10 Questions with Nathan Evans.
In the space of a few months, Scottish songwriter Nathan Evans went from being a postman to having his songs covered by the likes of Brian May, Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. After becoming an internet sensation after his sea-shanty track “Wellerman” went viral on TikTok, life changed for the songwriter.
Ahead of his December tour dates, we spoke to Nathan about the song, how his life changed and who he’d most want to be stranded on a boat for twelve months with.
1. Thanks for your time Nathan. It’s been an exciting end of the year for you and, with a tour coming up to finish it off. What are you most looking forward to?
Just getting to play live music that people haven’t heard before. Getting to actually meet the people that have been listening to my music and supporting me of that long. Getting them to hear my music and meeting them in person, rather than over the phone. It’s been hard but the important thing is, hopefully when everybody comes, we have a good time.
2. What can fans expect from the shows?
Lots of new songs. Lots of new material. Some songs they’ve already heard will be played as well. They’re not all going to be the same. Some I’m going to use my guitar, some on the piano some of the tracks some they won’t have heard. It’s going to be a wide variation.
3. You became an internet sensation through Tik-Tok. How did life change for you after that?
So after Tik-Tok blew up it went crazy. I got a record deal. Management. I’ve got lawyers and so I’ve gone from being a postman to being a musician and it went a bit crazy.
4. How did it feel seeing one of your songs being reworked by people like Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber?
It was incredible. I remember actually waking up and seeing the Tik-Tok’s and it was just incredible. Just the fact that they know who I am let alone joining in and putting their own spin on it and putting on Tik-Tok and stuff. It was just incredible. Brian May did a version as well, he did a guitar solo. I think he was one of the first ones because I remember seeing it and then he mentioned my name on it. He said that there was this guy called Nathan Evans who has been doing this sea shanty stuff then ends up playing a guitar solo over the top. It was incredible. I was just mind blown that Brian May had said my name. I’ve saved that video.
5. Who would be your ultimate collaboration be with?
I would love to work with Ed Sheeran. He is a massive inspiration for me. Growing up, I used to watch him and tell people that is what I want to do. To watch him get bigger and bigger and go out and do stadium tours, it’s just amazing seeing what you can do with the talent. He is number one for me.
6. I guess you didn’t expect the song to become such a viral megahit. So other than the billions of views that it’s had what has been the most surreal thing to come from the success of the song?
Obviously, it went number one. It went platinum, all that stuff that was all incredible. If I had to pick one thing, I did a show in Switzerland. Now, bear in mind up to this year. I think the most people that have performed to was 60 people but I did a show in Switzerland for 40,000 people in a stadium. It was a festival with 40,000 people in the venue and that was just incredible. That’s probably one of the biggest highlights.
7. Was being a worldwide musical sensation on your list of goals growing up? If not, what did you be when you left school?
Music was always something that I wanted to do. I’ve been singing since I was six, seven years old. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was eight years old. It’s always been the number one thing that I really like, like growing up. I love to play football and I still do I still play so that was always something that I wanted to do as well. It was like if music doesn’t work what about football?
8. In terms of new music then what can we expect from you in the months ahead?
So I’ve got some Christmas songs coming out again in December. I’ve got “Merry Christmas Everyone” and “Driving Home For Christmas” both coming out at the beginning of December, which is super exciting. Seeing the likes of Michael Buble and stuff like that releasing Christmas songs every year I always wanted to be a part of that so now I am.
9. So, just for fun now. If you were stranded on a boat for 12 months with three fictional TV characters who would you most want to be stranded with? Why and how would you pass the time with them?
Three fictional TV characters on a board? Well, I’d say Captain Jack Sparrow, that’s obvious. The other two people would be, and you might not know who they are, Jack and Victor from a Scottish TV show called Still Game. It’s a Scottish TV sitcom and I just think that would be quite funny. They could make us laugh. I could sing and Captain Jack Sparrow could just be Captain Jack Sparrow.
10. That’s great. Just to finish up, what are your plans for the rest of this year and into 2022?
Keep making music that people like and then hopefully just keep getting bigger and keep going. Hopefully next year is as good as this year.
Tour Dates:
01 December 2021 Dublin, Ireland Academy 2
06 December 2021 Manchester, U.K. Deaf Institute
08 December 2021 London, U.K. Colours
12 December 2021 Glasgow, U.K. King Tuts
Follow Nathan on Instagram here.
