Working with Artists to help make MUSIC & ART a sustainable career
Step into the captivating world of Nathan Mac, an artist whose journey from acoustic singer-songwriter to a purveyor of "cinematic-pop magic" is as enchanting as his music itself. Far from a conventional band, Nathan Mac operates as a solo project, yet he’s surrounded by his loyal "lost boys" – Grim on drums, Ian on bass, and Jani on vocals. This unique collective has been building a distinctive sound and a dedicated following, making them one of the most intriguing emerging Irish artists on the scene today.
The moniker "Nathan Mac" is itself a tale of pragmatic advice and personal evolution. Nathan, born with the full name Donnell, opted to drop his surname after a friend’s sagacious counsel: “make it easy for them to spell”. This simplicity belies a profound artistic journey that truly began in early 2020. It was then that Nathan adopted his new stage name, serendipitously connected with a brilliant producer, and began crafting an album.
While the project is helmed by Nathan, the foundation of his live band was forged during his studies at BIMM, where he met Grim, Ian, and Jani. Their bond, as Nathan humorously puts it, was solidified by "trauma bond[ing] through our degrees".
Nathan’s own defining musical moment arrived unexpectedly, not as a band, but through a pivotal encounter that reshaped his artistic destiny. He was performing a farewell show for a friend whose café was closing, preparing to move back to Korea.
During this event, one of Nathan’s opening acts brought along a pianist. “Little did I know that he would pull me aside afterwards & suggest we work together,” Nathan recalls. At that juncture, Nathan was charting a course to become an acoustic singer-songwriter, but this fortuitous meeting steered him towards the expansive, imaginative realm of cinematic-pop.
Nathan’s roots trace back to Swords, Co. Fingal, where music was a vibrant thread in his family's tapestry. His uncle, in particular, ignited his passion for music, singing late into the night. Nathan remembers lying awake upstairs, listening through the floorboards, absorbing the "image of how wonderful music could be".
His personal musical journey began at age 10 when he picked up the guitar, driven by a desire for an electric model. His mother challenged him to learn three songs on the acoustic first, a feat he quickly achieved by mastering iconic tracks like ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ ‘Come as You Are,’ and ‘Seven Nation Army’. While the guitar marked his entry, Nathan has since evolved, becoming a "piano man" around 2019.
One of the most charming and unexpected influences on Nathan Mac’s sound stems from a childhood pastime: harmonizing with the vacuum cleaner. This seemingly mundane activity shaped his approach to harmony, and for those who listen closely, a subtle "drone" can always be detected in his guitar, vocals, or synths. This anecdote perfectly encapsulates the playful yet meticulous nature of Nathan’s artistry.
The decision for Nathan to make music with a band, rather than entirely solo, wasn’t initially a choice born of preference but of necessity. He candidly admits, “I would have made my music solo if I ever had the skills to. Once upon a time I was hopeless & lost musically”.
It was the arrival of his producer, who "anchored" him and provided the skills necessary for expression, that truly enabled his vision. These days, Nathan’s desire is for everyone to "join in on the songs, to build that creative family feeling I so long for".
Several early performances stand out as significant breakthroughs for the group, even if it was just Nathan and Grim at times. The album launch, a sold-out show at Workman’s Club, was a magnificent debut not only for the album but also for the first (and only) screening of Nathan’s circus-musical film.
Another equally impactful experience was performing with the full band at the Button Factory. Nathan impressively managed to persuade the promoter and venue to allow him access to the ceiling, where he performed with an aerial rope. He describes the experience of "Singing & spinning around in the air" as "exactly as difficult & exciting as it sounds!".
Despite these triumphs, the band faces a unique challenge: fitting in. As Nathan explains, “Believe it or not, but there aren’t many places or people playing Cinematic-Pop music”. Their niche demands a dedicated approach to building their own scene, finding every single fan, and working with whatever resources are available.
The creative process for a Nathan Mac song is a meticulous journey of refinement. Nathan initiates the process by writing, then rewriting, and rewriting again, until he has a song he can play in full. He then often records a demo, shares it with his band, and importantly, releases it to his Patrons for their approval.
Only after these steps does the song reach his producer or another collaborating producer to see if it resonates with them, finally allowing the song’s full development to begin.
While it’s Nathan Mac’s name on the poster, and he views himself as the "captain of this ship," charting the course, collaboration remains vital. He constantly shares ideas with his band, who are also his friends, and they "weigh in every single time," serving as a guiding "wind".
When disagreements inevitably arise, Nathan acknowledges a certain "hierarchy". He admits it goes against his "very being" to say it, but when creative differences emerge, he listens to everyone’s input and then makes the final decision.
Describing their collective sound, Nathan Mac uses the evocative phrase: “Playful magic cosy chaos”. These four words unify their sonic identity, allowing them to embody any combination of these elements at any given moment.
Their sound is further defined by signature arrangements and production tricks. Nathan reveals they "fully abuse tremolos, vocoders, bitcrushers," and he has been progressively incorporating "glitch effects". He also humorously mentions his bandmates tease him for his distinctive ‘psskah’ sound from his song ‘Better Off Without You,’ which they now integrate into rehearsals.
Lyrically, Nathan Mac’s music is characterized by its compassionate and introspective nature. He finds himself "unable to write an antagonistic song," plagued by perspective and patience, even in breakup songs.
He explores the "struggles of being a broken person," writing about "broken people," love, longing, and, more recently, loss. There's also an unconscious recurring theme of the moon and stars in his recent work, the meaning of which he muses, "only Carl Jung could have told me".
The influences on Nathan Mac’s sound are diverse and rich.
Nathan himself "bombard[s] everyone" with artists like Imogen Heap, Chien Noir, and Utada Hikaru, while others like Caroline Polachek make their way into the band’s collective inspiration from other members. Beyond music, Nathan’s work draws heavily from magical and utopian thinkers.
He finds deep inspiration in figures such as Jim Henson, Hayao Miyazaki, and Khalil Gibran, who encourage him to seek deeper meaning in life. An intensely hopeful and utopian thinker, Nathan is particularly fired up by the subculture of Solarpunk – a creative and political movement that champions the "symbiosis of nature & tech," a dream he finds worth fighting for.
For Nathan Mac, the proudest moments are not single events but a recurring feeling after every performance. In those few minutes post-show, he is "blind to all criticism, doubt, & fear," a powerful validation that transcends the specifics of any given night. However, a clear turning point for the band came with his first release, ‘Better Off Without You’.
Before this track, Nathan was primarily an acoustic singer-songwriter, and the shift in sound caught many by surprise. He acknowledges leaving behind some fans, collaborators, and open mic nights, but views it as an inevitable part of "growing & changing".
Like any artist, Nathan Mac has faced setbacks. He notes that "the latest rejection is always the hardest," accumulating heavily over the years. The most significant recent blow was the rejection from this year’s Ireland Music Week application, a showcase that "really would have given us a huge boost out of here".
Looking to future collaborations, Nathan, an ex-circus and theatre enthusiast, dreams of working with artists in that world. Topping his list is Yoann Bourgeois, a space and movement director who has worked with acclaimed artists like Harry Styles and P!nk. Nathan’s ambition is to create a concert under Bourgeois’s guidance, envisioning a spectacle of music, circus, and visual storytelling.
Nathan actively engages with his local music community, often acting as an "agony aunt," listening to and guiding other musicians, leveraging the "fair amount of knowhow" gained from his three-year music business degree.
He admits it’s a "struggle to avoid managing other artists’ careers". Online, he extends the same helpful approach. Interestingly, his Patrons play a unique role: they grant him "full creative freedom to make whatever I want," simply wanting to see him create.
Currently, Nathan Mac is immersed in a flurry of activity. While another album is a long-term commitment, he has "about 7 irons in the fire," with each song having artwork, music videos, and release plans in motion, promising a very busy second half of the year. Looking five years ahead, Nathan hopes simply "to still be here."
He acknowledges the precarious nature of an artist’s career, stating, "Being poor & a creative is not a sustainable lifestyle". Sonically, he’s excited about the present and believes tomorrow’s excitement will come when it arrives. When asked about dream venues, he names The Met Opera House in New York and The Hamburg Kunsthalle as places where he could bring his vision of a "beautiful spectacle... full of music, circus, & visual storytelling".
The collective message Nathan Mac hopes to convey through his music is one of enduring magic. He believes that "the world has magic where you look for it," and that "despite the depression & oppression everywhere, there will always be magic". While explicit political causes aren’t directly built into the music, their core message is an internal one of "compassion to oneself & others".
Furthermore, his storytelling is consciously set within a Solarpunk world, emphasizing "a world of nature, tech, & hope". Nathan notes that he has consciously "sacrificed my politics for my creativity" over the years, having previously pursued a more commercial pop songwriter path. He views his daily interactions, thoughts, and conversations, as a form of "resistance to what’s expected from us," accepting that his political beliefs don’t explicitly manifest in his art.
Beyond the stage and studio, Nathan Mac's passions deeply infuse his artistry. He identifies as a storyteller in his personal life, obsesses over tea and coffee, and was once a professional circus performer. These elements directly work their way into his music and performances; he now integrates circus into his shows, the imagery of tea and coffee into his songs, and storytelling underpins all his creative decisions.
The band shares a unique pre-show ritual: a Māori greeting called the Hongi, where they press foreheads together and share a few breaths, breathing in sync to unite them for the performance. After intense shows or studio sessions, Nathan decompresses by sitting in Dublin’s cafes, usually alone with his journal or a book.
For an upcoming show, audiences can anticipate a true spectacle, with Nathan hinting at "magical tricks & visuals on stage" should their luck hold out. Each song comes with its own story, not always Nathan’s own. He shares an example: 'Deirdre of the Sorrows,' an ancient Irish myth from the Ulster cycle, which he condensed from a three-hour epic into a four-minute song about a young girl "cursed by beauty & patriarchal oppression," who finds her only defiant option in ending her own life. It’s a powerful narrative Nathan believes "we should all know".
Fans eager to stay connected with Nathan Mac and his unique blend of cinematic-pop magic can find him on YouTube, Patreon, and his Mailing List, as he has chosen to step away from Instagram and TikTok. He also proudly points to his website as "a masterpiece & one of my best works of art to date!".
Catch Nathan Mac Live at Out of Order – Vol. 4
For those eager to experience this captivating artist and his "lost boys" firsthand, don't miss Nathan Mac live at Out of Order – Vol. 4. This is a fantastic opportunity to witness one of the most exciting emerging Irish artists performing their unique cinematic-pop sound in Dublin.
On Thursday, July 17th, Nathan Mac will be performing at Out of Order – Vol. 4 at Fibber Magees Basement, Dublin, as part of a powerful night of live music and creative energy. Doors open at 8:00 PM with an open mic hour, followed by feature sets from a diverse lineup of exciting performers. This is certainly one of the must-see July 2025 music events.
Tickets: General Admission – €10
DISCOUNT CODE: NATHANMAC (€2 OFF)
Nathan Mac offers an unparalleled blend of thoughtful storytelling, innovative soundscapes, and a truly magical stage presence, promising an experience that transcends typical live music in Dublin.
His dedication to building his own scene and his unique creative vision make every performance an event. Come and witness the "playful magic cosy chaos" that is Nathan Mac; it’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss!
