Meet Nathaniel Star

We were lucky to catch up with Nathaniel Star recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nathaniel, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

For as long as I have memory, music has been a key part of my life. And seeing as how it was here long before me, I would almost have to say I didn’t necessarily find my purpose, but my purpose was waiting for my arrival.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a multi-genre songwriter and Artist. I breathe music. I have to create, or it feels like I’m holding my breath. In fact, in the past three years, I’ve created 17 full-length albums. The albums are everything from country, rap, soul, blues, electronic, singer-songwriter, and afro-beats, etc. They’re all unreleased to date, and I haven’t fully decided which ones I’m going to sell to other artists. I’m a part of a two-person production team called Ubuntu Sounds. We do it all.

I sit on several Nonprofit boards in my community. Two are music-related and one focuses on upward mobility within the Black community of my city. The one dearest to my heart is The Music Resource Center (Board chair). This place helped music save my life as a child. The Music Resource Center brings together great mentors, high-quality equipment, and a safe, fun facility to provide lessons, dance, practice space, recording facilities, and so much more to area teens. As a 20+-year-old nonprofit, the MRC has a proven track record of helping 6th-12th graders achieve their musical goals while promoting positive relationships and personal growth.

My performance and writing credits feat. some of the most respected names in the music industry. From regional stars to Grammy Award-winning artists.

I recently was made the first music artist ever to have their catalog licensed by the University of Virginia. So they made my my music an official part of academia for as long as the University exists. To think that scholars study my music is humbling. PBS/VPN did a feature article/video about it.

All in all, I love people and recognize the power music has. Sometimes it’s the only that gets people through their darkest times. Often it’s the emotions that folks aren’t able to quite express. I don’t take that commission lightly.

Look for new music this year.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I don’t know that it can narrowed to three, but I would say it starts with authenticity. Be your authentic self, whoever that is. Somebody somewhere needs you exactly the way you are at this moment. And as you grow, they can grow with you. That’s the journey. Take time feel. Be present when people speak. Most importantly, listen. Listen with the idea of learning. Then go create. Be the soundtrack of the world YOU hear.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I think we should all lean into our strengths. That’s where the little victories happen. Those victories give you the confidence to challenge yourself to exercise the parts that aren’t as strong, yet.

We owe it not only to ourselves to be the strongest version we can build but also to those we come in contact with. Whether that contact is through the music medium, or something else. The work/inspiration is constant. It never ends. So you’ll always have something to write about, sing about, talk about, or just think about. It’s the story of our lives, literally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nathanielstar.bandcamp.com/album/eros
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanielstarmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nathanielstar/
• Twitter: https://www.twiter.com/nathanielstar
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NathanielStar
• Other: https://www.pbs.org/video/lester-jackson-signs-streaming-licensing-agreement-with-uva/

Image Credits

Kirsten Finn
KXNG RG