Nate Smith: On Pocket and Purpose

Gina from Live Music Junkies interviews Grammy-nominated drummer Nate Smith, exploring his unique approach to drumming, which emphasizes listening as a key element of his style. Smith discusses his versatility in adapting to different musical genres while maintaining his personal sound, highlighting collaborations with artists like Brittany Howard and Pat Metheny. He shares insights on the concept of "pocket," where musicians synchronize to create a cohesive sound. Smith also expresses excitement about his upcoming performance at Terminal West and reflects on his career, including memorable venues and dream collaborations with artists like D'Angelo and Sade.

• Nate Smith emphasizes the importance of listening as an integral part of playing music, particularly for drummers.
• He suggests that listening to music both on and off stage is crucial in developing a unique sound.
• Listening to fellow musicians during performances enhances interactive and dynamic playing.

"Listening is a big part of what makes me sound the way I do. And that's the music I listen to off stage, when I'm not on stage, when I'm not playing and listening to the other musicians I'm playing with."

• Nate highlights that listening is the foundation of his musical approach, influencing how he interacts and plays with other musicians.

"I always tell drummers that your instrument is actually your ears. That's, that's actually your instrument. The way that you play is indicative of the way that you listen."

• This quote underscores the concept that listening shapes a musician's style and is as important as the physical act of playing an instrument.

• Nate Smith discusses his ability to adapt to various musical genres while maintaining his unique sound.
• He interprets music in his style, blending elements of jazz regardless of the genre he is playing.
• His collaborations with diverse artists like Brittany Howard showcase his adaptability and creativity.

"I kind of feel like I sound like myself through all of it. It's just my interpretation of their music."

• Nate explains that while he adapts to different musical contexts, his personal style remains consistent, allowing him to bring a unique touch to each collaboration.

"Playing with Britney, there's still gonna be elements of jazz in the way I approach Britney's music."

• This quote illustrates how Nate incorporates his jazz background into various musical settings, contributing to his versatility and distinctive sound.

• The artist emphasizes the importance of maintaining a personal style while adapting to different musical situations.
• Collaborating with jazz artist Pat Messini allows the artist to integrate rock and hip hop influences into jazz music.
• The goal is to ensure that the music is enhanced by the artist's contribution, serving the music above all.

"A lot of it is trying to sound as consistently like me as possible, but also trying to adapt to the musical situation. You know, everything I play, I want it to be in service of the music."

• The quote highlights the balance between maintaining a unique musical identity and being adaptable to various musical contexts.

• The artist is preparing for a tour featuring new music, collaborating with pianist Kiefer and bassist Cartoons.
• The performance will include a mix of compositions from the artist's past and recent works by Kiefer and Cartoons.
• The tour is described as a musical journey, with a significant performance scheduled at Terminal West in Atlanta.

"We're going to be playing our. We're going to play each other's compositions. I brought in a couple of compositions that date as far back as the Last Kinfolk."

• This quote emphasizes the collaborative nature of the tour and the inclusion of both new and older compositions in the performances.

• The artist expresses enthusiasm for performing at Terminal West, noting it as a significant opportunity and a well-regarded venue.
• The upcoming show marks only the second or third performance as a leader in Atlanta, adding to the excitement.

"It's only my second or third time playing Atlanta as a leader. Very excited to play Terminal West. I've heard great things about the venue."

• This quote conveys the artist's anticipation and the significance of the venue in their career.

• "Pocket" is defined as a musical concept requiring multiple musicians to agree on timing, space between notes, and energy.
• The concept is crucial for creating a cohesive and harmonious performance among musicians.

"When multiple musicians are playing together. Drums, bass guitar, keyboards, whatever. And we agree on the timing, we agree on the space between notes, and we agree on the energy. I feel like that's the pocket."

• The quote explains the essence of "pocket" as a collaborative effort to achieve musical synergy and coherence.

• The term "playing in the pocket" refers to a musical concept where musicians play together with perfect timing, creating a cohesive and dynamic sound.
• A drummer's role is crucial in establishing this environment by maintaining consistent energy, momentum, and dynamics.
• The goal is to create an inviting space for other musicians to join and contribute to the music.

"We're all playing together. That's a band playing in the pocket."

• This quote emphasizes the collective effort required by a band to achieve the "pocket," highlighting the importance of synchronization and unity in music.

"I try to play something that's so consistent, it has energy and has momentum and dynamics that invites other musicians to play."

• The drummer's responsibility is to provide a stable and energetic foundation that encourages collaboration and creativity among musicians.

• The speaker expresses a desire to work with artists like D'Angelo, Sade, and Herbie Hancock, indicating their admiration and the potential for creative growth.
• These artists represent the speaker's ideal collaborations, offering both challenges and inspiration.

"If D'Angelo called me, I would tell everyone to hold my calls."

• This quote illustrates the speaker's eagerness and excitement at the prospect of collaborating with D'Angelo, showcasing the artist's influence and importance.

"In terms of what would challenge me and inspire me the most? Those gigs would be a lot of fun to play."

• The speaker seeks opportunities that provide both challenge and inspiration, highlighting their commitment to artistic growth and exploration.

• The speaker recounts playing at iconic venues such as Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks, and Carnegie Hall, each offering unique experiences and challenges.
• These performances are significant milestones in the speaker's career, reflecting both achievement and the diverse nature of live music environments.

"I've had the chance to play Madison Square Garden twice, and that was amazing. Bucket list."

• Playing at Madison Square Garden is a notable achievement, representing a prestigious and memorable experience in the speaker's career.

"I've played Carnegie Hall, which was actually challenging as a drummer. It's a very reactive room, so you have to be very dynamic as a drummer."

• Carnegie Hall presents unique acoustic challenges, requiring adaptability and dynamic playing, underscoring the speaker's technical skill and versatility.

• The speaker expresses enthusiasm for future performances, particularly at Terminal West, and the anticipation of sold-out shows.
• There is a positive outlook and hope for continued success and audience engagement.

"I'm actually very excited about playing Terminal West."

• This quote reflects the speaker's anticipation and excitement for upcoming shows, highlighting the importance of new venues and experiences.

"And I looked at your tour schedule, and you have a lot of sold-out concerts, so hoping Terminal West will be one of those."

• The expectation of sold-out concerts indicates the speaker's popularity and the positive reception of their music, emphasizing the importance of audience connection and support.

• The speaker received a cold email from Brittany Howard's manager in 2018, inviting them to work on Brittany's solo record.
• Prior to this, the speaker was intensely listening to "To Pimp a Butterfly" by Kendrick Lamar and "Sound & Color" by Alabama Shakes, which influenced their musical interests.
• The collaboration resulted in recording the album "Jamie" and touring with Brittany Howard.
• Another album, "What Now," was recorded in 2022 and released in 2023, followed by a tour.
• Brittany Howard is described as a brilliant musician with a huge imagination and a kind personality.

"Out of nowhere in 2018, I got an email from Brittany's manager saying Brittany Howard would love for you to come and work on her solo record."

• The speaker unexpectedly received an invitation to collaborate with Brittany Howard, marking the beginning of a significant professional relationship.

"That summer I went to LA, I recorded with her and then the following summer the album Jamie came out and I got to tour that band tour with her for Jamie."

• The collaboration led to recording an album and participating in a tour, highlighting the successful partnership.

"She's one of the most brilliant musicians I've ever met. She's her, she has a huge imagination and just a very kind person."

• Brittany Howard is highly praised for her musical talent, creativity, and kindness, underscoring the positive experience of working with her.

• The conversation emphasizes the power of manifesting desires and being open to opportunities.
• Listening to Brittany Howard's music repeatedly is seen as a form of manifesting the eventual collaboration.
• It's important to remain open to opportunities, even if they come from unexpected sources, and not to let fear or doubt hinder acceptance.

"I really do believe in manifesting and putting things out there and speaking the things that you want to exist."

• The speaker believes in the power of manifesting desires through thoughts and actions, which contributed to the collaboration with Brittany Howard.

"So many times we say the things that we want and then when the opportunity comes from an unexpected place, we get scared and we say, oh, I don't, maybe I'm not ready."

• The speaker highlights the common tendency to doubt oneself when opportunities arise, stressing the importance of being open to new possibilities.