Country music’s new star Carter
NATHAN Carter’s accent hovers between the docks of Liverpool and the hills of Donegal. The country music sensation grew up on Merseyside but at age 17 moved to Ireland, determined to emulate his idol, Daniel O’Donnell.
“I’ve always considered myself ambitious,” says the singer. “I’m a workaholic. Even on my days off I’m always writing, rehearsing performing. I’m quite driven. I think that is something to be proud of.”
Twelve months ago Carter, 24, was largely unheard of outside Ireland’s country heartland of the midlands and north-west. He has since released two number one albums and packed Dublin’s Olympia. It’s been a whirlwind.
“To have not one number one album but two… it’s astonishing. The second record was a live album. When’s the last time a live album went to number one? It doesn’t happen. And to do two nights at the Olympia on top of that. You feel like pinching yourself.”
Carter is ‘gobsmacked’ he was invited to headline Cork’s Live at the Marquee, starting Monday with a sold out performance by Cliff Richard and featuring artists as diverse as the National, Christy Moore and Lana Del Rey.
“The call came through and I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “You look at some of the names on the bill. To be in the same company as them is incredible. I’m very, very honoured. ”
He is aware country music is not fashionable — is, in fact, often looked down upon by elitists and self-appointed tastemakers. This has made success doubly satisfying. He loves bringing his work to younger audiences especially. With his breakthrough, hopefully older prejudices about the genre will fall away. Perhaps country — by which he means the commercial Irish variety — will claim a permanent place in the mainstream.
“I was aware that there is a stigma attached to country,” he says. “I always wanted to do something about that — to introduce it to a new generation. We perform lots of contemporary songs, with a twist: we put in banjos, fiddles , all the rest. It is very satisfying to do it differently and so appeal to a different age group.”
Carter believes he has started to push back against unfashionable stereotypes. Not only is he selling out venues in the rural Ireland, he’s a hit in Cork and Dublin too.
“It was a shock to be able to play somewhere like the Olympia,” he says. “It holds 1,100 people. We did two nights. I didn’t imagine I would ever be able to go to Dublin, with my reputation for country, folk, ‘celtic-y’ music — whatever you want to call it. Usually that venue hosts pop acts, rock bands. So it was a big surprise. I enjoyed every moment.”
He has taken an unusual route to the top. Carter grew up in Liverpool to an Irish family steeped in traditional music. Aged 17, he moved to Donegal on his own. The goal was to establish himself as a musician. Having been over and back to Ireland since childhood there was no culture shock. Nonetheless, he did experience homesickness and found the transition difficult.
“I’d spent most of the summer holidays over there, so I was very familiar with the area,” he says. “At the same time, it was a big jump for me. I didn’t have any family. I was playing a lot so I was on the road a good deal. It was hard at the outset, being honest. But if you are thrown in at the deep end, you learn to adapt. You don’t have a choice.”
Does he feel like an Englishman abroad? Or an Irishman who grew up in the UK? A bit of both, he says. “I have the sense of coming from somewhere in between,” he says. “My family was very Irish. That said, I am very proud to be from Liverpool. I’m not a big fan of soccer. However, I follow Liverpool a good bit. They are my hometown team. I am very aware of that connection.”
It wasn’t just a trad household, though. His parents were “massive” fans of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash and he was steeped in those sounds for as long as he remembers. Even as a teenager he was performing in pubs and clubs most weekends.
He decided on a career as a performer after completing the UK equivalent of the Junior Certificate and leaving school age 16. Within a year he had recorded a debut LP. Shortly afterwards he swapped the UK for Ireland. To make a go of it as a country artist he had to go back to the heartland he felt. From there it has gone in only one direction.
“I love country. On the other hand, I wanted to put my own twist on it. I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing. That’s why I’ve done a lot of contemporary songs in my sets. I try to put my own twist on them. You need to challenge yourself if you want to keep it interesting.”
Carter feels he has come along at a fortuitous time. Several months ago more than 20,000 people attended Dublin’s O2 over consecutive nights for the inaugural Country 2 Country festival. Then there is the small matter of Garth Brooks visiting Ireland this summer.
“The demand for tickets for his shows has definitely given Ireland a boost,” says Carter. “It was great to see such an enthusiastic response.”
Will Carter be carving space in his busy schedule to see Brooks? “Without a doubt. I can’t wait. I’ve booked that whole weekend off.”
* Cliff Richard, tonight; sold out.
* Dolly Parton, Thursday
* The Coronas, Friday; sold out
* Nathan Carter, Sunday
* Bob Dylan, Monday 16
* Tom Jones, Thursday 19
* Imelda May, Saturday 21
* Elbow, Tuesday 24
* Robert Plant, Wednesday 25
* Jason Derulo, Thursday 26
* Biffy Clyro, Friday 27
* Bryan Adams, Sat 28; sold out
* Pixies, Monday 30; sold out
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