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In Case ‘World on Fire’ Seemed Like a Fluke, Nate Smith Serves Up ‘Bulletproof’: ‘You Have to Be Able to Sing Along to My Songs’

Co-writer Ben Johnson got the “Bulletproof” title from a synth-heavy 2011 dance record by female singer La Roux.

He co-wrote the bulk of the material on his eponymous debut album, but after his first two singles created demand for his talents, he spent most of 2023 on the road, often visiting radio stations during the afternoons, then wedging in meet and greets before his concerts. Johnson worked that day with Ashley Gorley (“Last Night,” “You Should Probably Leave”) and Hunter Phelps (“wait in the truck,” “Cold Beer Calling My Name”) on “starts,” assembling short foundations they could use to compose songs at a later date. Producer Lindsay Rimes (LOCASH, Tyler Rich) recruited drummer Evan Hutchings, bassist Tony Lucido, guitarists Sol Philcox-Littlefield and Tim Galloway, plus keyboardist Alex Wright for a tracking session at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios.

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