How this Neo-Country Sound Came Out of Suburban Ontario
New LP from small-town artist Nattra, “Late Nights & Love”
Dim, red lighting fills the room. Armed with electric guitars and a drum kit purchased from local Newmarket music store ‘The Arts’, Nattra took the Old Brewery stage on October 20th for his album release show. A crowd of friends and family roared and cheered him on.
On the journey from a young suburban Halo fan to an indie musician, Neil ‘Nattra’ Nattrass called a wrap on a music-filled and exciting 2023.
Playing in the NXNE and Canadian Music Week festivals, hosting his own shows and open mics, releasing his first album, and writing his second, October’s show at the Old Brewery was the end of an era.
But the Spotify plays and pays don’t come in for a small-town artist like they used to. When talent is this fierce and sensational, sometimes an introduction is needed. So, why go give Nattra’s music a listen?
“Only time that we ever connect is when I’m surrounded by your walls / first time that we ever fuck, got my mind looking through wedding halls / for me to love you, physical connection is a must / but to you my love language just translates to disgust” — Nattra, “Physical Attraction”, Late Nights & Love.
Nattra and his producer, Peter Zougas, borrow from a variety of sounds and styles to create their blend of sound. And the best part? It all works in live renditions thanks in large part to the band, Black County.
The live versions of Neil songs basically come from us just jamming, getting comfortable with them and constantly adding our inspirations/modalities to freshen up the vibe of the song. Whether that looks like slowing down/speeding up certain sections or adding like a little funky, jammy parts, there’s always room for something new each time which makes each show unique in its own way. What we realized from playing these songs over and over is that Neil’s studio versions of the songs are very short and sweet, compared to a live setting where we can really kind of show off and add more space for the audience to dance and to most importantly enjoy the grooves — Moe Ajram, Black County drummer.
In high school, Neil was that friend with new music all the time; he played me my first rap album, 4 Your Eyez Only. Around bonfires, he got us harmonizing sea shanties; Neil has always had an ear for unique sounds, melodies, and lyrics.
Following a spirited conversation about his future, he came to conclusion that zoology wasn’t his thing — it was music! And rightfully so.
2018: Fanshawe College’s Recording Arts program
During college, Neil joined the band ‘Voices of Poet’; these shows were his first experiences playing for a live audience. And at the same time, in a class composing a Maroon 5 cover, he met longtime producer, friend, and collaborator Peter Zougas,
One of our first class projects together was his song ‘Carolina’, which eventually got released! We both had similar musical tastes, lots of R&B, jazz, neo-soul sorts of things, so it was a great match from the start. — Peter Zougas, producer.
“Late Nights & Love” is full of those sounds Peter described. Rex-Orange County harmonies and guitars, a reggae-cut on ‘Sober’, even ‘neo-country’.
“Love How You Love Me” stands out as an example of the latter, with the slow soul of a classic rock track but containing folky lyrics of lovers meeting in the public park and pining for each other; there is something melancholic, something undeniably country. In short, Nattra’s sound combines the internet era with a “small-town” reflection and storytelling.
“Oh it’s only been so long / But you know you’re the only one I wanna wake up next to / Only been so long / Didn’t know I had a love language till I met you” — “Love Songs”
When he released ‘Love Songs,’ it was a declaration. In 2020, he joined the GTA-based ‘Porch Front Collective’ (performing alongside artists like Kenya Jade in live shows and cowriting EP “Seratonin Sweetness” with rapper Isiata), a group that brought him into contact with other artists and opportunities to perform.
“I never hated change, but I hope things stay the same / You know that I could live life in your arms / You know I never cared about who what when or how / But now that I don’t have you, I don’t have love” — “Love That You Love Me”
“Love Songs & Late Nights” revolves around a relationship and its highs and lows: smoking weed together, talking in the park, having sex to make your heart race, and letting go when it becomes too toxic. “Physical Attraction”, despite its upbeat chorus, is actually about the role of sex in keeping a relationship together and confusing Nattra about his feelings; is it love or physical attraction? Sex goes from bringing attachment and romance (“Never In a Rush”) to causing lovers to become distant and frayed.
“We never fight when we fucking / all that good sex leave you wondering / have I real? Am I acting? / Is it physical attraction?”
Nattra writes songs on love, gained and lost, and the experience of listening to his music is like overhearing a conversation about that love life.
But Neil has not forgotten his roots, the time spent running the open mic shows with Black County at the Knights Arms Pub in 2021.
For locals, the open mic shows by Black County were a weekly excitement. For Nattra, it was an opportunity to reconnect with live music, reigniting passion and creativity in the company of his peers.
Neil has always been about collaborating and growing with other young musicians, connecting the community with local talent, and refining his craft through experimentation and exposure to other artists.
He recalls one young talent during his time at the Knights Arms,
“He [Lucas] would come in every once in a while to play with Black County and sing a few songs. There was this one original song he wrote called ‘Sweet Pineapple’ that was so catchy for me. He’s gone to school for music, Berkley I think, he posts on Insta sometimes. This one day I was watching and I saw him sing ‘Sweet Pineapple!”, and I thought ‘holy shit!’. Actually, my first thought was Black County played it so much better (laughs). But its so inspiring to see him there, from our shows at the Knights Arms, its surreal.
The mixing is not the best, and a few musical ideas are not explored to their fullest extent. For example, ‘Water & Wine’ and ‘Physical Attraction’ feel like two halves of one vibe, while tracks like ‘Say Hello’ feel like they belong on a first alt-rap mixtape. In the face of various sounds, the project lacks a consistent sound that is consistently developed.
But with insightful songwriting and a desire for freshness, Neil has the potential to make an impact on the Canadian indie scene.
A new single, ‘Waste My Time,’ later this year, Nattra will be playing at the Wintersong Festival in Stouffville on FRIDAY. Listen to “Late Nights & Love” now,
When Neil came to grade school, excited about his first drum kit, you could feel the passion emanating from him; he tried to talk me into doing a band in grade 6. Surrounded by his musical peers, Neil looks to the future to develop his sound. I couldn’t be more proud of him and his growth.
See you next time with new artists you should watch out for.
