This is the second of five conversations with rising Americana musicians by KAXE Music Director Kari Hedlund, recorded in Nashville at AmericanaFest. Tune in to New Music all week to hear them, plus the artists’ live AmericanaFest sets!
If you missed it on the air, visit our archives.
NASHVILLE — Though he grew up on punk and hip hop, for Nat Myers, the music of the blues comes naturally.
“I love all kinds of music, but when I first started really listening to the blues and taking it all in, it was like it paled any kind of feeling I'd had for music before,” Myers said.
I had a chance to talk to Myers about what inspires him and his new album Yellow Peril.
Playing a blend of folk-blues that sits in the same camp as Charlie Parr, Myers channels a pre-war sound authentically and distinctly in his own way.
“It felt really natural just to start playing the blues because I got them a lot,” he said.
Yellow Peril ties that pre-war sound into our world today, discussing racism especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think that this pandemic kind of awakened me to my appreciation of my own position here...as a Kentuckian who happens to be a Korean,” Myers said. “And that in a certain way, I am perceived (as) ‘outside’ by some folks. And I just felt like I wanted to speak to my particular experience.”
Growing up, Myers heard conflicting comments about what he looks like. He wasn’t white, he wasn’t Korean, so what was he? Being from Kentucky grounds and centers Myers in a way that means, well, everything.
“(Kentucky) means everything to me. I'm very proud of it. And maybe it kind of comes from this sort of inner feeling like I don't belong nowhere,” he said.
“I don't feel no other way than when I get back home.”
For my complete conversation with Nat Myers, listen above.
