Share
Nathan Menard is the type of musical artist and producer who will remind you of why life really is beautiful. “There’s an energy and optimism in my songs that I think is absent from so many other titles out there,” he says. “And the world needs that. These past few years in particular have been hard for so many people, and I like to think that my music can take people to a better place both emotionally and mentally. I try to remind my listeners of how they felt when they first fell in love or of the joy found in simple moments.”
As a child, Nathan did not seem destined for music at first. “I was not born into a family that loved classic music or that sang in a choir,” he remembers. “When I was fourteen years old, I heard a Marvin Gaye song that was intended to be background music. No lie, I think that I changed in that moment. I vowed I would do whatever it took to sound like that and make music that made people feel like I did that day: confident, dreamy, in love, and wanting to dance.”
Nathan faced an uphill battle from there. “I had to teach myself how to play the drums, guitar, and piano. I also taught myself production, mixing, and mastering. Up until this point, I’ve done everything on my own and have just learned to master my craft. The hardest part, probably has been the lack of support. As an insecure musical artist, you simply need a team of people telling you what you create is special,” he says, chuckling. “As discouraging as that has sometimes been to not have that, I have just persevered and kept making my music because I love it. I’m now ready to be heard.”
Nathan is thoughtful as he thinks about the impact he wants his music to make on other people. “I want to bring the zeal and color back to life and love. I think people have forgotten how to celebrate life, and I want my music to remind them.”
Nathan believes there is a lot that people can relate to in his music. “In my most recent single, “Lottery,” the theme of the song is the idea that I am a winning lottery ticket but end up in the trash. Everyone feels this way at some point, right? Whether it’s in the workplace, at home, or in their love life, everyone feels overlooked even though they have so much to offer. That’s what I try to put in my music: a gracious and positive comprehension of the world, love, and life.”
It’s hard not to like Nathan when he gives his answer to what success means to him. “Success for me would be someone who plans a surprise date for their lady, and at the end of said date, they light some candles and dance to my song with their girl under the moonlight. I also wouldn’t mind one of the more banging R&B hits being used for a Tik Tok dance trend.”
Nathan knows that he faces long odds in his profession. “The music world will eat you up and spit you out, that’s true,” he says. “However, I really believe in my core that I have something special to offer a listener. I know I probably sound like every single person that’s ever auditioned for American Idol, but man, my whole life I’ve been an optimist. I am filled with joy and a passion for music that is heard with the heart and responded to with dancing. I’ve got music and life in me that’s just waiting to be released. Long story short, I think I have talent and heart, and I’ve been overlooked. I am a winning lottery ticket just waiting to be scratched.”
The ultimate experience, Nathan says, is performing onstage. “The lights, the instruments, the sound, the audience – it’s all a thousand times better than playing in my studio. There’s an instant connection with the people you sing for, and it’s an incredible high that lasts for days afterward. I will always love performing.
