#nathansmith

[NOTE: This is just me practicing my literary analysis skills on Nate’s songs. Art is subjective and all up to interpretation; none of this should be treated as fact.]

Listening to Nate’s earliest original songs (which most fans don’t know) is a bittersweet experience. You can clearly hear how different the tone and genre is between his current songs and his old ones.

His early original songs sound light and hopeful, all full of prospect about what awaits in the future. It’s most evident in his song “Wings” where he sings about his goal of making the world know his name and his belief that he has the potential to achieve it, as evidenced by the lines “it could take weeks, even years, all the same / but I know, I got what it takes”.

However, if you compare that to his current original songs (most especially his new album Sandcastle Kingdoms), you will be able to tell how dulled and jaded he is now after years of pursuing his goal. Although he is now closer to his dream more than ever, I think it’s sad to see that wide-eyed, hopeful Nate turn into a self-deprecating man.

In “Wings” he talked about moving out of his parents’ house and pursuing his plans. In his new song “Branded”, he then talks about how California “incinerated” who he is and how money and fame changed him.

Looking back is also a recurring theme both in Nate’s old and new songs. Again, in “Wings”, he sings about how it’s been a year yet he still haven’t looked back, still chasing the dream. In “Branded”, the line “a map that only shows me where I am, not where I’ve been” again points about him not being able to look back (or being capable, but choosing not to).

Furthermore, the “birdy” he sings about in “Wings” can be a symbol of the mature version of him; the “man” version of Nate. Birds are often used as reference to the male sex organ, a symbol of masculinity. In the song, this “birdy” tells him to pack his bags and head out; an act commonly done in Western culture when entering adulthood (or at least, maturity). Nate may have also felt imprisoned or limited when he was still in his parents’ house, as evidenced by the birdy’s line about Nate needing room to spread his wings, which he references again in “We are Ignited”.

“I’d Love to Break It to You” is pretty self-explanatory. He sings this self-deprecating song about how no one’s there for him. The line “but give it time, we’ll all forget your face” says a lot about him. It’s a powerful and edgy song, but it becomes sad the moment you take a closer look at the lyrics.

“We are Ignited” is another interesting case, because the first few lines of the song (“You found a way out of this place / It’s a permanent escape”) can be interpreted as a reference to suicidal thoughts; a sign that Nate may have suffered in mental health disorders before (or still suffering, who knows?). The “medications” he talks about in the song solidifies this theory. The line “you're just a kid who lost their own way” also tells a lot on its own. Additionally, he sings about losing his mind in “Branded” while in “StopRewind”, he sings about him being the bait and the predator, his mind.

Also, in Nate’s gameplay of “The Beginner’s Guide”, he admits that the allusions, references, and symbolisms about negativities and mental disorders resonate with him a lot, and “hits way too close to home”.

Speaking of “StopRewind”, the first few verses of that song talks about Nate following someone else’s footprints and trying to figure out what he was supposed to find. This reveals the possibility of him having a low sense of identity. He sees himself as a story “not worth the reading”.

“Sandcastle Kingdoms”, on the other hand, requires a more in-depth approach. The “castles of sand” may symbolize his perception of his fanbase; it can easily crumble anytime as the tides go by. Like “Branded”, this song calls to attention the imagery of his mirror showing someone he doesn’t know. The song also describes his “subjects” blindly following their “king” to uncertain doom, and how his rule will then decide where to hang his “hide”,  probably alluding to his disposability as an artist.

The only “happy” or hopeful songs in the new album are probably “To the Ends of the Earth” and “Live Long Enough to Become the Hero”. “Heroes Never Die”, on the other hand, is more of a power song.

Nate’s current style is amazing; don’t get me wrong. I FREAKING LOVE HIS NEW SONGS. I’m not asking him to come back to making vanilla songs of hope. I just think it’s interesting to study how the evolution of his music style can give us a glimpse of his evolution as a person.