00:00Well, it is very rare that we get introduced to a guy on a national level where he just puts out banger after banger after banger.
00:07And just song after song after song that you're going, okay, he gets it.
00:11He knows how to write country music and he knows what he's doing.
00:14And then you see him on shows where he's performing with people that are outside the box like Avril Lavigne.
00:20And you go, all right, now the guy gets it even more.
00:22He knows what he's doing.
00:24Give it up for Nate Smith.
00:26Nate, what is up?
00:30Hey, hey, what's up, my friend?
00:32Hey, brother.
00:33Well, listen, man, I mean every word of that because when we got introduced to you, I mean, just the album and then the EP, it just was, he gets it.
00:42He knows what he's doing.
00:44I don't know what I'm doing, but I love making music.
00:49Where are you?
00:51Because you're cutting in and out now.
00:53I know.
00:54It sucks.
00:54I have horrible stuff.
00:55Wait, are you on the road?
00:57Are you on tour somewhere?
00:58Are you on your way here?
00:59Yep.
01:00Yep, I'm in Kansas.
01:01All right.
01:01Very nice.
01:02Well, you know, the next big milestone for you is that you are on tour with, well, arguably one of the biggest artists in country music, Morgan Wallen.
01:11And we can't wait to see you here this Thursday and Friday.
01:14I mean, dude, when you're stepping into a stadium, what is that feeling like?
01:18So it's basically like living the Eminem song.
01:21You know, my knees are actually weak.
01:22It's cheesy as that is.
01:23I'm so nervous going out there.
01:25But it's honestly a blast, too.
01:27I mean, it's amazing.
01:28Now, has Morgan said anything to you to kind of make you feel more at ease?
01:31Or is he kind of in his own lane on these tours?
01:33And then you're kind of in your space?
01:35Or do you guys get to mingle a little bit?
01:37Honestly, like, we don't get to hang out a whole lot.
01:40Like, I might catch him shooting boops here and there.
01:42Okay.
01:43And then, you know, he might, like, one time I said, hey, like, let's get after it this week.
01:47He's like, well, let's get in.
01:48But I haven't had, like, a Morgan set-top.
01:52That's all good, man.
01:53Hey, you're in the building.
01:53That's all that matters.
01:54Yeah.
01:55And then you got another beast on this tour as well with Jelly Roll playing these two dates here in Tampa.
02:01I mean, is there a nicer guy out there?
02:03There actually is not.
02:05There actually is not.
02:05And I love Jelly so much.
02:07He's one of the nicest, sweetest people.
02:09Every time I see him, he sings my World on Fire song.
02:11It's hilarious.
02:12Aw.
02:13Well, it's funny because we play your World on Fire song every day here, as a matter of fact.
02:17I appreciate you guys.
02:19I just saw that it looks like right now it's on track to be the number one song of the year for most played, which is crazy to me.
02:26I believe it.
02:27Let's go.
02:28I love it, though.
02:29That's awesome.
02:29That's a wrap, y'all.
02:32So is there anything that you've done to prepare yourself for, you know, this big tour with Morgan?
02:39I mean, this is massive that you're on this.
02:41I mean, tons.
02:42I mean, we've had a lot of rehearsals.
02:44And figuring out the right songs to play out there, it's been a big thing.
02:47And just, you know, I mean, it's just, it's a whole nother level, a whole nother league.
02:52Yeah.
02:52And we're learning every single day that we're out there, and it's just such a blast, man.
02:56I'm glad that, like, I'm glad, like, I didn't get a record deal and go right on a tour like this.
03:00Yeah.
03:01So, like, the newer artists that get thrown into this kind of thing so much, so quick, I don't envy that.
03:06But because there's been so many steps to get to this point.
03:09And I'm glad that we didn't skip any steps, you know?
03:12Oh, absolutely.
03:13I love that you said that.
03:14Is there anybody that you, like, trust their opinion when it comes to how you did?
03:19Like, you know, like, we talk after a show, and we go, hey, do you feel like that show went well?
03:22Did you feel like we had a good show today?
03:24I mean, is there anybody in your camp that you go to after every show?
03:27Like, how was it?
03:28Yes.
03:29That's Adam, my tour manager.
03:31Okay.
03:31He, uh, he will shoot me straight whether I like it or not.
03:35I'm like, how do we do?
03:36He's like, you know, yeah.
03:37I mean, I'm like, come on, bro.
03:39Come on.
03:40And he just kind of, you know, I'm like, okay, it sucked.
03:42He's like, no, I didn't say it sucked.
03:43It's just, you know, I mean, like, it's, you've had other times, you know, that were, you know, maybe better or whatever.
03:47I'm like, damn it.
03:49Well, I'll tell you what, last time you were here, uh, you played Bulletproof on stage for the very first time.
03:56You were in Clearwater with Chris Young.
03:58And now, look at, you're about to have another number one song.
04:01It's climbing up there.
04:02I think it's five right now or something crazy, which is just insane.
04:05Oh, you'll get it.
04:06You know you will.
04:07Hey, you know, I, I, you know, wouldn't it say don't count the eggs before they hatch kind of thing, but I appreciate you guys playing the heck out of it.
04:14I love singing it live every night.
04:16But, you know, speaking of Bulletproof, how did that collaboration with Avril come about?
04:20Oh, man, it's so weird.
04:21I just, I sort of dreamed it.
04:23Okay.
04:23And then I talked to my management team and they happened to have a relationship with her in her camp, reached out, and then she texted me.
04:30I was in an airport and she's like, what's up with Avril?
04:32And I was like, I feel like I'm going to faint.
04:34Oh, wow.
04:34And it was, it was crazy.
04:36And then we just texted and she's just very down to earth and very normal.
04:39And then we just talked about the song if she wanted to do it.
04:43And it just kind of happened very organically and naturally.
04:45And then we got in trouble, you know, drinking and being crazy and in L.A. and getting chased by paparazzi, you know?
04:52I mean, it's just.
04:53As you should.
04:56That's great.
04:57Well, the Bulletproof is from the Through the Smoke EP that just came out.
05:01And when I got to the last track, I saw Heart Shaped Box, which is the Nirvana song.
05:06So, and dude, you rocked that song.
05:08It is so good.
05:09It's, you know, so hard to cover a Nirvana song in your way and you do it excellent.
05:15Is that one that you were like, man, I want to record this song?
05:19How'd that come to be?
05:20Literally, that's how it happened.
05:21We were, there's another version of World on Fire called the Bonfire version.
05:26While we were recording that, my guitar player started playing the riff for Heart Shaped Box.
05:31Like, this sounded so good.
05:32I was like, dude, we should record that one.
05:34What are we doing?
05:35I love this song so much.
05:36That's how it happened.
05:37He was literally just playing the riff.
05:39And we decided to do it right then and there.
05:41It takes some guts, man.
05:42Yeah.
05:43I'll do a Nirvana song.
05:44I mean, that was brave.
05:45And then to release it like that.
05:47And then live, we've been doing a different bandied song that you guys will see.
05:51Chasing Cars?
05:53Not Chasing Cars.
05:54Oh, the teaser.
05:56We got a teaser.
05:58We got a teaser.
06:00You won't guess it.
06:01All right.
06:02I can't wait.
06:03I love it.
06:04Talking to Nate Smith right now.
06:05Going to be here Thursday and Friday with Morgan Wallen.
06:08Hey, dude, we are so excited for you.
06:10You're a guy that we root for.
06:12And we are pumped to see you live at Raymond James Stadium here Thursday and Friday.
06:17Am I going to give you guys a big hug?
06:18Is that happening?
06:19Is that set up?
06:20Absolutely.
06:20Huge hugs.
06:21Hugs all around.
06:22I really want to give you guys a big little hug and see you guys in the radio room.
