Exposed Vocals Interviews Nathaniel Ross

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Nathaniel: I grew up in a small city named Brandon, MB and before that I lived in a small town named Camperville. I really wanted to pursue music after my father bought me my first guitar around the age of 13, like anyone at the early stages I got really frustrated with practicing and actually wanted to quit, it was my father who told me “You can’t expect to be Slash after a week, keep playing who knows, maybe you’ll want to do it for a living.” He was right.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Nathaniel: My recent more popular bands name “Stand Against This World” was originally a tattoo idea I had for myself. It was an inspirational thing, a reminder to always stand up for myself even if I stood alone and to always believe in my dreams. Even more so the name was “Stand Against The World” but my band mates suggested using “This” instead of “The” .

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Nathaniel: I think how the industry is now there’s no way to stop online music sharing, I don’t mind it but it’s always good to support your favourite artist and buy their single or album. Merch sales is great support as well, I personally buy physical copies and online copies of albums and even if I own the physical copy of a CD at a concert I’ll re-buy it to show my support, kind of a nerd music snob that way I guess.

I would for sure give my music away for free to a point haha, eventually you want to make money from your craft to support yourself so your able to do it full time.

Why I would give my music away for free is simple, to get my name out there and to show my fans I love and appreciate their support.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Nathaniel: I’m still considered a local band haha, my best tips would be advertise everywhere, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram make posters and post them at your local music stores and just talk to other players, stay connected.

Getting gigs is a tough one unless your scene is always booming with local shows, make a demo and start handing it out make a splash and don’t be afraid to ask, even if you get a no in return at least your making the effort and a promoter could even keep your name in the books for other shows. As for Air Play check out local college radio and even your local radio station, send some demos and see where they stand on helping out local artists.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Nathaniel: I practice several scenarios before a show, I can say with confidence I don’t make many mistakes but for when they do happen it’s important to keep a level head, don’t freak out over a technical error or even if you trip or do something else embarrassing on stage, get back up and continue the show.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Nathaniel: I haven’t been on tour much to give a legit experience but there was once when we were playing a show at a skate park and they had these tall pillar like statues and in my brain I thought it would be cool to climb them. I didn’t fall or anything but I did slip coming off of them and my drummer was right below me so needless to say I dodged a bullet.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Nathaniel: Paul McCartney once said “You can’t write a good song without hearing a good song” I’m paraphrasing of course but I’ll usually throw on some headphones and let it drift me away as I’m writing.

My other process is to come up with the chord progression and just jam it, go with the flow and improv it.

The bands songs came from just putting together riffs and and jamming and re-writing and perfecting as we go.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Nathaniel: We usually just used Facebook and YouTube, You have SoundCloud and Reverbnation now but when we started several years back we hadn’t heard of those outlets, you’ve certainly got more ways of putting out new music to the world now it’s truly amazing.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Nathaniel: Haha I listen to everything from folk to hip hop so I’m sure you’ll find some gems. I have almost all of Aqua’s discography in my phone as well as Backstreet Boys and some more obscure real bubbly j-pop songs.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Nathaniel: I would probably get studio time and a great producer to help me make an album and donate what I don’t use to maybe fund a local charity for music.

Music certainly changed my life and even saved it, I would love

if it could do that for anyone else.

Use more of the year to tour as well.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Nathaniel: Life happens and unfortunate situations have left me without the gear I used to own, I do have my acoustic guitar and a condenser mic so I will always aim to make music.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Nathaniel: All across social media, plug yourself anywhere to anyone who will listen, no such thing as to much publicity for your art, any new ways I can find to promote myself and my music I’ll do it.

I find talking to people is better, people may be offended or not want to hear you talk about your music which is harsh but for the most part I find they’ll give you the time of day.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Nathaniel: That’s a big and broad question, I would love to perform at Download Festival or Pink Pop or even Wacken, I love festivals because of all the people and those are the big ones I’ve always wanted to play.

There’s a few I would love to perform with Escape The Fate, Iron Maiden, Nirvana, The Doors, and Michael Jackson.

I love so many artists and festivals that it would be hard to pick the top ones but those are certainly on my lists.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Nathaniel: My bands been done for a year now, right now I’m just waiting patiently for the next opportunity and my most recent upcoming things would be on my Facebook page A Distance From Reality which is my solo passion project.

Another exciting thing is I’ll be working on voice acting and may have some more things coming.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Nathaniel: I love the law and always wanted to be a lawyer or even a cop, as kid you always have the basic fantasies of like being a firefighter and such.

For me though the entertainment industry is something I always wanted to be a part of though, so I can’t picture myself doing anything else but pursing a career in music or acting.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Nathaniel: I do, it was a KISS Millennium CD, Remember those? They were a compilation of the artists best songs.

I remember walking to Zellers when I was 11 with my allowance and wandered into the music section and grabbed it because I remembered their faces from my uncles CD collection so I wanted my own.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Nathaniel: That’s a easy one, I don’t haha, I’m kidding.

It’s just about working that schedule make sure everything lines up with everything else and just keeping on top of things.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?

Nathaniel: I’m hoping a new song or even EP, if anything I will still be around and trying my best to make a splash and pushing forward no matter what happens.

Thank You Exposed Vocals for your time as well.