Nate Smith’s Unlikely Journey to CMA New Artist Nomination

Nate Smith, a California-born singer and songwriter, has made a remarkable journey from his small hometown of Paradise to becoming a nominee for New Artist of the Year at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. At 39, Smith is notably the oldest artist in the category, which also includes younger nominees like Megan Moroney and Bailey Zimmerman.

Smith’s path to success was not straightforward. He grew up in Northern California, where he was influenced by bands like Nirvana and Bush. Before his country music career, he attempted to make it as a contemporary Christian musician, but that endeavor ended in failure. He also experienced a brief marriage that ended in divorce and struggled with depression, a condition that runs in his family.

A pivotal moment in his career came after the devastating Camp fire in Paradise, which forced him to leave his home. This event inspired him to write a song called ‘One of These Days’ with a friend, which gained viral attention on Facebook. This success motivated him to record a demo and eventually try his luck in Nashville again. In 2020, he drove 2,000 miles to Nashville, sleeping in rest stops and performing at random bars during the pandemic.

In Nashville, Smith’s song ‘Wildfire’ gained traction on TikTok, leading to a meeting with a publishing executive. He was signed after performing his song ‘Sleeve,’ a soft-rock number about his past marriage. Smith has since released several successful singles, including ‘Whiskey On You,’ ‘World On Fire,’ and ‘Bulletproof,’ which featured Avril Lavigne and reached the Top 5 on the Country Airplay chart.

Smith’s music and background have resonated with audiences, particularly in a time when Nashville is embracing a rock phase in country music. Artists like Hardy, Warren Zeiders, and Koe Wetzel have also brought heavy guitars into commercial country music, aligning with Smith’s unique sound.

Despite his newfound success, Smith remains humble and optimistic. He describes his worldview as ‘delusionally optimistic — or maybe optimistically delusional’ and emphasizes the importance of hope in his music. Smith is set to spend two months next year making a new record near Mt. Shasta).