After three years of hard work, Newmarket’s Neil Nattra feels like he can finally celebrate.
Last month, the musician known as Nattra dropped his first album, Late Nights & Love, and this Friday, Oct. 20, he’ll be performing and partying at Old Flame Brewing Co. to mark the occasion.
It all began when Nattra was a child growing up in a musical family and being surrounded by music at all times.
“My dad was in one of those little backyard dad bands,” he said. “We’d go out and watch him play on the back porch and the neighbours would come out and watch them play. There was always a musical party wherever we went.”
Being brought up watching others play instruments helped Nattra gravitate toward music because he thought it looked so cool at a young age.
“Then I was in late high school and didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said. “I felt like I was only really good at music and told one of my friends’ parents that and she said that I could go to school for it. And I didn’t even know that was an option.”
After hearing an adult support the idea, Nattra decided to go all in on music and look into programs. He ended up attending Fanshawe College for its music industry arts program.
“I started song writing in high school in 2016, but I always say that I started writing good songs in college in 2018,” he said. “I met a whole bunch of great people in college. I met musicians who play on the album and the producer of the album in college.”
Meeting other musicians and honing his craft in college has led Nattra to continue to develop as a songwriter and performer. He’s played Gussapolooza Music Festival in Cookstown and multiple venues in Toronto.
“Playing always goes by so quick,” he said. “You show up to sound check and the three hours up to the show crawl by, but as soon as you’re up on stage it’s just gone. You wish you could be on stage all night and I really love getting people involved.
Nattra said it fuels him when he looks into the crowd and sees the audience is enjoying the music as much as he is and they’re dancing along.
“It’s the best feeling when there’s less people sitting than standing,” he said. “I love a crowd that’s up and moving.”
From writing songs to playing shows to recording an album has been a long and interesting process, said Nattra, but well worth it now that the album is out and available on Spotify and Apple Music.
“It took three years to make the album,” he said. “It was surreal when I put it out. When I listened to the whole album for the first time, it was surreal. I genuinely felt like I was listening to someone else’s work. It was finally all together and I’m very proud of how it sounds.”
Nattra describes his music as indie R&B with shades of artists like Rex Orange County, Mac DeMarco, and Daniel Cesar.
“I’m very heavily inspired by Frank Ocean,” he said. “I hope it shines through in the music.”
With the first album out, Nattra says it may take another three years for the second album because he doesn’t try to force songs out, he lets the inspiration hit him.
“I think album two is going to be even better,” he said. “The more I write songs, the better they get. I would say, if you like the first album, you’ll love the second album. It’s only going to get better, I promise.”
The Late Nights & Love album release party is at Old Flame Brewing Co., 140 Main St. S., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20. Get tickets here.
