Life & Work with Nate Kerbin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Kerbin.

Hi Nate, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Virginia on a path to being a jazz trumpet player. In high school, I started writing songs and playing in bands – some good ones and some (very, very) bad ones. Through that experience, I discovered a love for all types of music, from soul to rock to hip-hop to folk to country. While I was in college, I spent time on the road playing guitar in the post-hardcore band Arrow to the Sun and trumpet in the funk/R&B group American Symphony of Soul. After college, I started working in advertising. Even though I was in a creative environment, I had a constant itch to tell my own stories, and I was always drawn back to songwriting. So after several years at agencies in Boston and NYC, I left my full-time job as a creative director to dedicate more time to music.

In October 2019, I moved from Brooklyn to LA to write with and produce for other artists. Of course, just a few months later, the pandemic hit and put everyone’s plans on hold. After a few months of fumbling around watching too much TV, I went back to basics and got into a rhythm of writing mostly for myself. From that process, I released a few songs as N. Kerbin that have resonated with people. I’ve gotten especially thoughtful responses to “A Boy and a Man and a Satellite”, a song about finding ways not to take our relationships for granted. 2021 is looking like an exciting year of more writing and producing, both for myself and other artists. Most of all, I can’t wait to play these songs in front of live audiences for the first time!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t call my journey an especially difficult one. More than anything, it’s been a winding road leading to where I am right now. I’ve followed where my life has led and I’m grateful for every step along the way. The biggest challenge to overcome has been getting to the point of trusting my own abilities and believing that the road is going somewhere meaningful, even when I can’t see where it ends.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter, producer, and session trumpet player. What do you specialize in? I try to avoid specialization as much as possible. I’m inspired by all different kinds of music, and I try to bring a wide range of influences into everything I do. But if I had to pick something, my musical specialty would be in combining instruments that rarely go together to create unique sounds that build unusual atmospheres. What are you known for? I’m most well-known for the indie folk music I’ve released as N. Kerbin. What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of making the leap to pursue music with the dedication it deserves. I was on track to lead a comfortable but creatively unfulfilling life. Instead of settling for what was right in front of me, I trusted my gut and took a different road. What sets you apart? Three things that set me apart are my versatility, curiosity, and honesty. I think all of those traits come through in the music I write and produce, creating an atmosphere that’s both comfortable and unexpected.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are too many to list, but here are the ones that come to mind: My parents. They gave me room to make mistakes and learn from them, all while encouraging me to pursue creative output. Karendra Devroop and Joel LaRue Smith. Two of the most impactful educators in my life. Both of them are world-class jazz artists and even better people. They helped me find the limits of my abilities and then push past them. Beyond the music, these two men taught me the value of integrity and hard work. Fernando Pino. On top of being a mind-blowingly talented graphic designer, Fern has been in my corner from the jump. We all need someone we can trust to be completely honest in their feedback, and for me, Fern’s that person. My wife, Mimi. She’s been incredibly patient as my path has taken its twists and turns. Everyone who’s taken the time to listen to the music I’ve been involved in making. There’s SO much great music being released every day, so the fact that I’ve been able to get the attention of anyone at all is an amazing feeling.

Contact Info:

• Email: ndotkerbin@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natekerbin/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzl4ufP9S6e5v6_fp3DB1DA

Image Credits:
Miriam Rose Fernando Pino