I'd always wanted to do an R&B and soul record; a friend with a studio asked to come by and record a couple of songs, maybe just make a 45. Then the songs started to pour out, and pretty soon we had eight or 10 songs down. Nathaniel Rateliff askcouplefriend share on social
There isn't much of a music scene in Hermann, unless you like polka. But the landscape I grew up in is a part of me. I spent a lot of time in the woods doing a lot of nothing to break the boredom. Nathaniel Rateliff boredombreakgrow Change image and share on social
When I was a kid, my dad kind of forced me to sing the third harmony for our little family group, and I just kind of hated it. I just felt so uncomfortable on stage, too shy. Nathaniel Rateliff dadfamilyfelt Change image and share on social
I've always been trying to write songs that hit you in the stomach but ones that make people feel like things will be just fine. Nathaniel Rateliff feelfinehave Change image and share on social
I first moved to Denver to work with a group called YWAM, 'Youth With a Mission.' I was a kid - I was 18 - and did some work with homeless people. Really, trying to convert people is sort of an awful position to find yourself in, so I quickly, on my own, grew out of religious ideas. Nathaniel Rateliff awfulcallconvert share on social
There's this element of surprise when you're writing songs, like it's something outside of you that you get to be part of. And it's just exciting. And that's why I keep writing - because I like that feeling. Nathaniel Rateliff elementexcitfelt share on social
I've always loved soul, R&B, doo-wop and blues, and I've wanted to make a record like that for years. Nathaniel Rateliff bluedoohave Change image and share on social
I toured a lot in the U.K. and Europe solo for a lack of funds, really. I left people I'd been playing with for years at home, just because I couldn't afford it. Nathaniel Rateliff affordeuropefund Change image and share on social
My original project was called 'The Wheel'; there's a record out there called 'Desire & The Dissolving Man,' 'The Memory Of Loss' as well. There's also 'Falling Faster Than You Can Run,' also 'Closer'; all of that's on our website. Nathaniel Rateliff callclosedesire share on social
When I was a kid, we weren't really supposed to listen to secular music. But one day, I found a 'Led Zeppelin IV' cassette tape in the garage, and it was just amazing-sounding music, not like anything I'd heard before. I remember thinking: 'Well, if God created music, why is his music in church not as good as this?' Nathaniel Rateliff amazecassettechurch share on social