Nate Currin Premieres His Reflective Single “White Hills”

It only takes a couple of lines of listening to his new single “White Hills” until you start to understand that Nate Currin is a man who has been through a lot. The Southern-flavoured singer-songwriter is back with a new single and a new forthcoming album, Ghost Town. Ahead of its release on August 1st, we get to enjoy this reflective, earnest new single. It’s a classic sounding Western ballad featuring Currin’s passionate vocals and finger-picked guitar playing.

The song title is taken from White Hills, Arizona, a small community in rural Arizona where Currin owns land. It’s 40 acres of dusty rock right in the desert, a place where he goes to camp and clear his mind. It’s where he derives a lot of inspiration for his songs, a place to think and ruminate. And also reflect on life, love, love lost, and just about any other topic.

Discussing the song in further depth, Currin tells us:

“About three years ago, I purchased just under 40 acres in White Hills, AZ. For the last few years, I’ve been going out a few times a year to camp and write on my desert land. There’s a view of the west rim of the Grand Canyon, and the stars at night are incredible. My original vision when I purchased the land was to build a small cabin there, and take someone I love out there to spend time with and recharge. The hills are incredible, and the views are majestic.

“‘White Hills’ just came to me. I had this vision of driving out to the land and reminiscing about someone I love. The horns were the idea of Matt Odmark, who produced the song. I was skeptical at first. I thought they might be too much with the pedal steel, piano, and everything else going on, but they really fit that Western Vibe just right. Here is a short excerpt from my memoir that I’m working on about my land in White Hills:

“Forty acres of Arizona dust and dirt and rock. A place for ghosts to rest and the wind to speak to the soul. She gazed out at where I was pointing, but didn’t say much. She acted like it meant something, though, and maybe it did. Who knows. She smiled and said it was cool, giving me a half-nod that people give when they’re not sure how you’d like them to respond. The Joshua trees passed like twisted old men. Abandoned bars stood rotting in the fading sun. America at its finest. A Route 66 parody.”

You can deduce from “White Hills” that Nate Currin’s songwriting comes from a deeply personal space. His ninth studio album, Ghost Town, was primarily composed after a monumental breakup. So much of it feels so personal because it is. It’s primarily about heartbreak and the memories that haunt you when it’s all said and done. Your world was once filled with so much hope and optimism. Now, they’re all just recollections of a life you once had. That loss and the associated change in perspective are a lot to come to terms with. And it’s not just romantic relationships. Part of Ghost Town was inspired by the betrayal of friendships. Currin had been living in Florida. After this series of unfortunate events, he no longer felt like he belonged there. Which is why he sought the peace and solitude of the Arizona desert.

Despite some of its solemn influences, Ghost Town is not without hope. It’s an album for people who feel and experience things deeply.  Full of openness and honesty, this is a record for anyone who has experienced loss and tragedy, but is positively looking forward to better days.

Nate Currin ‘Ghost Town’ album artwork

Ghost Town Track Listing:

1. White Hills
2. Bleed
3. The Crying Wolf
4. 5th Avenue
5. My Soul to Keep
6. Ghost Town
7. Lover, Don’t Let Me Go
8. I Don’t Belong Here Anymore
9. Let’s Stay In & Put a Dylan Record On
10. Wild Heart
11. The Tamiami Trail feat. Lucy Becker
12. I Love You, But I Need Something More
13. Farewell, Savannah
14. The Highway
15. Get Back North (I Miss You)

Tour Dates:

07/28 – Knoxville, TN @ WDVX Blue Plate Special
08/02 – Greensboro, NC @ The Big Purple
08/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
09/06 – Ft Myers, FL @ Americana Community Music Association