Singer-songwriter | Youthcentral

Nathaniel, 29

Nathaniel, a pop singer/songwriter, shot to fame in 2012 as a contestant on the Channel Seven reality show The X Factor.

Nathaniel launched himself into the spotlight with the release of his debut single "You" in 2013. "You" sold over 200,000 copies and reached the Top Five on the ARIA Singles Chart. Nathaniel has since released the follow-up tracks "You’re Beautiful" and "Live Louder", which was certified Gold on the ARIA Single Chart.

Nathaniel encourages those interested in pursuing a career in music to "put in the effort and time" and to "revolve your whole life around music".

What does a singer do (besides perform, and write music, of course)?

The life of a singer is often full of many ups and downs, but Nathaniel is happy to enjoy the craft and take pleaseure in the process of writing music. When he’s not touring or behind the microphone he spends his time hanging out with his friends and family, playing Playstation and "eating lots of Vietnamese Pho!"

Why did you decide to become a singer?

Nathaniel has an indescribable passion for music and singing. He says he always knew that it was what he wanted to do with his life.

"Every morning and night I would want to write a song or play an instrument and revolve my world around music," he says.

How did you become a singer?

Nathaniel shot to fame on The X Factor, but his journey to success started many years before the TV talent show. He wanted to make sure he worked on his craft in every area and so made sure he got "out there" and performed many various gigs.

Nathaniel performed at weddings and bar gigs around Australia, but credits the talent show as the launching pad for his career. "X Factor was the best decision I made because it really kick-started my career on a huge level, which I needed."

What do you like best about being a singer?

"Performing in front of a live audience is the best thing about being a singer," says Nathaniel.

He says there is no better feeling than getting the energy from a live crowd and reciprocating it in his performance.

What is the hardest part of your job?

While some may think that performing and actually singing is the hardest part to being a singer, it’s the complete opposite.

For Nathaniel, he feels the hardest part to his job is making decisions about his career. "I can be quite indecisive at times, but every day is a learning process," he says.

What does a typical day involve?

While most days are spent behind the microphone or writing music, Nathaniel loves to keep fit and healthy. When he’s not working on his music, you’ll find him at the gym. If it’s a free day or day off where he’s not doing music, he’ll go shopping and simply enjoy his day.

What skills do you need to be a singer?

Unsurprisingly, the ability to open your mouth and sing in tune is a start. According to Nathaniel, singing is for everyone. It can be something you learn to work on so that you go from strength to strength.

It’s important to remember, though, that success won’t happen overnight. "You just need to put in the hard work, so practice and give it time," Nathaniel says. "Patience is a virtue."

What advice would you have for anyone thinking about being a singer?

The art of writing music can be an extremely stressful and tedious process, as can the art of performing an entertaining a crowd. Nathaniel’s one piece of advice for people wishing to pursue a career as a pop singer is to be "extremely passionate and dedicated".

"Practice makes perfect," he says. "Revolve your life around music. Get vocal lessons, learn instruments like guitar or piano, learn how to write a song and produce."

"All these little things are building blocks to your craft and artistry. Again: nothing happens overnight, so make sure you put in the effort and time and most of all have patience."

For more about a career in music, check out more info on the FReeZA program and www.myfuture.edu.au (Note: free registration is required to access the myfuture site).