Nathan Carter: rocking around the Christmas tree

From the lively streets of Liverpool to the rolling green fields of Ireland, country singer Nathan Carter has traded Merseyside for Irish country living – and he’s not looking back.

Growing up in the UK’s fifth-largest city and ending up in rural Fermanagh may seem an unlikely journey for the 34-year-old singer, but Nathan says he had a sixth sense that he would end up in Ireland.

“I was born in Liverpool, and I would have identified as being a Scouser, but I was surrounded by Irish music and culture growing up. I spent a lot of time in Ireland playing the accordion in cèilidh bands and visiting family. Even from a kid, I just assumed I’d live in Ireland.”

Now settled in Co Fermanagh, Nathan can’t see himself moving back to the city.

“It’s just a slow way of living. I love it. There’s no better way of life than waking up in the morning hearing cows, hearing birds. It’s like heaven on earth.”

“I literally get home, lock the door and I’m looking at the lough and grass and cows in the field. I couldn’t see myself ever living in a city again because I find it so peaceful.”

Rock me Mama

Nathan felt this magnetic pull from a young age, but little did he know just how much his music would grip the Irish nation.

Wagon Wheel has become something of an anthem, and was voted Ireland’s All-Time Favourite Country Song at the Irish Country Music Awards in 2016.

Nathan says he never anticipated Wagon Wheel would be such a big hit.

“I was trying to find something that would bring a younger generation on board. I thought Wagon Wheel would do that, but I didn’t realise how far it would go,” says Nathan. “The song was going up by 50, 000 views on YouTube every day. It just kept on building and it has millions upon millions of views.

“I was invited onto The Late Late Show and from there, different TV opportunities arose. I never anticipated any of that,” says Nathan.

Growing up, Nathan listened to a lot of country music. “I was a big fan of Oasis and Eminem, but then I also knew a load of Kenny Rogers songs and Johnny Cash. My friends were all looking at me like, why are you listening to that? But I thought it was cool and I loved it.”

Readers may know Nathan Carter because of Wagon Wheel but it is Liverpool, the song about his native city, which is most meaningful to him.

“I wrote a song called Liverpool, which is all about where I was born. It’s about football, music, and the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. I wrote that with my mentor and friend, Nicky James, who is no longer with us,” says Nathan. “I sing it occasionally but it always triggers a lot of emotions so I don’t do it that often.”

In 2016, Nathan performed Liverpool on The Late Late Show, the same week that justice was served for the families and supporters of the 96 Liverpool fans who went to a football match and never came home.

Nathan in Nashville

Nathan has sung in some remarkable venues, including the London Palladium, but one venue that stands out is Nashville.

“I’d always had aspirations to go and to see the home of country music. When we went in 2017, I ended up meeting Johnny Cash’s son.

“I sang at the Grand Ole Opry, it was amazing to stand on that stage where all these greats have been before.

“I haven’t been back in the last four or five years, but my intention is to go back next year maybe.”

Nathan describes Nashville as “incredible”, but his career highlight was singing for Pope Francis in Croke Park on his visit to Ireland in 2018.

“I went on stage after Andrea Bocelli – which was horrendous to be stepping up after such a singer,” Nathan laughs.

“There was myself and The DeafTones Choir. We sang R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts in front of 60, 000 people. That was the most nervous I’ve ever been for a gig. I grew up in a Catholic household, and my grandad is a devout Catholic, he goes to Mass every day.”

Between live shows, engaging with his 108k Instagram followers, and co-hosting his podcast The Carter Couch, Nathan keeps a packed schedule. Things are about to get busier as Nathan takes the leap from music into fashion with the launch of his clothing line, Carter Clothing.

“It’s a complete break to be honest. It’s not something I ever expected to get into because I wouldn’t call myself fashionable per se.

“If you look at some of the outfits that I’ve worn in the last 10 years on TV, to think I’m now sitting here launching a clothing brand is quite funny,” jokes Nathan.

The idea for Carter Clothing emerged from a desire to make shopping simple for men.

“I don’t know if I’m a typical man, but I don’t like shopping. I hate spending hours walking around shops. It annoys the life out of me,” says Nathan.

“I kept saying, if only you could find a website where you can select an outfit within five minutes. So that’s what we’ve done. We’ve created a website that will basically build you an outfit. If you click one specific item, it will put a load of other stuff with it.”

There’s a duet with Una Healy as well – it was really good fun to work with her. We did a remake of Mistletoe and Wine

The garment that Nathan is most proud of is the Aran wool jumpers made in Donegal.

“To have an Irish manufacturer making the jumpers is something that I’m really delighted about,” says Nathan. “I’ve been in the factory, I’ve seen the fabric, I’ve seen the way it’s made.

“It’s a really colourful range. We’ve got it in all wacky colours. Pink, orange, navy, black and grey.

“I’d like to think it’s a piece that you’d buy and it’ll last for 20 years,” says Nathan.

Nathan says the first clothing line of Carter Clothing is all about basics for your wardrobe, but we can expect more country vibes in the second line. “A bit more denim. A bit more flair.”

In addition to his new clothing line, Nathan released a new Christmas album, Crazy Christmas on 15 November.

“I recorded a Christmas album ten years ago, and it was time for a new one,” says Nathan.

“There’s five or six new songs on there. There’s a duet with Una Healy as well – it was really good fun to work with her. We did a remake of Mistletoe and Wine.

“My favourite album I ever did was my first Christmas album. I love Christmas and the old classics,” says Nathan.

With so many plates spinning, Nathan says family is important. In fact his brother, Jake, has joined the operations team as Nathan’s road manager.

“We’re actually working together all the time now. I didn’t know if we were going to row or fall out over stuff,” says Nathan. “But it’s turned out that we get on very well on the road.”

Nathan’s grandmother also sells his merchandise on tour.

“She’s 84 and she lives on the tour bus, travelling around with us. My sister jumps in and helps every now and again as well. It’s a family affair.

“When you’re away from home, to have family around is good.”

Black Friday for Carter Clothing will run from 27 November to 2 December with 30% off, see carterclothing.ie. His album Crazy Christmas (€16) is available online.