Meet Nathan Sands | Artist & Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathan Sands and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nathan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is something that I used to be extra cautious about in my earlier years. Pre-Covid, I planned my life out year by year. When I watched the world around me dissipate as a fresh college graduate, along with job offers at labels and talent agencies, I learned quickly how unpredictable life can be. Something in my brain chemically changed: I wanted to feel the rush of living. Therefore, taking risks has become something I embrace wholeheartedly. Upon moving to Nashville, TN in the Summer of 2021, I accepted a job without second guessing and decided that I would pursue a career in music by day, while co-writing and producing songs by night. It was challenging as some of the companies that I worked for did not approve of their employees pursuing creative arts in addition to their employment. However, that was a risk that made my heart happy. In September of 2024, I was accepted to LAAMP in Santa Monica, CA with a full ride scholarship. I could not say no, so I took a risk and packed my life away going all in for my music. It led to some of the most difficult times of my life, but ultimately I would not change a thing. The risk made me stronger and allowed me to find people that wanted to lift me during my time of need. If I never took risks and kept to my life plan, I would not be who I am today, nor would I have the perspective that life is too short to ignore what your heart aspires.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started writing songs when I was 11 years old and my childhood bedroom in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From a young age, I aspired to turn my life into poems, which ultimately turned into songs. Growing up, I was taught to mask my vulnerability to fit into a more curated, masculine world. I came to a breaking point a few years back where I was tired of trying to fit into a mold to be someone that I am not. I desperately had to learn how to process my emotions. This came in the form of songwriting. One of my mentors, Sasha Alex Sloane, changed my perspective on songwriting. It is something that I carry with me today. She said that sometimes the best songs are the most simplistic, and that sometimes a very conversational song has more impact than poetic metaphors. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love colorful metaphors within songs. However, sometimes less is more. I have been releasing Music since January 2022 as an independent artist. It has not been easy due to the fact that most of us independent artists have to fund our own careers. Therefore, I have found myself working 9 to 5’s during weekdays while serving tables at night and on weekends just to be able to pay for a productions, mixes, and masters. I have learned that whatever life throws your way that there is always a silver lining. I think the pivotal moment of my career was when I moved back to Los Angeles, California in the fall of 2024. I was homeless for about six weeks. It wasn’t planned, my housing kept falling through left and right. I ended up sleeping on a stranger’s floor on weekdays, and in my car on the weekends. Other parts of my life began to collapse simultaneously. I was unable to afford to eat out every meal, so I would pick and choose the days I would eat. My uncle passed away without a warning on a Monday morning. Tragically, my car caught on fire while I was driving it to the shop after it breaking down in the middle of the highway 10. I channeled all of that into a song called ‘The Storm,’ which is one of my favorite songs that I have had the pleasure of writing with three of my favorite people. Without that song, I’m not sure if my journey would have continued. When it comes to Nathan Sands music, I want people to feel the vulnerability. I want people to embrace their true authentic selves and be able to take off whatever mask and embrace whatever face that one has been covering up. I want the music to feel like a breath of fresh air. I want the music to feel like driving up the PCH with the windows down, whether you’re blasting a happy song like ‘Don’t Think Too Much!’ or scream crying to ‘All My Life.’ The journey has always been about finding yourself amongst the noise. And I hope that somewhere there is someone that listens to one of my songs, and they make that song their own, leading to them becoming their highest most fulfilled self.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was in the area, I would take them to Malibu, California. That is where my heart feels the most peace, where none of the problems life throws at us matter. I named my dog Malibu because it is such a special place to me. We’d start by blasting music up the PCH after grabbing iced coffees and burritos. After some feel good energy, we would find a random spot on the side of the PCH to park, climb down to the beach, and cold plunge before we enjoy our food. We would then spend some time at the Malibu Country Mart, shopping and observing the beautiful surrounding mountains. To close out the day, we would hike Point Dume and watch the sunset sink below the Pacific. Being in touch with nature with someone I love, platonic or romantically, is what sets my heart on fire.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my LAAMP (Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Production) family for loving on me during the darkest days I have experienced in this life thus far. Along with them, I want to shout out my mother for encouraging me to take the risk to move back to Los Angeles, CA and for taking the 30 Hour drive with me from Tennessee to the West Coast.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathansands/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansands/

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nathansandsmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/62uRG7ZoNJV7AMra7xnsRc