Biography
Born in the hills of the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, Nate found inspiration within the beauty of the natural environment. By fusing bits of country, folk, blues, and bluegrass with his love of his natural surroundings, Nate’s music reflects the complexities of life in raw, natural sounds and simplicity.
Nate’s passion for music began at a young age. Though he has upgraded from his $40 Walmart guitar, Nate still feels like a kid every time he hears Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line'' as it brings him back memories of riding in the car, belting out the lyrics to every song on that iconic album with his mother. Nate also remembers learning his first chords on that Walmart guitar as his grandfather, a self-taught musician, taught him the tune “You are my Sunshine."
Nate’s sound originates from his roots, and one of the strongest roots is his grandfather. Norman Dill, or Frank, was a central figure in Nate’s life in more ways than just music. He taught Nate the value of hardwork, conviction, courage, and most importantly, faith. Growing up in a Christian family, Nate’s faith is his most important contributor to the man he is. These roots run deep through his life and music, as he even began his first official guitar lessons with the church worship leader.
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When Nate was still in elementary school, his family moved from those deeply planted roots in Virginia to Florida, and like many customs, for a brief while, he set his guitar aside and picked up the trumpet, still wanting to be involved with music. While in high school, and facing hurdles and changes, Nate found his saving grace once again in the strings of an acoustic guitar. Merging together his Florida and Virginia influences, Nate embraced his inner sound and re-established his passion for music. By his junior year, he was president of the guitar club, and by the end of his senior year, he was committed to Jacksonville University on a music scholarship.
Nate is committed to a future pursuing his dream of writing music that could only come from within. His music is inspired by real life and real things that we all experience. The things that connect us as humans. He combines his then with his now and speaks truths that can only be spoken through sound and poetry.
Although he had written partial verses and chords, Nate composed his first full song, “I Had a Dream Last Night,” in honor of his grandfather who had recently passed, in 2019. He wrote that song on the Blueridge guitar that his grandfather had passed onto him two years prior. Next to his Bible, Nate considers this guitar to be his most prized possession.
Since writing that first song, Nate has continued to write songs that speak his soul and express human truths and realities. To him, it is not about recognition or monetary success. Music is the only way that he knows how to express life, and just hopes to reach a few people along the way.