Q+A with LEAF Songwriter Competition Finalist Nathan Storey

Nathan Storey is a seasoned singer-songwriter from North Carolina. “He puts lush emotion and sincerity into each note making any listener sit up and take notice…his melodies and chord changes become hook laden delights,” as described by John Fonvielle, The Beat Magazine. In his songwriting, “Storey weaves intimate tunes, filled with emotion and powerful metaphor,” as detailed by Hunter Gardner of Charleston Grit. Storey toured the east coast at notable venues including Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC and the River Arts Festival in Jacksonville, Fl.

 

Nathan is one of eight finalists selected to showcase and compete in the LEAF Singer Songwriter Competition, Presented by NewSong Music, at LEAF Retreat on May 11.

 

NewSong Music: What is the most recent song you wrote and what inspired it? 

Nathan Storey: I recently wrote a song about time called “Time is a Liar.” I began thinking about how we often think we have enough or not enough of it and I thought that was really interesting idea to explore.

 

I took guitar lessons when I was very young and started with simple chord progressions. I haven’t stopped playing since!

 

I grew up listening to a lot of church music as well as things like ’60s folk. Mom and Dad liked a lot of different things! 

 

If you could co-write a song with anyone, who would it be, and why?

I admire a lot of songwriters from across the pond so I would be over the moon to write with guys like Foy Vance or Glen Hansard. Their raw lyrics and performances have always been really inspiring to me.

 

I think that I’m not tired of it yet. For many many years now I’ve trusted myself to have something to say and with as interested I am in different things, I find that kind of surprising.