Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Exactly two years since its release, the debut, self-titled album from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats has officially been certified GOLD, signifying sales of 500,000 albums in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The band’s hit single, “S.O.B.” has also reached the GOLD sales mark in America. Additionally, the Stax Records release has earned global certifications in Canada (Platinum album + single), the U.K. (Silver album), Switzerland (Gold album + single), and Belgium (Gold album.)

Delve beneath the surface of this album to find Rateliff exposing harsh truths about the life he’s lived, the people he’s hurt and the despair he’s struggled with. Additional layers of expressiveness provided by The Night Sweats bring a new soulful sound and intensity to these songs. Of the record, Rateliff explains, “I try to be lighthearted because, although the songs are heavy, I want it to be a release for people. I mean things are hard. But I can remember dancing around to some song that was breakin’ my heart, dancin’ with tears in my eyes. I love that feeling, and I wanna share it with people, and hopefully they’ll feel it too.”

Rateliff & The Night Sweats already had the arrangements of the new songs down cold, having work-shopped them on the road. When it came time to record, Rateliff chose producer Richard Swift, known primarily for his work with The Shins, Foxygen and as touring musician for The Black Keys. Swift, whose specialty is capturing the intensity of live performances, honed the sound, allowing the studio itself to serve as an integral sonic component

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are: Rateliff (vocals, guitar), Joseph Pope III (bass), Patrick Meese (drums), Luke Mossman (guitar), Mark Shusterman (keys), Andy Wild (saxophone), Scott Frock (trumpet) and Jeff Dazey (saxophone).