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RM chats covers, discography and fun with Matt Nathanson.
If you’ve listened to the radio for at least an hour at any point this century, Matt Nathanson has definitely graced your ears. The East Coast singer-songwriter has been turning out tunes for over 30 years, penning hits like “Come On Get Higher” and “Faster” that took over stereos and iPod shuffles alike in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Hitting the road with those hits and highs, Nathanson is embarking on a tour this summer alongside Train and Barenaked Ladies—including a Cap City stop at Walnut Creek July 16.
Nathanson is a self-proclaimed music nerd, which actually makes producing an original album a more intensive (and time-consuming) process, he tells RM. Thanks to the juxtaposition of wanting to make music but only wanting to produce music that’s perfect, he commonly embarks on cover albums sprinkled in with original records, creating a best-of-both-worlds sitch—and a discography that walks a hard line between intricate and fun.
“The process is super enjoyable but labor intensive, and I get itching to do something fun,” says Nathanson. “To be able to do little fun EPs where I get to celebrate the absolute magic of musicians that I love is an awesome way to exist.” The platinum artist’s recent EP took a deep dive into Billy Joel’s discography, and his past covers have ranged from Radiohead to Def Leppard.
Because the singer-songwriter is guided by his love of music rather than his fans, labels or popularity, some of his original songs never make his setlists—not because they weren’t successful, but just because he doesn’t like them anymore.
“I got into playing music because I don’t want to be told what to do,” emphasizes Nathanson. “I refuse to let my own music tell me what to do, and I refuse to let people that listen to my music tell me what to do.”
While he notes it’s a selfish quality, he appreciates that his unchained mindset allows all his mistakes to be his own. “But that’s a longer story for later,” he says. Head to the Creek for a bigger glimpse of the full picture—and a serenade of OG hits and covers alike.
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