Indie folk, indie rock and a bit of dream pop in places. It can be morose at times, but there’s always a positive message towards the end.

NEW SINGLE ‘ APPARENCY ’ OUT KNOW

W: Mandy Morgan I: @Sealbeats

From the tranquillity of the Lake District to the sharp-edged energy of the Manchester music scene, singer-songwriter Nat Dempsey is carving out a distinct space where intimate indie folk meets grandiose rock. His music—a textured blend of acoustic storytelling and dream-pop sensibilities—deliberately balances morose, reflective moments with an underlying message of hope. This sonic duality takes centre stage on his sweeping new single, ‘Apparency’. Written on an acoustic guitar overlooking the sea.

‘I was on holiday with my girlfriend Eve (who’s laid down some beautiful harmonies on this) in Cornwall and we were staying in an annexe at the top of her family’s house. From there the view of Newquay wrapped around the sea was amazing, and I wrote the majority of the song on my guitar I’d taken down with me’. It’s a look at self-acceptance in the face of change, to a Lakes-inspired soundtrack.

Transitioning into the stark routine of adult life initially drained Dempsey's creative momentum, required breaking through the post-university slump that frequently stalls emerging artists ‘I’d gone from three years of a typical student lifestyle into an adult routine and I felt like things had started to fizzle out on the fun side of my life; of course this was a bit dramatic as I can tell you for sure these days that’s not true. But it started to impact my creativity and involvement in music, and I almost had to start again as a writer. I ultimately had to work myself back up the ‘this one’s shit, this one’s alright’ songwriting ladder. Once I got happy enough to release again, everything kind of fell back into place.

Up until recently, I’ve been indecisive with style and genre. Because I listen to so many different types of music, I kept getting the urge to put my own spin on what I was hearing so I darted about a bit. I’m really happy with where I’ve landed now though.

He emerged from the creative lull with a razor sharper focus on a heightened dedication to his live performance. Operating as a solo artist on stage, channelling a massive amount of natural energy into his sets to cut through the venue noise. This commanding a presence proves that not fitting into a single music box is his greatest advantage. Refusing to be neatly pigeonholed has become his ultimate competitive edge, means the music is entirely flexible; ‘’ it carries the raw, stripped-back honesty needed for a small campfire crowd, but possesses the sonic ambition to fill a massive, soaring indie-rock arena."

That same down-to-earth adaptability that lets his song bridge the gap between a campfire and a major stage is mirrored in his pre-show routine, where he foregoes diva antics for a quick soundcheck and a chat with the crowd before stepping into the spotlight – but a free drink and a green room is always a huge plus. 

Dempsey is poised to push his creative boundaries further than ever before. Having shed any past stylistic indecision, he is firmly anchoring his new sound in a nostalgic nod to his 2010s indie obsessions—drawing rich inspiration from the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club and Ben Howard, alongside a youthful, dreamy yearning akin to Wolf Alice and Men I Trust.

There is a newfound urgency and clarity in his craft. "The fact I’m so excited about what I’ve written next means I’m frantically keen to release music consistently," Dempsey shares, reflecting on his growth. "I feel way more ready as an artist generally."

When it comes to future collaborations, Dempsey isn't afraid to aim for the stratosphere. If he could work with anyone, the wishlist is as diverse as it is ambitious.

• Mura Masa
• Gorillaz
• Fred again..

"All three of them work with such a variety of people, and it always works seamlessly either way," he says of his ultimate artistic targets. With a refreshed sound and a mountain of new material on the horizon, these heavy-hitting pairings might not be as far out of reach as they seem.