He burst onto the UK music scene in 2005 with ‘Come Into My Room’ and wowed audiences across the UK and subsequently delivered the ‘Masterpiece’ album. After a brief hiatus from the scene he’s re-packaged as ‘Starboy Nathan’ and ready to deliver his sophomore offering in the new year. He’s returned from Stateside and caught up with Krystal in the studio.
What’s currently going on with Starboy Nathan?
Right now I’m heavy in the studio doing a lot of work on my album, which is called ’3D – Determination, Dedication and Desire’. I’m doing everything to make it sound amazing and 10 times better then my first album ‘Masterpiece’.
We have known you as Nathan for a few years now so what differs you from Nathan and Starboy Nathan?
There’s a couple of reasons why I changed the name. The main reason is because people use to Google my music or Google myself, it was hard as an artist to come up under the name Nathan. I needed something more defined so I decided ‘Starboy’. It was the name I had around me for a few years and I always wanted a clothing line or a record label with that name. So when it came to choosing a name, that was the one that summed me up in that kind of persona.
So you’re thinking by using the name Starboy Nathan you could be able to move it into different brands such as clothing line etc.?
When ‘Come Into My Room’ came out I was just about making music. But as I’ve grown up, I have learned more about being an artist as well so it’s more than it just being about a song. Right now, I want to have the right song, the right image, the right theme, the right brand I want to be a artist.
How do you think the UK music scene has changed since you started?
It has changed so much. Right now UK music is so wicked at the moment, I prefer UK music to American music. I still think we still have a long way to go and we can improve it. There is a lot of ways we can deal with it even more so that we can put it into a position where it can never end. Next year urban music could go out again I want to put it in that position where it’s always there. With American music you have country music, pop music, hip-hop music, R&B music and there all buy-able markets and they all feature among themselves and created their own pave and that’s what we need to do. At the moment urban music is dominating there’s not a lot of space for guitar bands so if next year it goes back to guitar bands where will urban music go? I like to see it at a point where it coexists.
Do you feel there is any added pressure because you have taken such a long break from the limelight?
No more then what I put on myself. Normally, that pressure is always on me and I have always felt under that pressure every time I go on stage I have to deliver, every time I record a song I have to deliver it’s always something that I have pressure myself.
What do you hope to achieve with the ’3D’ album?
I basically want to make a good album that people can listen to, admire, respect and enjoy also to learn about me. This is my second album and I have so much to talk about, I feel like I’m a better songwriter, a better person and that’s what the album’s about.
Music aside, are you single at the moment?
Yes I am and I feel that Krystal readers may be the first to fill that. I spend a lot of time in America but no offence to American girls, I prefer English girls. Not because we have more in common but its just that UK vibe.
What attracts you to a lady?
I am a sucker for a pretty face. I love pretty girls with intelligence and a sense of humour.
Where would you take a lady on a first date?
A real person never tells that’s my secret my secret.
What would Nathan like for Christmas?
I’m not gonna lie it’s the some thing that I ask for my birthday and I’ve got as well which is prosperity for my family that’s the most important thing. I just like being around my family as long as everyone is cool then I’m cool and if I’m able to provide for them then that’s the best thing.
What did you learn from being in Celebrity Big Brother?
It taught me a lot about myself. I would do it again even though its hard to say that but it was that extreme atmosphere where you learn a lot about people. You can be around someone for 5 years and out of nowhere, they’re in a mad situation and I saw a side of me that I thought never existed. It taught me how to stay calm in difficult situations.
‘3D’ aside, what’s in the pipeline for you?
I’m really looking forward to my first headline tour. I’m also going to go on tour with a few other artists like how I did this year with The Wanted and JLS. I’ll be doing that again and festivals…releasing singles, albums, collaborations…
by Simon Campbell
