Nathaniel Street-West

Biography

A singer, songwriter, and guitarist who recalls good old rock & roll with a bit of country mixed in, Nathaniel Street-West was born in a cabin in the Sierra foothills but was raised all over America. This upbringing might explain the many American flavors in his music but also the independent attitude of Street-West. While the scenery and friends were always changing, his trusty guitar was always with him and the young musician spent countless hours practicing. He was admitted at age 15 to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and spent his late teens releasing a series of albums that drew praise from those who heard them, which was unfortunately very few. Always one to look forward instead of backward, he decided in 2005 to attempt a more ambitious project. A longtime fan of Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind, he contacted the album's engineer, Mark Howard, hoping he would lend a hand. After listening to the 57 songs Street-West had sent him, Howard accepted the offer and became the album's producer. Friends of Howard's like Alanis Morissette's keyboardist Zack Ray and legendary drummer Jim Keltner were brought in for recording sessions, and by the beginning of 2006, the album was completed. Witness appeared in April of that year on the Puffin label.