Nathan Evans (Scottish musician)

Nathan Evans is a Scottish singer known for singing sea shanties. Evans first gained fame in 2020, when he posted videos of himself singing sea shanties on social media service TikTok, triggering a surge of interest in sea shanties. In January 2021, his cover version of the 19th-century shanty "Wellerman" charted in the UK and in several other countries.

Nathan Evans
Born1994 (age 26–27)
Bellshill Hospital
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2020–present
LabelsPolydor

Early life

Before launching his music career, Evans was a postal worker with the Royal Mail, in Airdrie, near Glasgow.[1][2] He has a college degree in web design.[3]

Music career

Evans had been posting performances of pop and folk songs to TikTok before beginning to post sea shanties.[4] He posted his first traditional sea shanty, "Leave Her Johnny", to TikTok in July 2020.[5] In the following months, viewers of his videos continued to request more sea shanties, leading Evans to posting videos of himself singing "The Scotsman" and New Zealand 19th-century shanty "Wellerman" in December 2020.[1][6]

"Wellerman" quickly gained views on TikTok, inspiring many others to record more sea shanties and to imitate and remix Evans's version, including renditions by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, comedian Jimmy Fallon, guitarist Brian May, and entrepreneur Elon Musk.[4][6][7][8] As of January 22, 2021, "Wellerman" had eight million views on TikTok and Evans had hundreds of thousands of followers.[9] Because of its roots on TikTok, the sea shanties trend that Evans launched has been called "ShantyTok".[10]

In January 2021, Evans signed a three-album recording contract with Polydor Records, releasing his official version of "Wellerman" on January 22, 2021.[3] A dance remix of the song created with producers 220 KID and Billen Ted was released simultaneously.[11] Evans plans to release a five-song EP of sea shanties.[5] His growing music career led him to quit his job as a postal worker.[10]

Writing about the nature of Evans's success during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amanda Petrusich wrote in The New Yorker: "It seems possible that after nearly a year of solitude and collective self-banishment, and of crushing restrictions on travel and adventure, the chantey might be providing a brief glimpse into a different, more exciting way of life, a world of sea air and pirates and grog."[6]

Music style

Evans records sea shanties a capella with multiple tracks of his own voice. He accompanies himself with thumps and claps made with his hands. He sings in a baritone.[6]

Discography

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[12]		 GER
[13]		 IRE
[14]		 NL
[15]		 NZ
Hot
[16]		 SWE
[17]		 SWI
[18]
"Wellerman (Sea Shanty)"
(Solo or 220 KID x Billen Ted Remix)		 2021 21416
[19]		32395426
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

References
  1. "The Scottish postman behind 'Sea Shanty TikTok'". BBC News. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  2. Carson, Erin. "Avast ye matey! Sea shanties are taking over TikTok. Here's why". CNET. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. Browne, David (2021-01-26). "Sea Shanty Sensation Nathan Evans: 'I'm an Actual Musician'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
  4. Suliman, Adela; Cobiella, Kelly; Itasaka, Kiko (2021-01-24). "Meet the TikTok star who inspired the 'Wellerman' sea shanty craze". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  5. Reilly, Nick (2021-01-22). "Sea Shanty TikTok star Nathan Evans lands Polydor Records deal". NME. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. Petrusich, Amanda. "The Delights of Sea-Chantey TikTok". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. Malvern, Jack (2021-01-22). "Nathan Evans lands record catch with The Wellerman sea shanty". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  8. Owen, Matt (2021-02-02). "Brian May gets in on the sea shanty action with a sizzling rock guitar cover of the viral TikTok smash". Guitar World. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  9. Millman, Ethan (2021-01-22). "Sea Shanties Blew Up On TikTok. Now They're Getting Record Deals". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  10. Taylor, Alex (2021-01-22). "Sea shanty: Can viral success make a music career?". BBC News. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  11. Cuttle, Jade (2021-01-27). "Nathan Evans, the Wellerman singer and TikTok sea shanty star: 'I'm still living on my postie's wage'". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  12. "Nathan Evans / 220 Kid x Billen Ted | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  13. "Discographie von Nathan Evans" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  14. "Discography Nathan Evans". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. "Discografie Nathan Evans". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  16. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  17. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 5". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  18. "Discographie Nathan Evans". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  19. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
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