NATHAN FOLSOM
A decade after his high school band Oblongada rocked Boulder’s Fox Theatre, headlining a series of all-ages shows, Nathan Folsom returns to center stage with the release of his debut album, All Through The Night . “The project is the culmination of years of studying music and playing and writing and being involved,” Folsom says of the autobiographical concept album, “[It is] finally evidence of my effort, my songwriting skills and my art.”

The project is a melancholy and hopeful narrative, which Nathan wrote, produced, and has been recording over the past two years. It is a coming-of-age story that explores the allure and illusion of living in a dream. “The songs as a collection describe a story of youth. Finding my way through life’s dreams and growing up and trying to understand myself and my life.”

To mimic life’s changing landscape, which can transform from bliss to nightmare in an instant, Folsom recorded All Through The Night at several different studios, working with multiple engineers, and Grammy nominated producer Mark Oblinger. A dozen different musicians perform on the CD including five separate female vocalists, each adding their own unique quality. Julie Faulkner (sister), Maia Faulkner (niece) and Liz Forster (daughter of Etown’s nick forster) join national touring artists Rebecca Folsom (stepmother) and Rebecca Hoggan of Hit and Run Bluegrass to enhance each song’s musical texture. “The story is the most important part for me. It is what drove me artistically,” says Folsom, whose vision was to record in a way that would promote the story. The result is a cohesive blend of alternative ballads and acoustic rock, which is as compelling musically as the lyrics are personal.

Before he joined his first band, Nathan had been exposed to a range of musical styles from Bluegrass and Folk to Reggae and Motown, and experimented with sounds on the flute, trumpet, and piano. But he found his passion when he picked up a guitar and began listening to Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, and Pink Floyd. He started a Funk band at age 16 and continued playing guitar and writing songs. While he was earning his degree in Recording Arts and Sound Engineering at Full Sail Real World Education in Orlando, Florida, he joined the band INEPTUNE, which kept him on stage throughout college, and with whom he recorded the CD, Naturally, (2000).

All Through The Night stands apart from other contemporary works in its form as a concept record guided by a single story. Through songs like Night Fall, (track 2), the song that sparked the idea for the album, listeners observe Folsom’s journey into darkness and back again: “Now day it turns into dusk, now night is sure to fall. And if no one can see my face, I don’t have to hide at all.” He says about the story concept, “The story is a really personal account of my experiences. All the lyrics are trying to be honest and open and real…. I hope people are reminded that they are not alone.”

Folsom has been working and playing professionally for ten years. He has a home recording studio and has worked as an Assistant Engineer (Immersive Studios, Boulder), Stage Manager (Fox Theater, 2001), and as a Live Sound Engineer at a variety of Boulder venues. With the release of All Through The Night , the real and symbolic journeys of the album find culmination. Today, Nathan Folsom moves from the cover of darkness; he is walking confidently to center stage and inviting his listeners to share in his passion for music. “This project has been an awakening for me. Part of doing the project was to push myself toward that, to awaken myself.” As for his future, Folsom says simply, “I see no limits.”