We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Nathan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew that I wanted to pursue artistry ever since I started seeing music videos on TV as a kid. My brother, who is a few years older than me, would have MTV or TRL on in the mornings, playing cycles of music videos from artists I liked, such as Michael Jackson, Missy Elliott, and OutKast, just to name a few. The colors, costumes, and lighting always fascinated me. I remember envisioning myself as a performer watching these videos. This became a reality later in high school. I used to skip class (after I finished my work. Not saying to do this…) and I would shoot and perform music videos. This led to me making DVD copies of popular videos such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and passing them out amongst my peers.

Brian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Brian Nathan Seay, but I go by Brian Nathan. I was born and raised in Birmingham, AL, and music has always been a part of my upbringing for as long as I can remember. My grandmother, who was a church musician during the Civil Rights Movement, is often credited by my mom for instilling my love for music. Both my parents ensured I had active engagement with music, whether it was by buying me a drum set that I probably annoyed them with, providing a keyboard and karaoke machine for my twin sister and me to perform and record ourselves, or putting me in the band as a trumpet player in the 4th grade to high school drum major. It was always a calling for me because I loved every ounce of it.

This passion turned into discipline as I played in the band throughout high school, where I later joined the choir and would put on concerts in my classroom. This inspired me to take my piano skills seriously and taught myself. But it also allowed me to discover the deeper connection of music to life. It brought so much happiness and joy to my peers.

This recognition encouraged me to pursue my degree in music at Alabama A&M University, where I was student director for the University Choir and arranger/director for the vocal jazz ensemble.

After completing graduate college at Middle Tennessee State University, I relocated to Nashville, TN, to pursue my career in music. I really began to push myself as a producer, working with some great independent R&B/Hip-hop artists. Now, this didn’t come easy, as this city was a new place. My passion and drive set me apart, with a mere focus on becoming a better version of myself and my craft.

My 80’s-retro debut single “Obsessed” gained recognition from new audiences that compared me to the likes of Prince and Michael Jackson. Continuing my pursuit in the wake of the 2020 pandemic, I released my second single, “The One (T.Y.H.)” with a vibrant music video.

This past year, I came back with a new sound, reintroducing my suave stylings of pop, soul, and electronic music in my new single “Pinky Ring.” It is a timeless ode to the future that merges the sounds of hip-hop, modern R&B, and soul-ternative music. The song generously leans into this dream state, resulting in a nostalgic groove that makes you want to dance whether at a Sunday brunch with mimosas or at a fancy soiree with bourbon drinks. The production has a hybrid of acoustic instruments and electronic sounds which I build my signature style from.

Rising within the Nashville scene, I am forging my own wave of sonic and visual composition, drawing inspiration from Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, and Anderson .Paak. Currently, working on my new album, I promise to leave listeners empowered and ready to embrace a new era of themselves.

Seeing the success of it all encouraged me to start my own creative agency, By My Culture, which serves as a hub for all my endeavors and collaborations with artists, brands, and entertainment partners. I’ve had the recent opportunity to connect with so many new fans/followers, having risen to newfound success after multiple viral videos of Belmont’s gospel and R&B commercial ensemble, Voxology, where I am an adjunct professor. With this new venture, I aim to reaffirm my position not only as a producer, artist, and entrepreneur but also as a pioneer in music.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is being able to create a space where people can feel seen, encouraged, inspired, and uplifted through life’s uncertainties.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Apart from being an artist, I am also an adjunct professor at Belmont University, where I teach and direct an R&B and gospel commercial ensemble called Voxology. Interestingly, I’ve always had a passion for choirs and have worked with them for a long time. Over the course of almost two years, some viral moments have occurred, presenting a cool opportunity for people to discover my artistry. I know there’s often pressure to stick to one thing, but we all have many talents and interests. The cool thing about all of this is that you don’t have to hide other parts of yourself because that might be the very thing people connect with. I’ve gone from 2k to 50k+ followers in a little over a year. It’s a reminder not to despise small beginnings and to keep sharing your work!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thebriannathan
• Facebook: @thebriannathan
• Twitter: @thebriannathan
• Youtube: @thebriannathan
• Other: linktree.com/thebriannathan

Image Credits
Bobby Donave Joseph Patrick Laid