As I walked into a crowded party, no one hugged the wall. Everyone danced, jumped for joy when a new song started, or screamed the lyrics to songs they knew. I walked into that party and heard someone shout, “Hey Nate!” Not only was someone trying to get this DJ’s attention, but the party goer called out his salute-like producer tag.
19 year-old producer/DJ Nate Pollock pours his mind, body, and soul into music. With six releases under his belt in the span of two years, he’s only one week away from his next, “most emotional” release yet, the self-tilted POLLOCK.
Pollock’s production emits a heavy basis on boom bap and drill rap beats, but he’s found his own style with the on-the-way album. “It took this whole year,” Pollock said. “There’s only nine songs, and there were so many beats I could have put on here , but these ones were the ones that had to be on the album, definitely had the most color.” He recently released a beat-tape packed with a collection of songs that didn’t make the album, Before the Album.
POLLOCK has a lot to dissect, but the main lesson Pollock relayed was to be himself. He learned it best from his biggest influence, his mother, who tragically passed three years ago. “I couldn’t be as honest with anyone besides her. No matter what I was up front, but in a way, it was one of my greatest weaknesses I had to take on,” Pollock said. His mother pushed him to start making music and accept that it was okay to mess up, as long as he got up at the end of the day. Pollock’s losses in his life helped him keep pushing, resulting in his most authentic self along the way. 
POLLOCK takes you into the mind of a creative person, going up and down hills, spinning you around, and cruising along for the fun of it. Pollock’s continuing journey of music is anything but a simple trip. Feeling that he put too much effort into his music he “killed his ego” and took music making day by day, taking the punches and falling to the ground. “You have to realize that you are supposed to fail, that is how you succeed,” Pollock said. “Even if it hurts you in the moment. Sometimes you can’t avoid those uncomfortable moments. They are there for a reason, so you can look back and be grateful, keeping that hunger in you.”
There’s a heartfelt energy Pollock brings to the table. He created his self-titled record for everyone, no matter where they are in life nor what kind of music they are into, hopefully pushing listeners to start their own creative journey. The album is set to release Monday, October 30th. While you wait for the drop, check out Before the Album, and the POLLOCK short film on his Instagram page.
@natepollock_
Graphic by Jackson Kemets, Photos by Cassie McCoy
