Nathaniel David Rateliff (born October 7, 1978) is an American singer and songwriter based in Denver, Colorado, whose influences are described as folk, Americana and vintage rhythm & blues. Rateliff has performed with a backing band called the Night Sweats for an R&B side project he formed in 2013. He has released three solo albums, two solo EPs, and one album as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel.
Life and career Rateliff was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 7, 1978. He grew up in Hermann, Missouri, learning to play the drums at age seven, often performing at church, where he also assisted his mother with writing hymns. His father died in a car crash in 1993, leaving behind a record collection which Rateliff would eventually discover. In 1996, Rateliff traveled to Denver on a missionary trip, returning to Hermann after. Later, he and his friend and lifetime collaborator Joseph Pope III left Hermann for Denver permanently, forming the band Born in the Flood.
2002–2008: Born in the Flood In 2002, Rateliff formed Born in the Flood, quickly garnering a large following in Denver and headlining local festivals like the Westword Music Showcase. In February 2007, Born in the Flood released their first full-length album, If This Thing Should Spill. Despite increasing success with Born in the Flood, Rateliff turned down an offer from Roadrunner Records, and shifted his focus to a more stripped-down, solo effort, playing somber, singer-songwriter content under his name and "Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel".
2007–2014: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel
In 2007, while still performing with Born in the Flood, Rateliff began recording and performing more personal, somber content both solo and with BitF bandmate Joseph Pope III (bass/guitar/vibes/organ/harmonica). The project expanded with more live performances, adding Julie Davis (upright bass/vocals), Carrie Beeder (organ/violin), James Han (keys/vibes), and Ben Desoto (drums/flute). Shortly after the breakup of Born in the Flood, Rateliff released Desire and Dissolving Men on Public Service Records. Nathaniel Rateliff then released In Memory of Loss in the USA on Rounder Records in May 2010, and then in the UK on Decca in March 2011. In Memory of Loss was recorded with producer Brian Deck (Iron & Wine). On September 17, 2013, Rateliff released Falling Faster Than You Can Run on Mod y Vi Records. On the same day he set out on a tour with The Lumineers and Dr. Dog, in support of the album.
2013–present: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Beginning in 2013, while still performing and recording with earlier solo and group projects, Rateliff embarked on a more upbeat, soulful sound with longtime collaborator Joseph Pope III and other collaborators in shows around Denver and Boulder. On June 24, 2015, the self-titled release of Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats via Stax Records was announced with the lead single being "S.O.B.". The Night Sweats feature Joseph Pope III (bass), Mark Shusterman (keyboards) and Patrick Meese (drums). Other band members include Luke Mossman (guitar), Wesley Watkins (trumpet), and Andy Wild (saxophone). According to the Los Angeles Times, this was "an album Rateliff made as a last-ditch effort before throwing in the towel on his music career, only to see it go viral and turn into a runaway hit."
In November 2016, he released the 8-track EP A Little More From... Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats released a new album, titled Tearing at the Seams, on March 9, 2018. After spending a week recording 18 songs with his band, Rateliff was not content and returned to the studio for five days with his band's rhythm section and three more days with the horn section, producing seven to eight new songs he felt were "appropriate, the right tempo and the right mood". The band shared the record's lead single, "You Worry Me". Produced by Richard Swift and being offered in 12-track standard and 14-track deluxe editions, the band assembled in Rodeo, New Mexico for the initial writing and recording sessions for the album.
In February 2018, "You Worry Me", the lead single from Tearing at the Seams, their second studio album, hit number one on the Adult Alternative Songs charts. It would later hit the top 10 on the Alternative Songs chart in June 2018. Tearing at the Seams was released on March 9, 2018. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 for the week of March 24, 2018, and debuted on the Alternative Albums chart at number 5.
In August 2019, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats launched a limited cannabis cartridge line titled "Nightstache Collection" in collaboration with Willie's Reserve. The first release was the strain AJ's Cherry AK. The band developed a friendship with Willie Nelson when they met at Farm Aid in 2016.
In November 2019, Rateliff announced a solo tour to support a new solo album via Stax Records. On January 8, 2020, Rateliff announced And It's Still Alright, his first solo album in nearly seven years, which was released February 14 via Stax Records.
Rateliff supported the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats performed at a campaign rally in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
On December 17, 2020, Rateliff released "Redemption", a new song he wrote for the Apple Original film Palmer. The release came as a surprise to Rateliff's fans, since he did not announce it beforehand.
In early 2021, Rateliff appeared in his first Saturday Night Live performance on February 13. His two-song set included the recently released "Redemption" and "A Little Honey" off of Tearing at the Seams.
On November 5, 2021, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats released their third studio album, The Future, via Stax Records. In support of the album, SiriusXM The Spectrum introduced Night Sweats Radio with Nathaniel Rateliff, which debuted October 22, 2021, airing new episodes every Friday. Their fourth studio album, South of Here, was released on Stax Records on June 28, 2024.
Recognition
Rateliff developed a dedicated following within the Denver music community. The New York Times dubbed him a Denver local folk-pop hero. Spin praised his "massive, alluring" voice. Billboard dubbed the unsigned singer-songwriter a "must hear." This wave of acclaim led to a solo tour opening for The Fray, which brought his work to the attention of national and international audiences. Rateliff was featured on the late-night music television series Later... with Jools Holland on BBC in 2011. Rateliff has also shared the stage with artists such as Bon Iver, Mason Jennings, Iron & Wine, Ben Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, The Low Anthem, Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Rosanne Cash, and Joe Walsh, among others, including The Lumineers in Denver for the United States presidential election debates, 2012. On August 5, 2015, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats made their late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The band played Ontario's Wayhome festival and Austin City Limits in 2016. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats were the featured musical guests on Saturday Night Live on February 13, 2021. Rateliff & The Night Sweats performed their song "Face Down in the Moment" on The Tonight Show. October 3, 2026 Nathaniel Rateliff performed solo at the Power to the People festival in Columbia, Maryland at Merriweather Park.
Discography Albums Studio albums As solo artist + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions US USFolk BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CAN NLD SCOPeaks in Scotland: And It's Still Alright: SPA SWI UK*as Nathaniel Rateliff: as Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: Desire and Dissolving Men(as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel) Released: November 6, 2007 Label: Public Service Records Format(s): CD, LP, streaming — — — — — — — — — — In Memory of Loss Released: May 4, 2010 Re-released: May 19, 2017 Label: Rounder (US), Decca (UK) Format(s): CD, LP, streaming — — — — — — — — — — Falling Faster Than You Can Run Released: September 17, 2013 Label: Mod y Vi Records Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming — — 187 — — — — — — — And It's Still Alright Released: February 14, 2020 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 78 2 14 64 82 90 7 72 24 63"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications US AUS BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CAN FRA IRL NLD SWI UK Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Released: August 21, 2015 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 17 19 3 192 7 94 23 20 11 27 RIAA: Gold BEA: Gold BPI: Silver IFPI SWI: Platinum MC: Platinum Tearing at the Seams Released: March 9, 2018 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 11 47 7 64 12 — 60 78 34 33 MC: Gold The Future Released: November 5, 2021 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 165 — 116 77 — — — — — 69 South of Here Released: June 28, 2024 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 145 — 142 — — — — — 90 —"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Live albums As solo artist + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USSales UKAmer. Red Rocks 2020 Released: July 16, 2021 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 59 22
As Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USFolk USRockSales BEL(FL) UKAmer. Live at Red Rocks Released: November 10, 2017 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 18 27 121 22
EPs As solo artist + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title EP details Shroud EP Released: April 11, 2011 Label: Decca Format(s): LP Closer Released: January 27, 2015 Label: Mod y Vi Format(s): LP, digital download, streaming
As Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title EP details Peak chart positions US USAlt. USFolk USRock AUSHit. BEL(FL)Mid UKAmer. UKJazz A Little Something More From... Released: October 21, 2016 Label: Stax Format(s): CD, LP, digital download, streaming 149 11 3 21 2 8 8 7 What If I Released: June 2, 2023 Label: Stax Format(s): digital download, streaming — — — — — — — —"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Singles As solo artist Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album USDL US AAA US Rock BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CANDL"Early Spring Till" 2010 — — — — — — In Memory of Loss"You Should've Seen the Other Guy" 2011 — — — — — —"And It's Still Alright"2020 — 1 33 — — — RIAA: Gold And It's Still Alright"What a Drag" — — — — — —"Time Stands" — 6 — — — —"Redemption" 21 5 27 — — 38 "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album USBub. US Rock BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CAN CANRockPeaks on the Canada Rock Chart: For all except noted: "Call Me (Whatever You LIke)": IRL SCOPeaks in Scotland: "S.O.B.": SWI UK"Howling at Nothing" 2015 — — — — — — — — — —Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats"I Need Never Get Old" — 43 3 — — 29 — — — — RIAA: Gold BEA: Gold MC: Gold"Look It Here" — — — — — — — — — —"S.O.B." 3 8 7 — 36 2 58 98 9 183 RIAA: Platinum IFPI SWI: Gold MC: 4× Platinum"Wasting Time" 2016 — — — — — — — — — —"Out on the Weekend" — — — — — — — — — —A Little Something More"Baby, It's Cold Outside" 2017 — — — — — — — — — — "You Worry Me"2018 — 18 26 — — 1 — — — — RIAA: Gold