Nathan C. Davis

Greazy Keyz: Welcome to rBeatz.com. I’m your host, Greazy Keyz, with another episode of Local Music Somewhere. Today in the studio, we have a good friend, Nathan Davis, here to talk about himself, his music, and what’s going on. Nathan, welcome to rbeatz.com!

Nathan: I’m happy to be here. Good to see you!

Greazy: Very cool! It’s been a little bit. So glad you made it by the studio to share some of your music and your story. Let’s start at the top. Tell us a little bit about your background—where you’re from and what brought you here to Charlotte. I saw in your bio you’re originally from California, which I didn’t know!

Nathan: Yeah, I mean, on that note, I’m an Aquarius, I like long walks on the beach…

Greazy: Are you single? Is that what you’re telling me? (laughs)

Nathan: (laughs) I’m just using this as a platform. But yes, I’m originally from California, grew up in Southern California, between the desert and the beach. So I spent a lot of time in the desert doing fun things. The desert’s kind of like another planet at times—especially at night. But yeah, I’m definitely a San Diego, Pacific Ocean kind of guy. I spent a lot of time in my adult life there. The ocean has always been a big draw to me. But being outside is probably a bigger theme, you know? That coastal thing was planted where I grew up, and I still have it. I’ve been in Charlotte for 15 years now, which is the longest I’ve lived anywhere consecutively.

Greazy: Amazing! So you’ve been a bit of a traveler, huh?

Nathan: Yeah, I grew up with my dad, who was a special forces Green Beret Colonel. We moved every few months, sometimes coming back, sometimes going somewhere else. It was an interesting way to grow up, but it made the family tight. We all turned to each other when we were in different towns. I always had my twin brother, so the new school thing wasn’t a big deal for me. We made change work—it was just change. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, but it was always different.

From California Roots to Charlotte’s Music Scene

Greazy: Right. So how did music come into play in that? When did you realize you wanted to be a songwriter or gravitate toward the guitar?

Nathan: Well, when my dad was home, music was always a big part of the family dynamic. He’d play acoustic guitar and sing old folk stuff—James Taylor, John Denver, Cat Stevens. That kind of thing. It was always a collective thing, like singing with one voice as a family with one guitar. So music was always part of the fabric of what made the family tick. My twin brother and I both gravitated to music, and he learned to play guitar in fifth or sixth grade. I started singing around that time. We were a duo for a long time, and I think the harmonies were really tight because of our connection. Apparently, when we were toddlers, we even had our own language—no idea how it sounded, but we communicated that way.

So music came naturally. I was in some touring bands out west, but totally different formats than what I’m doing now. One of my favorite bands out there was a mix between Helmet and Queens of the Stone Age, and we toured between San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson. That was a really fun rotation of towns.

Greazy: That’s cool stuff! Was that more of a rock band?

Nathan: Yeah, rock stuff. It was a great band with great guys, and the writing process was a lot of fun. That was the first time I was playing bass, though, instead of being the frontman. I had so much freedom, and it was really different. But I’ve always had an affinity for acoustic music because of my dad and brother, so when I came to Charlotte, I kind of went through a two-year music depression. I missed that band, but I picked up my acoustic guitar again and revisited the stuff I’d always loved—the texture of acoustic music.

Greazy: So when you moved to Charlotte, were you mainly doing cover gigs, or were you able to get into original music right away?

Nathan: When I first got here, I wasn’t playing out at all. But when I started playing acoustic again, I reached out to some bars to see if I even had three hours of songs people would want to hear. Over the next few years, I did around 200 shows a year, which taught me a lot. Experience really is the best teacher. After doing that for a while, I started mixing in original songs with covers. In the past few years, about 30-40% of my shows have been original music, which has been great.

Charlotte’s music scene has evolved too. Ten, twelve years ago, there weren’t many places for original music. There were a few venues, but a lot of them have closed since COVID. Bars were mostly looking for cover bands, and there wasn’t much of a curated appetite for original music. That’s changed in recent years, and it’s been exciting to be a part of that.

Greazy: Yeah, I’ve seen that too. When I first moved to Charlotte in the late ’90s, there were a lot of original venues, but over time, they died off and the cover scene grew. Now, it’s leveling out, and you’re seeing more venues that are open to original music, which is awesome.

The Creation of Healing in Hindsight

Greazy: So, you’ve got a record out now, right?

Nathan: Yeah, I just released it. It was a lot of fun to make. Totally different process for me this time. I went through some big life changes in 2018 and 2019, and these songs really came out of that period. I spent a lot of time on the beach, just sitting there and breathing in the ocean air, doing what I call “ocean therapy.” That’s where the songs started to form. When I finally had time to record, I paired up with a good friend of mine, Eric Moss, who’s a great music mind. We recorded the album live with ribbon mics, just me and my acoustic, and then we layered things over it. It gave the songs a somber texture, which I always thought would be perfect for a fall or winter release.

Greazy: That’s really thoughtful! It’s interesting that you were intentional about the season you wanted to release it in. I think that’s something a lot of artists don’t think about.

Nathan: Yeah, I wanted it to feel right for the season and the introspection that comes with those months. It’s one of those things where you want the songs to be heard, digested, and appreciated, not just pass by. We did the recording in late 2022, but then we had to go through mixing, which didn’t finish until April the next year. After that, I was really busy with shows, and I didn’t feel like summer was the right time for the release. I also didn’t have the right cover art yet.

Greazy: Oh yeah, the cover art is key. It really has to match the vibe of the album.

Nathan: Exactly! I had a few ideas, but nothing felt like the right fit. Then, on a trip to Sullivan’s Island, I got a photo that just clicked. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the cover. It really personified the title, Healing in Hindsight, and the themes of the album. Jake Rothwell helped with some digital work on it, but the photo itself is just as taken. It’s perfect.

Greazy: That’s awesome. It’s amazing when everything just comes together like that. So, what’s the album title again?

Nathan: Healing in Hindsight. It’s me at a distance in a place where I did a lot of my healing. The photo itself represents everything about the album and the songs.

Greazy: That’s really cool. I love how you waited for the perfect moment. Do you have any upcoming shows you want to promote?

Nathan: Yeah, I did a record release at Amos’ South End, which was so much fun. I also played The Poor House in Raleigh, which is a great spot. I’ve got more shows coming up, including Fall for Greenville and some in Nashville. You can find all the details on my website—nathancdavis.com.

Greazy: We’ll be right back after a word from our sponsors at rBeatz.com, and we’ll hear some live music from Nathan C. Davis!

Greazy: Welcome back to Local Music Somewhere with Greazy Keyz and rBeatz.com! We’ve got local singer-songwriter Nathan C. Davis in the studio with us. Nathan, before we dive into some live music, how about giving some advice to the aspiring singer-songwriters out there who might just be getting started and want to write their own songs? Do you have any words of wisdom?

Nathan: Yeah, actually, I do. I think nowadays, there’s a tendency to compare yourself to others, especially with how much content is being created. And it’s easy to get caught up in that—trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing, or trying to write like others. My advice would be to put some blinders on when it comes to that. Do what represents you, and be true to who you are as an artist. You’ll never appeal to everyone, but the more authentic you are, the more you’ll attract the people who are your people.

Greazy: Absolutely. You can’t be like everyone else—you’re the only one of you! Of course, influences can come through in your music, but at the end of the day, you have to do you and be your brand.

Nathan: Exactly. The more true you are to yourself, the more people will connect with you. And if it resonates with people in the room, it’s so much more rewarding. At the end of the day, if you’re true to yourself, the right people will find you—not because you look like someone else, but because you’re you.

Live Performances: “5, 10, 15, 20” and “Rainstorm”

Greazy: I love that. So, tell us about a song you want to perform. Give us a title and a little bit of the story behind it.

Nathan: Well, I often start my sets with this particular song, mostly because I really like it. It’s a nice, mid-tempo, nostalgia-driven tune. I’ve been on earth for a while now, and as you live longer, you start reflecting on things, experiences, memories… and those trips down memory lane. The older you get, the more turns there are on that road, and this song kind of speaks to that. It’s also the first time I’ve ever written a song where I sing numbers—which is a funny concept when you really think about it.

Greazy: Yeah, it’s not common to hear someone singing numbers! But I think it’s an interesting choice.

Nathan: Yeah, it’s a little quirky. But the song is called “5, 10, 15, 20.” It’s on my first record, and it’s one of those songs that I play in every set—it just feels like part of me. I guess I’ll play it now.

Greazy: Awesome, take it away!

(Nathan plays “5, 10, 15, 20”)

Greazy: Fantastic song, Nathan. Very cool. It’s got that circular feel to it—you’re reflecting on the formative 5, 10, 15, 20 years, and then looking forward to the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years. It’s a great perspective on time.

Nathan: Yeah, exactly. It’s about those chunks of time that shape you, but also prepare you for what’s ahead. It’s a reminder that life is always moving forward.

Greazy: I love it. So, what’s next? Another song?

Nathan: Sure, I’d be happy to. Picking songs for a set can feel like picking favorites. It’s like choosing which child to take on vacation.

Greazy: (laughs) Yeah, that sounds like a tough choice!

Nathan: Yeah, it’s tough. But in this case, I think I’ll play a song that came out of that whole 2020 experience. You know, 2020 was such a strange, flyover year for all of us, right? It was like living in this strange line of time.

Greazy: Definitely! It was like the “Before COVID” and “After COVID” times.

Nathan: Exactly! I remember the first couple of weeks feeling like a snow day, but it quickly became something else for a lot of us. For me, it was bittersweet—there was fear, but also some unexpected family time and time to slow down, reflect, and connect with the people closest to me.

Greazy: Yeah, it definitely brought some simplicity. You had time with family if you had it, and if you didn’t, it was a quiet time of reflection. How did that inspire your writing?

Nathan: It was a little of both for me. I spent a lot of time walking outside, reading, and writing. One of the songs that came from that period is called “Rainstorm.” It was ironic because every time I worked on it, a thunderstorm would hit. It was like the universe was playing a prank on me!

Greazy: That’s amazing! And I love that you named it “Rainstorm.”

Nathan: Yeah, it just seemed to fit. Anyway, here’s “Rainstorm.”

(Nathan plays “Rainstorm”)

Greazy: Wow, Nathan. That was amazing. Thank you so much for coming in and sharing your music and your story today. Be sure to check out Nathan C. Davis on Instagram at @NathanCDavisMusic. He’s all over the place, playing shows in Charlotte, Charleston, and beyond.

Nathan: Thanks so much for having me, Greazy! It’s been great to be a part of this community. And if anyone comes out to a show, please come say hello!

Greazy: Definitely! Once again, this has been Greazy Keyz with rBeatz.com, and this has been Local Music Somewhere. See you next time!