Nate Amos Revisits and Reinvents His Musical Past
Nate Amos, known for his work as This Is Lorelei, discusses the process of revisiting and reshaping older songs, and how it feels to approach his past creations with a fresh perspective.
Interview with Miles Parks
MILES PARKS, HOST: Nate Amos has an extensive catalog of music. Even he is uncertain about the exact number of songs he has released.
NATE AMOS: It’s somewhere between 150 and 250, I think.
PARKS: Amos is part of the experimental pop group, Water From Your Eyes. For over ten years, he has quietly released solo music on platforms like Bandcamp and Spotify under the name This Is Lorelei. Last year marked the release of his debut official solo album.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “ANGEL’S EYE”)
THIS IS LORELEI: (Singing) Cannot hide my heart from your angel’s eye as you watch me from above.
“Box For Buddy, Box For Star” and New Directions
PARKS: The album, “Box For Buddy, Box For Star,” featured noticeable country influences, reflecting Amos’s bluegrass roots. His latest solo album, “Holo Boy,” released this week, takes a different path.
AMOS: With “Holo Boy,” I wanted to challenge expectations of what a Lorelei album could be. I selected songs for this album that I thought would surprise listeners.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “MOUTH MAN”)
THIS IS LORELEI: (Singing) Check. Bless this. I am in the morning. I’m the mouth man. You could never shut me up.
Reimagining Old Songs
PARKS: The unique aspect of “Holo Boy” is that all ten tracks are reimagined versions of his older songs.
AMOS: I made significant changes to some tracks. For instance, the opening song, “I Can’t Fall,” was originally recorded with altered speed and pitch. For the new version, I sang it in my natural voice.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “I CAN’T FALL”)
AMOS: (Singing) We don’t need nothing more than that. You’re gonna get right on that plane.
Evolving Vocal Production
PARKS: How has your approach to vocal production evolved over time?
AMOS: I’ve gradually embraced a more naturalistic style. Previously, I would alter my voice for variety, but now I’m more comfortable presenting it as is, especially as I’ve performed more as This Is Lorelei.
PARKS: It’s interesting to hear you talk about disguising your voice. Do you think this relates to the personal nature of your songwriting?
AMOS: Absolutely. My growth as a songwriter is linked to becoming more open in my work.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “DREAMS AWAY”)
THIS IS LORELEI: (Singing) I’m too tired to be trying to survive. I’ve been sleeping all my life.
Exploring the Back Catalog
PARKS: Why did you choose to revisit older songs rather than release new material?
AMOS: I wanted to highlight my back catalog. Many fans were unaware of my earlier work, so I thought reimagining these songs would introduce them to my past releases.
PARKS: I wasn’t aware of your extensive catalog either.
AMOS: That’s understandable. I never promoted those earlier songs. “Holo Boy” serves as a guide to my previous work.
Significance of “Holo Boy”
PARKS: Is there a particular song on the album that stands out to you?
AMOS: The title track, “Holo Boy,” is significant. It was one of the first real Lorelei songs I wrote and marks a pivotal moment in the project’s development.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HOLO BOY”)
THIS IS LORELEI: (Singing) Stick thin, you can flip me over.
PARKS: Thank you, Nate Amos, for sharing your insights with us today.
AMOS: Thank you for having me, Miles.
(SOUNDBITE OF THIS IS LORELEI SONG, “HOLO BOY”)
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