Drummer Nate Smith is a delightful dude. He’s got a holistic sense of the kit, a deep knowledge of groove from a fascinating perspective, and he plays well with others, especially based on his beloved Kinfolk albums. Last summer, Alex Newman talked with the drummer while he was in Portland with Kiefer and CARRTOONS about his career, his fellow musical companions, and the importance of connection (just in time for his latest release, Live-Action and his show tomorrow, Friday, October 3rd at The Get Down.
0:00 - How much Body Glove apparel does Nate Smith own?
0:45 - The Hampton Roads music scene (and being a contemporary of Chad Hugo of The Neptunes)
2:30 - Childhood upbringing in music from age 10 onward and staring the drums at 11
4:30 - The skills and lessons learned from high school band
6:00 - Matriculating into James Madison University but majoring in media arts and design (mass communication) as opposed to music
8:15 - The pivotal summer of his senior year at JMU when Nate played at the Paramount King’s Dominion amusement park and the Walt Disney Grammy All-American College Jazz Band and the importance of meeting trombonist Andre Hayward there
11:30 - Nate’s New York period around 2011-2013 from playing with Dave Holland and Chris Potter to his gigging at 55 Bar with Nir Felder, Adam Rogers, and others as he eventually developed Kinfolk
14:40 - “Skip Step” meter is essentially 17/8, but unmetered music can groove, something he learned from Robin Eubanks
16:50 - Working with Brittany Howard for 2019’s Jaime and then touring with her off that album
19:45 - The evolution and intention of Nate’s social media presence
22:35 - Artificial Intelligence’s growing influence on culture, but its inability to replace the necessary human element of making music, playing it in front of people, and the desire to connect
26:20 - The desire to tour and work more with trios he’s work with before– guitarist Lionel Loueke & pianist Michael League; guitarist Cory Wong & bassist Victor Wooten; bassist Tim LeFebvre & keyboardist & synth player Jason Lindner
28:00 - What’s next from Nate Smith
29:00 - Who would Nate pick up the phone for at a moment’s notice to gig? Thanks and goodbyes.