About Me
Born in Nashville,Tennessee in October of 1984, Nolan Neal is a young aspiring singer/songwriter with enough tenacity and drive to take him straight to the top. Writing with successful acts such as Shinedown , Cold , Emerson Hart of Tonic and Saliva , Nolan has already begun to make a name for himself in the southeast. Formerly signed with Hollywood Records in 2000 and working with famous producers, Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls) and Bob Marlette (Shinedown, Seether), Nolan learned a lot about the music biz at an early age.
Life as a child was somewhat different for Nolan because both of his parents played in small touring bands. "I remember playing my dad's drums during sound check and singing with my moms band when I was just eight or nine." Having all the elements that make up a rock band at his disposal, Nolan practiced everyday on any instrument he could get his hands on.
By 1998 Nolan had recorded a 5 song E.P. with his then band Sounds of Perception, toured the southeast, won two battle of the bands, opened for Eddie Money, and, most importantly ...... became a father. "It was my daughter Caylin that gave me the strength to endure the road to now." Shortly after Caylins' birth, Nolan started to play on the streets in Nashville (on top of working a day job and playing gigs at night) to make extra money and try and get discovered. After a grueling summer and winter passed, the road ahead was looking too tough to travel. "I used to play until my fingers turned purple from the cold. Sometimes I played to empty streets until my voice wouldn't sing anymore" says Nolan, as he looks down at his callused hands and laughs.
Summer was arising again and still no record deal. The street gig was jading the young artists dreams, and his daughter, Caylin, was growing older. Nolan was just about to put his guitar in its tattered case and go home when Renea English, wife of Nashville producer, Charles English, interrupted his moment of doubt with an offer to get him a deal in L.A. Three months later Nolan was signed to Walt Disney's label, Hollywood records. After only a few weeks, the horrifying events of September 11th caused most labels to panic and practically cut funds in half. But that didn't stop Hollywood from moving forward with Nolan. He recorded almost 40 of his original songs live at Capitol Records Studios in one day with producer Rob Cavallo. The label picked three songs to record with engineer Chris Fogel (Alanis Morissette, U2, Aerosmith) and things were looking great! For whatever reasons, Walt Disney and Hollywood Records decided it best to move forward with Hillary Duff and pass on Nolan Neal. "I personally think it was a smart decision." says Nolan. "I just wasn't ready. I needed better songs and more maturity."
Even though the news was devastating, Nolan kept pursuing his dreams. He knew by the reaction of his fans that he had something to offer. "When you see people moved to tears by your music and fans come up and tell you that your words helped them through some of the roughest times of their lives..... you just CAN'T give up." "So many people were counting on me." So Nolan packed up and moved to Jacksonville, Florida to write with a friend who was starting a band with former Cold guitarist, Kelly Hayes. Nolan says it was Florida that peeled away his facade and showed him who he really is. Within a year he had written with Jeremy Marshall of Cold, Brad Stewart of Shinedown (who also wrote Puddle Of Mud's first single "Control") and several other multi-talented musicians. Twenty three songs later Nolan felt like he finally had the material to go out and land a deal. It was Brad Stewart who sent a disc to EMI's Evan Lamberg. A couple of weeks went by with no reply, and then Nolan was blindsided by the cruel reality of life. "I remember that bittersweet week like it was this morning." says Nolan. "September 28th of last year. I was sleeping in a very cheap, aqua colored motel (the clichéd' kind you see in movies), when I was awakened by my mom. The strange thing was that she lived in Nashville, and hadn't called to tell me she was coming down. I looked up at her with confusion as she sat crying by my bed. She had come to tell me my Father had passed away. I prayed that I was dreaming. But it was real. He had taken his own life. I wondered how? Why? But it didn't matter. It was done. We packed up all my stuff and went back to Nashville the next morning."
Nolan was numbed by the pain. He wondered how he could get back up from a fall like this. Then...........The phone rang. It was Brad! And he had great news! EMI wanted to fly Nolan up to New York!!!!! Eight days later....... there he was....... in the main office of EMI Music Publishing. After a successful meeting and a small acoustic showcase in Evan Lamburgs office, Nolan was on his way back to Nashville with good news for his mom and daughter. EMI had offered him a publishing deal!!!! Only a couple days later Virgin Records showed interest. After a few short weeks Nolan was signed to EMI and Virgin. "It was a very confusing time for me. It was the worst period of my life, having just lost my father, and, the most wonderful, as I now had a publishing deal and a recording contract! That time in my life really helped me learn to take life as it comes, because you never know what the future holds. You just have to have faith, that no matter what tomorrow brings, youre going to be o.k.."
Nolan's debut record, "The World Today", was recorded earlier this year in upstate New York with Producer Steve Thompson (Metallica, Korn, Blues Travelers, and many more). "We were up in the Catskill Mountains without cell phones, working 18 hour days for 6 weeks! Most people get at least three months to record!" says Nolan. "But I'm not complaining. Some people work 9 to 5 for 40 years straight and never get any thanks for it. I'm very lucky to be able to write and perform music for a living!"
Nolan's live performance will captivate any audience it comes across, young or old. It's just purely real. As amazing as his recorded work is, the live show is truly Nolans element. So make sure to catch a show near you and experience the music for yourself.
New show dates will be added to - myspace.com/nolannealmusic - soon!!!!!! Until then, keep listening to the music and sending your feedback!
"Without you I'm just singing to myself. Thanks for all of your support!!!!!!"
Sincerely,
Nolan Neal
