Nate Lotz – One Pass

Nate Lotz knows who he is and is just as aware of who he is not. This statement permeates his personal and professional life and is a result of considerable investigation on his part. While most musicians are constantly striving to be “somebody” or even becoming an amazing imitation of some drummer whom they admire, Lotz has spent considerable time focusing on who he is. It’s difficult to describe his character as a musician because his aim is to not be the focus. He has been playing guitar and piano as long he has drums, a facet which has always given direction to his drumming.

Most notably known for his current gig with Halsey and his previous gig with Ryan Adams (Lotz spent years juggling both gigs and recorded the Ryan Adams version of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album), these two gigs present the proof of how diverse the drummer’s sound can be while still being inherently minimalistic. The organic traits of Ryan’s sound are diametrically opposed to that of Halsey’s heavy use of electronics and cutting-edge technology.

While many musicians/artists prefer to find one niche that they are comfortable with and settle there, Lotz seems to relish in the challenge of making the music work in any setting. Nate’s playing with his side project Blacktop Queen and his work on U2’s Songs of Experience [2017] displays multiple characteristics, all of which have led to a session and touring career in L.A.–a long way from his youth in Colorado. When he goes back home these days to play arenas, he’s still as humble as in his early teens but with more than enough “cred” to back up those teen dreams.