Just as the name of his new Christmas album suggests, it’s been a crazy Christmas so far for country music star Nathan Carter as he juggles gigging with the launch of his clothing brand and major home renovations.
Despite his hectic schedule, which included a whirlwind mini-tour to Australia, the Liverpudlian, who has made Fermanagh his home, is “loving the festive season”.
“Christmas is always a crazy time of year on the road, so the name Crazy Christmas couldn’t be more fitting. It’s a happy, feel-good festive track which I hope will get everyone in the Christmas spirit,” says the 34-year-old.
He particularly enjoyed shooting the title track’s video at his local - Magee’s Bar, in Enniskillen.
“There are no actors involved. We literally just rang around people we knew and asked if they fancied being in a video being shot that evening and it turned out fantastic.”
Amongst those featured is an adorable young girl with Down Syndrome, whom Nathan reveals is his truck driver’s daughter.
“She was delighted with it and showed her whole class. I think probably 80% of the views on YouTube are her watching herself,” he laughs.
Crazy Christmas features 15 festive favourites, including When A Child Is Born, Winter Wonderland, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Sleigh Ride, as well as two duets.
Feels Like Christmas features his brother Jake Carter, while The Saturdays’ Una Healy joins him on a heartfelt rendition of Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe and Wine, with proceeds from the single going to support Barnardo’s children’s charity.
“We’ve done a good few TV appearances together in the past together, but never recorded. When I thought about doing a duet on this album, Una was the first person I thought of.”
Nathan’s favourite Christmas track is the timeless O Holy Night, which he is sure to be performing when he sings at the Christmas by Candlelight service in St Michael’s, Enniskillen this Sunday evening.
“It’s an amazing piece of music with a great message that just seems to touch people, no matter who sings it,” he reflects.
One tradition he’s having to pass on this Christmas is putting up a tree.
“My house is a mess. I’ve a living room, a kitchen and a bedroom at the minute, the rest has been demolished. I’m hoping next year will be very different and I’ll be able to have a big tree and go a bit mad with Christmas decorations.”
Despite receiving television offers to document the process, Nathan is preferring to keep the house plans private.
“It’s my home and I prefer to keep the house off grid and to be able to relax in private.”
This Christmas, he is looking forward to spending a few days back in Liverpool with his family.
“My granddad is 91 and we’re spending the day with him. There’s always a bit of a singsong, so I’ll be a resident piano player as he sings some Elvis.”
If I am happy with how I look, I automatically feel more confident, whether I am walking out on stage or out socialising with friends.
— Nathan Carter
Nathan has many fond memories of Christmas as a child; his favourite was receiving an accordion at the age of four from Santa Claus.
“It’s not the quietest of instruments and obviously back then I couldn’t play it properly, so the neighbours weren’t too pleased.”
It set him up for a career in music - winning Fleadh Cheoil competitions in accordion and singing. His song Wagon Wheel, in which he accompanies himself on accordion, remains a firm fan favourite.
Nathan and his siblings weren’t so fond of receiving presents of new clothes from his mum.
“There are awful pictures of myself, Jake and Kiara dressed in the most horrendous uncoordinated colour outfits,” he laughs.
Having “sorted my own outfits from the age of about 10″, last month he launched his own clothing collection,
Credited with setting the trend of Irish country musicians opting for a more laid-back look on stage, Carter Clothing comprises T-shirts, shirts, jeans, trousers and 100% merino wool jumpers, made in Donegal.
He explained that the inspiration for the line came from his own experience with self-image.
“If I am happy with how I look, I automatically feel more confident, whether I am walking out on stage or out socialising with friends,” he explains.
“I wouldn’t confess to be fashionable, but I’ve done loads of photoshoots over the last 10 years for magazines and album covers to know what suits me and what doesn’t.
“I wanted to create a collection of clothes that gives everyone the ability to dress well with minimal effort. There’s some of my own influences in there too, a lot of cool black items, smart stuff that doesn’t feel restrictive.”
This includes some clever design techniques, with tighter fits around the shoulders of our T-shirts but looser around the waist.
Adamant that he wanted to source a local material and manufacturer, Nathan is particularly enthusiastic about the woollen jumpers and cardigans.
“Knitwear is everywhere now, even Paul Mescal wears lots of it. We’ve designed our own pattern, and it is available in a wide range of colours,” says Nathan who was heavily involved in the process over the past 18 months.
Delighted by how well received his first collection has been, he teases that the next collection will include some “slightly more adventurous pieces”.
The same could be said for the new music he will release in 2025, as he works alongside Guy Chambers. The renowned songwriter was responsible for many of Robbie Williams’s biggest hits, such as Rock DJ, Let Me Entertain You and Angels.
“We’re starting to record a brand-new album in January, which I hope will be out for summer. It’s all original material that Guy and I have written,” says Nathan.
“Being on the road, the notebook on my phone is full of ideas and melodies, which I get to play with during downtime at sound checks and rehearsals.”
“Guy is producing the album, which is great because it’ll give it a completely different sound to what I’ve had before.”
No accordion?
“I don’t think we’ll feature on this album,” he laughs. “But it’s not pop either, there is still a country and folk influence.”
Nathan already has a busy diary for 2025 and the gig he’s looking forward to most is a return to west Belfast for Féile an Phobail.
“That was my biggest gig of 2024. It was amazing playing to a crowd of more than 10,000 people and I’m really looking forward to going back in August.”
He’s also on the bill for the ever-expanding Farmer’s Bash Weekender at Belfast’s Boucher Road Playing Fields on August 9 and 10 alongside The Kaiser Chiefs and The 2 Johnnies.
“We’ve a lot of gigs in Northern Ireland next year which is great,” adds Nathan, who plays Armagh and Ballymena in January.
He’s also looking forward to exploring Australia more. “We did three gigs in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth on three days in a row. It involved a lot of travel and not much sleep, but it was really good, with some many Irish people coming along to the gigs.”
Also this year, The Carter Couch Podcast saw Nathan alongside his brother Jake and his girlfriend, dancer Karen Byrne, enjoy some light-hearted banter about their lives. The hilarious discussion covered everything from tight knickers and chicken nuggets to love and Nathan’s dislike of U2.
“We recorded it in all sorts of places, from the tour bus in Scotland to Spain on my Carter on the Costa trip. It was great to spend time together with Jake and Karen having a laugh.”
Two-time Dancing with the Stars winner Karen will join the judging panel of the RTÉ dance show in the New Year. Has she managed to persuade Nathan into becoming a future contestant?
“No. I’ve been asked about 10 times, but due to my schedule I couldn’t commit to that amount of time.”
