How Nate Smith went from Wildfire Survivor to “Wildfire” Hitmaker

Nate Smith is in a Nashville studio working on his upcoming sophomore album – but the up-and-coming country-rocker can't help but revisit his past. This is the same studio, he says, where he recorded
His independently released debut EP in 2020 Risk taker, which included the hit “Wildfire.” When the catchy song went viral on TikTok, it helped Smith land management, publishing and record deals. But that almost never happened.

“I was able to record it because my sister's husband loaned me $4,000 and we did a little investment deal,” Smith recalls over Zoom, eyes wide with lingering surprise. “They took a huge risk… But they were able to make enough to put a down payment on their home from [my music].”

Over the past few years, Smith, 38, has hit several milestones: He released his self-titled debut album in April 2023, embarked on his biggest tour to date in early 2024 and reached the top. Advertising signCountry Airplay chart with “World on Fire” for 10 weeks in February, tying Morgan Wallen — for whom he's currently opening stadiums — for the longest-running No. 1 in the chart's history. But for all that, Smith is mostly happy to “have a steady job” now. “I paid off my car yesterday. From music!” exclaims. “I can pay my rent and I can buy Christmas presents. That, for me, makes it.”

Smith learned to play guitar at 13 and became a worship leader at 16 in his hometown of Paradise, California, becoming a certified nursing assistant as a young adult. But at 23, Smith moved to Nashville to pursue music full time. He landed a record deal with Christian powerhouse Word Records and a publishing deal with Centricity Music, but without much success, so he returned to Paradise in 2011.

It might have stayed, too, if not for the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Smith and his family survived the 2018 wildfire in Butte County, but lost his home. “If I had stayed in that apartment another hour, I wouldn't have lived,” he says. Two years later, Smith packed his car with the rest of his possessions and drove to Nashville a second time – now he had nothing to lose.

Camp Fire prompted Smith to write “Wildfire,” about how a love interest can create a less destructive kind of heat. Smith's managers, Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Simon Tikhman of The Core Entertainment, recall receiving the song early in the pandemic and immediately requesting a Zoom meeting with the unknown artist. “He had this bushy, wide-eyed personality of a guy who you know was told 'no' at every turn and suddenly had a little drive,” says Tikhman. “We just fell in love with the guy and flew to Nashville a week later to meet him.” By the summer of 2020, The Core signed Smith to a management deal. A Sony/ATV publishing deal soon followed, as did a Sony Music Nashville record deal in 2021.

“If you look at an artist like Nate and his hard road to get to where he is today, that's the story of the province,” Tikhman continues. “They call Nashville the '10-year-old city…' It was a 20-year-old city for Nate.” Adds Zaruk: “The music business is so tough. To see that it can work and to see it happen to someone who's not in their 20s… It's an example of how hard work pays off.”

Today, Smith's work ethic and his own strain of rock-infused country have helped him garner two Country Airplay No. 1. As a student of alt-rock, he's given Snow Patrol's “Chasing Cars” an edge, revived Nirvana's “Heart-Shaped Box” and often played Foo Fighters' “My Hero,” which he calls his “absolute favorite ” his song, during his live. scenery. Smith is also a fan of EDM and pop. recently met Marshmello and would love to collaborate. Steady radio success, combined with growing interest in country music, has given him, according to Smith, “a lot of leverage.”

“We're kind of hillbilly over here, but [pop stars are] Wanting to be a part of it, and Beyoncé coming up and some others… the genre is exploding,” he says. “They're still coming in. Position [Malone] he hasn't released his album yet. There's an opportunity right now… it's definitely time to DM your favorite pop star.”

Meanwhile, Smith and his management are working overtime to translate his current moment into a lasting career. “You can text the Chief at 3 in the morning, and he'll get back to you,” he says with a smile. “It's kind of boring, but we all are.” He recently started a new high-protein diet and stopped drinking — for now. “The name of the game is to not get sick and have stamina and be in shape,” says Smith. “This is a sports thing and I didn't realize it… I like to party, but it just slows me down.”

When Smith worries about losing his momentum, his team reminds him of where he was just a few years ago. “They always bring my perspective back to me,” he says, recalling Zaruk's advice: “You were surviving before, working paycheck to paycheck and barely making ends meet. Now you live — we must live.' Smith holds up his freshly tattooed forearm to the camera, showing off a new ink that's still healing: “Live. There is no.”

This story will appear in the May 11, 2024 issue Advertising sign.