The last year has been Nathan Carter’s busiest to date – and he’s loving every minute of it. The singer has been touring Ireland and the UK, recording new music, appearing on TV and radio and now he has launched something very different, his own clothing range. He tells RSVP Country , “I’m loving every minute of it.” Here, the 34-year-old opens up about diversifying his career and getting The 2 Johnnies to support him with his new clothes. He also reveals how he has no plans to step back from music as his career goes from strength to strength and why Ireland will always remain his home.
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Congratulations on your new venture and the launch of Carter Clothing. Why have you moved into fashion?
For years, I’ve been borrowing clothes from different shops for gigs and photoshoots. My friend Terrie came up with the idea and she suggested that I do my own line of clothes. I didn’t know where to begin with that, so I had a few conversations with people in the industry and we came up with some designs. This has been 12 months in the making, so it was a while before we got stuff we were really happy with after getting some samples made up.
What makes your brand stand out?
The knitwear is all coming from Donegal. I’m really proud to be using Irish-based businesses. We’ve got some wacky colours; pink, blue, green and orange. Knitwear is in at the minute. All the women I’ve shown the jumpers to want one, so they’re not just for men. We’ve a standard range of jeans, shirts, T-shirts and jackets as well. We wanted something for the average man on the street.
Is it important to diversify and have other avenues in your career because the music industry is so precarious?
I’m still writing, recording and touring more than ever. If you look at most of the American stars, they all have different businesses. It’s not just singing and recording. I think nearly every country artist in the States has a whiskey or a tequila brand. I never really went down the drinks route, although I did invest in Muff Liquor in Donegal. I hope people like the range as
much as we do, and I think they will.
Have you faced many challenges?
It was hard to get shops on board at the start and we hit a brick wall. We invited 25 shops to see the range and only two turned up. It’s not an easy industry to be in and it’s quite different to the music game. Not that the music industry is easy either!
Was that disheartening?
I was questioning if we were mad in the head trying to get shops on board. But the fact of the matter is that brands work off their own websites these days and that’s where they sell 70 or 80% of their stock. Our website is very good and it will stand up next to the major fashion brands. We studied their idea of a website and we’ve made our own from it as a result.
For you, was it important to try something new and shake things up in your working life?
I changed management at the end of last year and I’ve been willing to do new projects. This year has been the busiest year of all with new ventures, and I’m loving every minute of it. I’ve never been as busy in my life. Generally, everything is going well.
You never know what’s at the other side of making a big decision like that, but obviously this is working out very well for you.
Yeah, I’ve never been as happy and I’m very content with the way things are going at the minute.
Robert Mizzell recently told RSVP Country he plans to slow down in 10 years and he’s always trying to reinvent himself. Will there be a time where you will slow down?
I can’t really see that far ahead, to be honest. I’m still in my early 30s and I’ve a lot of life left in me.
For any fans who see this new venture and think you might leave country music, what would you say to quell their worries?
I’m definitely not leaving music. I’m in the middle of writing a new album in London with Guy Chambers. I’ve new music coming out at the start of next year and I’m really excited about that.
What’s it like to work with a songwriter as established as Guy Chambers?
It was quite daunting at first. I was in his studio in London and I’ve never been anywhere like it in my life. It was probably one of the poshest parts of London. After we sat down and got some ideas going, he got the guitar out and sat at the piano. Music eases all that worry and I became a lot more comfortable writing with him. He’s hopefully going to be producing the new album in the New Year.
What can we expect from the new album?
It’s going to be country and folk with a new type of sound. We’re aiming for a more commercial sound that will get daytime radio play.
Is that an issue for country artists, and Irish artists in general, getting play on mainstream radio stations in Ireland?
It’s extremely hard, and it’s a lot more difficult for the younger generation starting out to get any sort of recognition on the national radio. It’s so hard for them to get their music played. Thankfully, we have social media to reach people. The music game has changed a lot since I first got into it.
Fans were wondering why you weren’t on The Late Late Show country special.
I was in the UK promoting my tour. I had interviews on different radio stations and I prerecorded a TV show, which will go out later in the year. So I couldn’t be at The Late Late Show , unfortunately.
You’ve been doing a lot of media in the UK recently, is it hard to get those slots?
It’s hard enough because I wouldn’t be as well known over there compared to some of the more modern country singers – well, the American country singers anyway. I’ve been gigging in the UK for the last 14 years, but it was only since this year that we got a PR company on board, that has led to more TV and radio appearances, which has been a real help with ticket sales. It is just about being seen and heard and having new people discovering the brand. Everything is going in the right direction and ticket sales are up. But I’m not moving to the UK, I’m still based in Ireland.
What’s the difference between UK and Irish audiences?
To be honest, I wouldn’t say there’s that much of a difference. The crowd on the night depends on how good a gig is. We generally do the same show whether we’re in Dublin, Belfast, Coventry or Kildare. It doesn’t matter if the venue holds 600 or 6,000 people, it totally depends on the crowd.
How are things going with your new house in Fermanagh, is it still a work in progress?
It’s demolished now and the building work is in progress. It’s a mucky mess at the minute, especially when it rains! I’m hoping it will take six months. But I’ve watched enough episodes of Grand Designs to know it probably won’t happen. That’s what I’m pushing for anyway!
Daniel and Majella O’Donnell famously did Room To Improve on RTÉ, did you consider getting Dermot Bannon on board or recording the progress for a TV show?
I contemplated it, but I decided against it.
When you released the first look at Carter Clothing, it was rather saucy. What kind of reaction did you get after stripping off in the shower for the video?
I was talked into it and I didn’t know what way it was going to go. Thankfully, everyone took it as a bit of fun and a bit of craic. The 2 Johnnies mentioned it on their podcast and now they want to do a photoshoot and a collaboration with the brand. That has led to a good few opportunities for me. The video only revealed my backside for a few seconds, but it was enough to
stir up a bit of controversy.
Would you ever do OnlyFans?
No – I’ve no intention of doing OnlyFans anytime soon.
The 2 Johnnies are probably the biggest influencers in the country. It must be great to have that support.
It’s really cool. I’ve known the lads since they started their podcast and I was on it six years ago, or maybe even longer ago. We’ve kept in contact since.
How would you describe your own sense of style?
I’ve come a long way from what I used to wear on stage [laughs]. Hopefully I don’t have to buy any more clothes going forward and I can just wear my own, which is fantastic. Hopefully Carter Clothing will suit everyone across all different age groups from
16 to 60. I don’t like shopping and trying to find things that match, so, on the website, once you pick something you like you’ll be offered an item to go with it. It makes things very easy, and that’s what I wanted.
The style and fashion around country music was very stiff in the past. Do you think you added something trendy and modern?
When I first started performing it was frowned upon not to wear a suit on stage. You need to dress your own age. I love wearing a suit and I still wear them, but singers in their 20s don’t need to be wearing a tuxedo and velvet jacket all the time. If I’ve influenced some of the younger singers, that’s great. You only have to look at America, nobody wears formal wear on stage. It’s all trendy looks with jeans, T-shirts and shackets. That
has influenced the younger generation in Ireland as well and hopefully people feel more comfortable on stage.
You’ve always had this ‘good boy’ image – is that something you wanted to present or is that just you?
That’s not something I was ever conscious of. I always just try to be myself, I don’t think about it too much.
It’s 12 years since you released Wagon Wheel . The song brought you huge fame, is it a double-edged sword? You’ve been singing the same song for more than a decade.
I still enjoy performing it and the crowd reaction is generally amazing when I play. The song has been a blessing and fingers crossed we get another hit like that again.
See the full Carter Clothing range at carterclothing.ie
Read the full interview with Nathan Carter and see all of the fabulous pictures in this issue of RSVP Country - on shelves now
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