I Am Nathan Peterson
I create songs, essays, books, concerts, and keynotes (oh, and courses) to explore finding and embodying our authentic voice in this world.
Join me on this journey through my patron community and my newsletter, and reach out via email.
Speaking
People in today's world feel increasingly anxious and disconnected, longing to come back to the present moment but often stuck in habitual patterns of strain and effort. As a speaker, writer, and musician, I help people to experience a deeper sense of rest and connection.There are simple ways we can send signals to our nervous system that we are safe in this present moment. When we do this, we loosen the grip of anxious thoughts and physical strain. This helps us to open up and become receptive, letting life flow freely through us rather than pushing our way through it.This openness not only connects us with the world around us but also with our whole, authentic selves. And as the walls inside us begin to come down, we're more free to connect more deeply with each other. We experience the truth, tangibly, that we are not alone.From this place of safety, connection, and belonging, we find the courage to embody our true voice in the world--to be our genuine self. This shift is absolutely crucial for our culture, and can ripple outwards leading to a more present and connected world.I blend my personal story of profound loss and resilience with music and simple, guided explorations of our breath and senses for more than just another informative keynote—it is a life-changing experience.
"Nathan is a gifted artist who is profoundly thoughtful and capable of feeling the rhythms of the moment. His peaceful and calming presence, along with his beautiful voice, allowed our audience to open fully to what they needed and to deeply receive."— Shari O'Loughlin, CEO, The Compassionate Friends
"We appreciated Nathan’s inspiring and heart-felt presentation. His gentle, engaging speaking style and musical gift captivated our diverse audience. Many people had very positive feedback and commented that they left with a sense of peace and calmness." —Sheila A. Reed, MDiv, BCC, OSF Healthcare
I am currently booking speaking/performance engagements for 2024/25. Reach out—I'm excited to partner with you!
Concerts
Music opens a channel to the heart. My live concerts are a space for us to experience togetherness, healing, and rest.I'm currently assembling a series of concerts for helping people breathe and be together again.View my public concert schedule here.
"Collaborating with Nathan Peterson at our International Conference was truly a delight. His inspirational music and soulful resonance deeply resonated with everyone in attendance, touching their hearts in profound ways." —Rebecca Horsley Bara, Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Open To Hope
"I greatly appreciated Nathan's contribution to our annual conference. His musical talent, honesty, and caring spirit were just what people needed."
— Andy McNiel, Co-Founder and Executive Partner, The Satori Group
I am currently booking speaking/performance engagements for 2024/25. Reach out—I'm excited to partner with you!
Music
Masks
My newest single release.
I wrote it in the thick of Covid.
It’s not a pro or anti statement; it’s a song about being here for each other.
Read more about Masks here.
My two solo albums were recorded during and after the life of our beautiful 4th child, Olivia.
Dance Again
My latest solo album.
It contains songs about grief, darkness, anger, healing, and hope... my most intimate writing to date.Tracks:
Dance Again
Is it a Sin?
Don't Rush to Get Up
Cry
Marathon
So Am I
My debut solo album.
Songs about living with uncertainty, fear, and miracles. I wrote this album during my daughter Olivia's life--she was not supposed to survive birth, but lived 14 months and changed our view of life forever.Tracks:
So Am I
Olivia
Inch of Water
Rest in You
In 1999 I started the rock band Hello Industry. We toured together for 18 years, released four albums — Matter, MaryAnn, Fooled, a collection of songs about identity and finding your Voice — and spanned several music genres including rock, alternative, folk, electronic, and classical.
Matter
My latest rock album.
It's is about wrestling through fear and insecurity to discover our intrinsic value as human beings.
Nathan Peterson
Masks
A song about being here for each other in our darkest moments. I wrote this during covid. It had nothing to do with my opinion about masks. But as I passed someone on a walk, despite their mask, I noticed their eyes. For a moment, I felt connected to another human being. It warmed my heart. I went home and began to write this song. A mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.As I wrote, I remembered the night of our daughter Olivia's birth. It was a terrifying experience. She wasn't supposed to survive the emergency delivery. I remembered a nurse whose presence was palpable and brought a sense to both me and my wife that we were not alone. This was way before covid, but being an OR nurse, she was of course wearing a mask. It didn't dampen our connection--the connection was through our eyes.Then I remembered a friend of ours, Amy, who rushed into our room at 4am, took Olivia into her arms and held both Olivia and my wife. We were able to cry, and eventually to sleep in the presence of our friend who was not going to let us be there alone. She stayed with us until the morning. I don't know if we would have survived that night without her.This song is our song. The nurse and us. Amy and us. The person walking with the mask and me. You and me. Even in the darkest night. Through obstacles. We are here for each other. We are not alone.
Who'd have known that this is where we'd be?
Broke down, torn apart,
In a bleak, cold night where we can't see what is going on.We are cold, pulled apart, trying to stay a little warm...A mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.
When our hands are tied behind our backs through never-ending nights,
Our eyes can still say everything, like...You are not alone.
I am here.
I am here with you now,
'Till the morning comes,
Close your eyes,
I am here with you tonight.We are cold, pulled apart, trying to stay a little warm...But a mask is not a mask if we don't cover up our eyes.
When our hands are tied behind our backs through never-ending nights,
Our eyes can still say everything, like...You are not alone.
I am here.
I am here with you now,
'Till the morning comes,
Close your eyes.
You are not alone,
I am here with you now,
And I still see your smile--
It's in your eyes,
And I am smiling back at you tonight.I am here with you tonight.
Nathan Peterson
So Am I
I spent the entire day in bed holding my daughter, Olivia. She was deemed "incompatible with life," highly disabled. I held her skin-to-skin to stabilize her body temperature.Hospice staff came in and out of the room as we laid there together, in that tiny, 12x12 bedroom in Central Illinois. Months before I had shut down my band--a venture in which I had invested everything for the past 15 years, now paused indefinitely due to our "new reality."
I as though I was disappearing. I felt incompatible with life, too. The words of this song came to my mind.Olivia was helpless. I felt helpless, too. Yet, somehow, Olivia was also beautiful. Without any ability to accomplish any thing, her infinite, intrinsic value shined. And I realized, as I held my priceless and beautiful daughter in that tiny room in Central Illinois, if she was, so was I.This was my song to sing to Olivia that day. Today it is my song to sing to you... and your song to sing to me.
You are messed up, "incompatible"... so am I.You are beautiful and priceless, regardless of anything you can or can't do... so am I.
When it's been far too long and I'm this close to giving up,
When the sun doesn't shine; it's far too gone and so am I.When it feels all the time like your best is all behind,
You're counting days, you're killing time, you're all but gone, and so am I.But you're still here, you're breathing out, you're breathing in, you're alive. And maybe life is still ahead; it's there for you and so am I.We're still here, we're breathing out, we're breathing in, we're alive. And maybe life is still ahead.
Nathan Peterson
Dance Again
A song about not wanting to dance again after heartbreak. I started writing this song several months after my daughter died as a song about not wanting to write any more songs. It was a way for me to re-enter songwriting that felt honest. While I was writing it, we found out we were pregnant with another child. The thought of dancing with another baby through the night was unbearable. I didn't want anyone to occupy the space I held for Olivia in my heart. I also felt incredibly guilty for feeling that way. When Benjamin came, I realized there was a separate space for him--a whole world of joy and love. Olivia's space remains today.
I may write another song, maybe even the perfect one,
But it won't ever be the same.I may take another try, pick my feet up for another mile,
But it won't ever be the same.I don't want to dance again.
Tell the music not to play.
I can see her, I can feel her face.
I don't want to dance again.Seasons change and memories fade,
Tears dry, but scars remain,
Things are never gonna be the same.
Nathan Peterson
Marathon
A song of permission to be only where you are. I wrote this song during my grief journey. These words have brought me so much comfort. If I could say anything to the world, it would be this.It's not a marathon.
You don't have to be strong.
It's okay to fall apart.
You can only be where you are.
You don't have to control--
The waves will come and they will go.
It's not a marathon.
Nathan Peterson
Inch of Water
A song about the fear of running out—of time, of money, of energy, of anything. I wrote this during my daughter's short life. She was highly disabled and we had to stop working in order to take care of her 24/7. I felt like I was failing my other children. Failing my work. I was afraid we'd run out of money.Yet, in any given moment, everything was fine.I'm learning that the fear of running out has influenced me most of my life. Yet, my whole life, regardless of my thoughts about "running out," I have always been fine. Everything has been fine. Every time.I'm learning that it is safe to let this fear go.Even when my daughter was terminally ill. Even when my bank accounts show numbers that scare me. Even when [fill in the blank]. These fears—not the situations, but the fears—have held me back my entire life. Maybe you can relate.We are made for more than worrying, preventing, holding on... we are made to fly. We have wings... we've always had them.
Books
Over the course of our daughter Olivia's life, I wrote two books about grief, healing and rest.
So Am I: Learning How to Let Go, and Live
A collection of my writings during the 14-month life of our beautiful, terminal daughter, Olivia.
Dance Again: Grief is Healing
I wrote Dance Again at a time in my life when I was experiencing what many of us are experiencing today: uncertainty, fear, and grief.
Courses
More courses are coming. Here's my first one....It may seem "off brand" to create my first course around audio engineering, but it makes perfect sense to me: I'm a musician; audio engineers are trusted partners. They deliver my precious work to the world. If they get it wrong, all my work is for nothing! To me, the audio signal chain is part of the path which must be cleared for authentic human connection. I just happen to be very good at this, so I created a course to teach it.
Setting the Table: A Guide to Audio Engineering for Human Connection
About Nathan
Nathan Peterson is a thoughtful and introspective artist whose work explores the depths of the human experience.As a singer-songwriter, his folk, indie, and ambient-influenced compositions blend raw, emotive vocals with poetic lyrics that delve into themes of love, loss, healing, togetherness, and personal growth.Beyond music, Nathan is also a powerful communicator, blending storytelling and mindfulness practices to foster deeper presence and connection. With vulnerable honesty, he shares personal insights and experiences that resonate on a profound, almost mystical level, guiding audiences inward towards deeper self-awareness and a greater sense of compassion, generosity, and courage.Born in Chicago and raised in Germany, Colorado, and Illinois, Nathan now resides in Chicago with his wife and five children.
Press Photos
Appearances
Here are some of my favorite appearances: Upworthy, Tiny Buddha, Open To Hope, Post Consumer Reports.
Connect
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Booking, interviews, inquiries: [email protected]
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Patrons
Music brings us together. It helps us connect with each other, with ourselves, and with life all around us. This connection feels especially crucial right now.My patrons are partners in creating music, books, and spaces that support the world in coming back together. Their belief in my work has been foundational from the very beginning.Thank you for your part in all I do. I'm truly honored to have you here.If you resonate deeply with this mission and want to become a Patron, go here.