Nathan Carroll (musician)

Nathan Carroll is a country singer-songwriter and guitarist based out of Edmonton, Alberta. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Carroll has been highly praised for his solo work as well as his work as a studio and touring back-up musician. Carroll is especially known for working closely with fellow Edmonton artist Brock Tyler.

Musical career

Nathan Carroll grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he began his solo career (specifically composing the music for a play) and as a musician in the bands Dawn Treader and Senor Feo. He then relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in music with majors in voice and guitar performance.^[1] After developing the songs on the album by playing at open mic shows around Edmonton, Carroll recorded his debut album, The Tie-In to Dyin’, in one weekend.^[2] Drawing comparisons to local country artists like Corb Lund^[3] and country-rock legends such as Ryan Adams and Gram Parsons,^[4] the album was released in early 2007 to high praise and with a sold out album release party.^[5]

After the release of his album, Carroll continued to perform in and around the Edmonton area^[3] before setting out on a co-headlining tour of Canada called the Hearse, Verse and Stars tour with fellow Edmontonian (and the producer of Carroll’s record) Brock Tyler in the spring of 2008.^[6] The tour included stops in 15 Canadian cities, mostly in Western Canada but also getting out to Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa in Ontario.^[6] Despite the busy-ness of his solo career, Carroll continues to accompany many other artists both in the studio and on stage. Carroll is a touring member of two Edmonton based bands, the Wheat Pool^[7] and the James Murdoch Band.^[8] He has received studio credit on the most recent Wheat Pool album, Township, as well as on an EP by the country influenced Young Wire Wicks^[9] and a Christmas album by jazz singer Kim Fast.^[10] Nathan Carroll can also be seen backing up Edmonton soul group, the Carrollettes.^[11] As well as his career as a musician, Carroll works as a guitar instructor^[5] and a pastor^[3] in the Edmonton area.

Frequent collaborators

Nathan Carroll often collaborates with a small group of musician-friends both with his own music and own their albums and concerts. Brock Tyler produced and played on Carroll’s debut album^[12] as well as co-headlining with Carroll on their first cross-Canada tour in the spring of 2008.^[6] Carroll also frequently works with David McGregor and Jeff Coutts, who make up the duo the Young Wire Wicks, giving both of them playing credits on his album^[12] as well as receiving credit for his guitar work on their debut EP (on which Brock Tyler also played the drums).^[9] On his album, Carroll is backed up by singers Heather Donily and his wife, Heidi Carroll.^[12]

Discography

As a solo artist

Nathan Carroll – the Tie-in to Dyin’ (2007)^[13]

Nathan Carroll - Last Stop on the Dancing Bear Act (2009) http://www.redknotrecords.com

Nathan Carroll - Mercy is a Bird (2011) http://www.redknotrecords.com

As a supporting musician

Kim Fast – Missing the Mistletoe (2006)^[14]

The Wheat Pool – Township (2007)^[15]

James Murdoch Band – In Transit (2007)^[8]

The Young Wire Wicks – EP (2008)^[9]

Influences & sound

In interviews and in his music, Nathan Carroll has been very open about his musical influences. In an interview with Vue Weekly magazine’s Eden Munro, Carroll spoke about how he had the music of Ryan Adams in mind when recording his album, stating, “I really wanted that same in-the-room kind of a feeling. It was the first time I’d heard an album that felt like it could have been written and recorded 40 years ago.”.^[16] On the song “Down on my Knees” from his album, Carroll lifts two lines straight from Gram Parsons’ “In my Hour of Darkness” and inserts them seamlessly into his own song.^[17] His album also contains references to his appreciation for the music of Bruce Cockburn, Hank Williams Sr, Townes van Zandt and Kris Kristofferson.^[12] He also mentioned in an interview with Sandra Sperounes of the Edmonton Journal that he plays the music of Johnny Cash for his infant son.^[3]

Nathan Carroll's sound is an obvious reflection of these influences. Carroll's website declares that his music is “Country Western for the Masses”.^[1] The music is country-rock with take off solos by Carroll himself throughout the album; solos which have garnered praise at live shows.^[18] The most common comparison that his musical sound earns is to Gram Parsons, especially when he employs a female back up singer to remind the listener of the Gram Parsons-Emmylou Harris partnership.^[17]

Awards

2008 Glasses of the Year Award (Winner) - Western Canadian Musician's Accessories and Apparel Awards

Notes