Interview with Nate Silva

April 03, 2024

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Music has always been a strong fixture in my life since I can remember. From listening to the radio constantly as a kid to family members emphasizing the importance of music to extended family members playing instruments – it’s always been a thing. I probably would have been a mathematician or engineer otherwise, but that wouldn’t be nearly as fun as this. (laughs)

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Well, I’m a huge video game nerd and have been all my life. A lot of game sound and music have also been a huge influence on me, so video games and my music experience are explicitly and implicitly related. I also exercise regularly and used to run track and field competitively. I was never exceptional at it, so I think that “underdog drive” is a commonality between that and my music career.

How long has your band been around?

This new solo project is just getting off the ground now! But it is somewhat of a spiritual successor to my previous rock project, The Slyde.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I returned to Ottawa, Canada after spending 10+ years in Toronto, mostly for education (enrolled and completed a Master of Arts in Music degree at Carleton University). I wanted to relocate to Portugal in 2020, but the pandemic and its snowball effect led me back to Ottawa. I have strong mixed feelings about Ottawa – “comfortable and boring,” is how I describe it – and I would love to be back in Toronto, but the cost of living and personal reasons are keeping me here, so I am making the best of it!

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

My band name is my [abbreviated] birth name! (laughs) I guess, it means that, I’m done going under pseudonyms and trying to agonize for months over picking a band name that hasn’t already been claimed. Man, thinking of band names is seriously the HARDEST thing about being in a band!

Tell me about your most memorable shows. With The Slyde, I played at Wacken Open Air – the world’s largest heavy metal festival – in 2019. That was something. Through my freelancing career, I played at the Skydome for the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games Closing Ceremonies and also performed at Hotel Café in downtown Los Angeles – two very contrasting, but equally memorable, shows.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Oh man, this is a hard one. I wouldn’t say I have a favourite venue, but the ones I remember the most are the ones that I’ll likely never play again (laughs), like the aforementioned gigs in the previous question. As far as venues I would like to play in the future: I am hoping to play more folk and rock festivals and expand to Western Canada and European markets.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Green Day, Foo Fighters, Billy Talent…and yer pal Naters opening. (laughs)

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self? Try to strike a balance between writing music for yourself *and* for others. I think I spent way too much of my career writing music only for myself. But I think there’s something to be said about being able to share a musical experience that you create with others. But at the same time: stay true to yourself, no matter what. Be authentic.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Don’t start a serious band with your spouse! (laughs)

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Off this upcoming record (The Chase, out May 3 2024 on all streaming platforms!) I think my favourite track is either Perpetuate or Said And Done. The former mixes ambiance, video game soundtrack vibes, and improvised playing. The latter is just nothing like what I’ve written in the past so that contrast is fresh for me. 

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

“Burn!” is a straight-up rocker. And “Best Damn Thing” is a hoot with the ladies! I like this. (laughs)

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

My creative process is extremely sparse. Lately, it comes and goes very quickly, so when the inspo strikes, you gotta run with it. Though in the past, I used to meticulously write every single instrument part and write it down, akin to orchestration. Nowadays, things are much more stripped down when I start to conceive a song idea, and it builds from there (which I imagine is more conventional with popular music). My personal experiences have been the fodder for lyrical inspiration of this upcoming record, though when it comes to writing music (not words/poetry), inspiration just comes naturally. Again, video game music and rock music are the pillars of what inspires me from a musical standpoint.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Again, this music off my upcoming record involved a lot of grief and how to process that grief, so it’s a bit personal and vulnerable. In the past, politics and environmentalism were common themes. But moving forward, I think a mix of my personal experiences and commentaries on social and political issues is what I intend to write about, lyrically-speaking.   

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

We are still in the honeymoon phase!

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

My debut album “THE CHASE” drops May 3 2024. Touring to follow in May, June, and August. You can find all my tour dates at

http://natesilvamusic.com

 – I hope to transition into the festival circuits by 2025 and continue to hone my music and brand.

Music Video - Burn -

Live Video - Cauterize -

Nate Silva Tour Dates:

May 31 - Ottawa, ON - Overflowing Brewing Co.

June 1 - Cornwall, ON - La Maison

June 3 - Montreal, QC - Casa Del Popolo

June 6 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion

June 7 - Huntsville, ON - Canvas Brewing

June 26 - Hamilton, ON - Casbah

June 27 - Peterborough, ON - Erben

June 28 - Toronto, ON - The Cameron House

June 29 - Barrie, ON - Queens Nightclub

Aug 8 - Ottawa, ON - Overflow Brewing Co. *

Aug 9 - Huntsville, ON - On The Docks Pub *

Aug 10 - North Bay, ON - Lou Dawg's *

Aug 11 - Burk Falls, ON - Riverbowl *

Aug 15 - Toronto, ON - TBA *

Aug 16 - Brockville, ON - Keystorm Pub *

Aug 18 - Cornwall, ON - Lola's Pub *

Aug 22 - Fredericton, NB - TBA *

Aug 23 - Charlottetown, PEI - Baba's Lounge

Aug 24 - Moncton, NB - Happy Craft Brewing *

Aug 25 - Halifax, NS - Gus' Pub *

* = Nate Silva Solo

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