Audacy host Megan Holiday got a chance to talk with Nathaniel Rateliff this week as he and the Night Sweats gear up to hit the road again in 2022 for their first set of shows since last year's hometown holiday concerts in Denver.
LISTEN NOW: Nathaniel Rateliff talks with Megan Holiday
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats released their third studio album, 2021's soulful The Future, at the end of last year. Rateliff began writing the record in the summer of 2020, when uncertainty surrounding COVID was at its peak, while still trying to have a hopeful vibe about what lied ahead. "I think that kind of ended up being the thread that runs through a lot of the songs on 'The Future,'" Nathaniel says. "It kind of poses more of a question, than a statement, about what our future is. Because at the time we... well, we still don't know. The only thing we can do is be hopeful that things will even out, we'll start to like each other more... Or at least learn how to agree, or understand each other a little bit better."
"I didn't want to be overtly political," Rateliff adds. "I feel like there's a time and place for that. I still want to write songs that are about the human experience, growth, and hopefulness -- while still trying to talk about how hard that can be."
Rateliff collaborated with his longtime friend, director Brantley Gutierrez on the cinematic music video for the lead single "Survivor," off of the latest release. Gutierrez immediately recognized the track as the album's first single and knew he needed to be a part of the song's visual. Rateliff explains, "He was like, 'what if it's like 'Raging Bull' meets Wes Anderson, meets such and such..?' Since I've known him forever and he knows all the guys in the band, it was really easy to work together and for him to make us comfortable. I wouldn't normally walk around shirtless either, but it just seemed appropriate, and it was just fun and felt lighthearted. Making videos is always tough, for us, because... even if we are brooding and moody, we are goofy a lot of the time, and it's nice to show people we don't take ourselves too seriously."
One of the last, moody songs, completed for the record, "I'm On Your Side," was created alongside producer Brad Cook and sprung upon the rest of the band when they arrived at the studio one day. Cook dropped out some of the tracks and told them to just play along, figuring out the chords as they went. In the end, the process, albeit awkward at first, allowed each member to feel as though they had been heard and contributed something valuable to the band. The song's lyrics, Nathaniel says, "try to talk about how different we all are right now, and how can we bridge that gap of those differences. How do we learn to hear each other even if we don't agree with each other? That's what we used to have and that's what democracy is founded on... being able to have different opinions and not hate someone for it. I'm hoping we get back to that at some point."
"I think when I say 'I'm on your side,' it's like, I'm not against anybody," Rateliff clarifies. "I'd like to hear a reasonable argument for what you believe, you know?"
Listen to Megan Holiday's full chat with Nathaniel Rateliff above, plus pick up the band's latest album, The Future, Nathaniel's latest solo record And It's Still Alright -- and get details on Rateliff's upcoming festival and European tour dates right HERE.
While you're in the mood, listen to more of your favorite music on Audacy's all-new Indie Vibes, Alt Now, Alt Quiet Car, '90s and Chill, and ALT Roots stations -- plus check out our talent-hosted Megan Holiday's My So Called '90s Playlist, Kevan Kenney's Music Discovery, and Scott Lowe on the Go's Post Modern Music Box!
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram