Sitting in the back of a dimly lit venue, watching the crew haul road cases marked with the Starseed logo, you realize Nate Haller isn’t some overnight algorithm success. He is a product of the grind. The Waterloo native spent a decade in the wings, playing the part of the reliable sideman for some of the biggest names in the Canadian circuit. But the shadows don’t suit him anymore.
Haller has been busy carving a name for himself in the biz, and it is safe to say we have all taken notice. After the runaway success of his debut single, *Lightning in a Bottle*, which secured his first Top 10 at Canadian radio, Haller has refused to let the momentum stall. He brings a specific brand of high-energy live performance and trademark enthusiasm that feels more like a rock show than a standard Nashville-clone set. His most recent single, *Ain’t Like Me*, is currently clawing its way up the charts, proving the first hit wasn't a fluke.
This week, the award-winning singer and songwriter is preparing to join Canadian country royalty Tenille Townes for the Ontario leg of her world tour. He is bringing new music and a level of excitement that feels earned. We caught up with the reigning CMAOntario Rising Star to talk shop before he hits the road.
When asked about the upcoming dates with Townes, Haller doesn't hide his fan-boy roots. He says, "Oh, man, I'm so excited for these shows. I've been working on some new stuff for live performance for the last couple of weeks, and to be getting to open for Tenille is crazy. I've been a fan of hers for so long. I think she's incredible. She's amazing. I get to come to London and Kitchener and all over the area, which is kind of like a hometown tour really. I'm going to have family there, that honestly because of COVID, I think my parents only got to see one show this summer, and this time it’s going to be another level. So, to get to do that with Tenille is going to be unreal. I just can't believe she was down to have me. I'm really excited. It’s going to be really fun."
There is a distinct "hometown hero" energy to this run. For a guy from Waterloo, playing Kitchener and London isn't just a tour stop; it’s a victory lap. And he didn't get here by accident. Haller’s history in the game goes back further than the radio edits might suggest.
"I've always listened to music a ton," Haller says. "Like, my house was the house where music was on constantly — from Led Zeppelin to Shania Twain. My parents were from Timmins. So, there's always music on in the house. But, I didn't start playing music until my first year of high school. There was a talent show or Christmas concert, and my friend just signed me up for it. I sang a Jason Mraz song at that time, and I was so nervous. I tried to get out of it like three times with my teacher Miss Reed. I was like, 'Miss Reed look, you got the wrong guy. I can't do it.' But she wouldn't let me out of it. And thank goodness she didn't because that was kind of what I needed. I had never felt any sort of energy like I did when I hit the stage that first time. I grew up doing extreme sports, so I love that kind of adrenaline rush, but this was like nothing I had ever experienced."
That adrenaline rush became the blueprint. He didn't just want to play; he wanted to perform. It wasn’t long before he found himself in the orbit of Zubin Thakkar, known for his work with Shawn Mendes. It was a pivotal connection that bridged the gap between a high school talent show and the professional stage.
"It wasn’t long after that I got to work with Zubin Thakkar, who was incredible," Haller says. "I still talk to him. He’s actually working on the Tenille show, which is a cool full circle thing that's happening for this tour. He was going to give me guitar lessons, but then we ended up writing a song. And he was playing for Kira Isabella at the time. He was like, 'If you can learn these parts, you can go on the road with Kira for a Terri Clark tour.' It was me, Zubin and Kira. So, it was an acoustic opening slot. I was so nervous the entire tour, but it was the best experience ever. And then fast forward I got to start playing with The Reklaws, which has been great, working with them a lot. And now we're here on the solo project — which has always been the goal for me. I’ve just had so much fun doing everything I’ve gotten to do for the past 10 years."
Transitioning from the background to the centre mic is a psychological hurdle many never clear. You go from being the guy who ensures the star looks good to being the one responsible for the entire room’s energy. Haller spent years in the shadows, but he used that time to study the mechanics of a headlining set.
"It was such a different feeling," Haller says of the shift. "I had kind of been in the shadows — in such an awesome way. I got to experience a lot of stages and all sorts of stuff and that was awesome. But being out there in the spotlight was so different. I'm still nervous before every show, obviously. But the more I started to feel like myself, it got easier. There’s so much that goes into it. Getting to plan playing the songs that I've worked on for the last while and the whole idea of what it would look and feel like, is an incredible feeling. During the pandemic, I was supposed to be on the road. I was playing shows with The Reklaws when all that happened. And then all that got cancelled. But, it kind of gave me the last like little kick I needed to be like — OK, this is finally happening. And the fact that Starseed, my management company, were keen on working with me, I was over the moon they were going to help me get to where I am now."
The first real test came in Delaware, Ontario. It wasn't a stadium, but for Haller, it was the moment the theoretical became real. He was no longer just a name on a credit; he was a voice that people recognized.
To be getting to open for Tenille is crazy. I've been a fan of hers for so long. I think she's incredible. She's amazing. I just can't believe she was down to have me.
"The one that sticks out the most was actually just outside of London, in Delaware with James Barker Band and Jade Eagleson," Haller says. "There weren’t many things I had done solo before that as far as live, other than shoot an off the floor video, which was more just performing to a camera. Obviously, that’s not the same kind of energy. James and the boys had me come out and invited me to do an acoustic version of *Lightning*. And to hear people sing those lyrics back to me was mind blowing. So that's definitely one that sticks out as a first, real thing that was going on. There were other shows before that, but that was such a cool special moment. But by that time *Lightning* was on the radio at that point, and people knew it. So, that was pretty special."
The success of *Lightning in a Bottle* was amplified by the heavy hitters in the writing room. When you see names like Shawn Austin, Travis Wood and Gavin Slate on the credits, you know the track has been engineered for maximum impact. But Haller’s grit is what sells the song. He isn't just a vessel for a catchy hook; he has a hand in the architecture.
"Yeah, so that song had been kind of floating around for a while," Haller says. "And I had heard it before I was even working with Starseed. Travis Wood and Gavin Slate also are on that, and I work with those guys and they're incredible. I know Shawn a bit, but I know he's a great writer and singer and performer. I'm always thinking about the live show and how I want everything to come across, and that song had like an energetic thing that I had been looking for, so I'm really pleased they were cool with me trying my vocal on it. I loved how it turned out."
Haller’s collaborative spirit extends beyond the typical country tropes. He has been in rooms with everyone from Scott Helman to Hardy, building a repertoire that feels modern and genre-fluid. This isn't just about making country music; it's about making songs that stick.
"I love connecting to songs," Haller says. "So, whether I write it or not, I that's what I'm looking for. Some sort of thing that really sucks me in. And that happened with all the solid people. I have some pretty special memories from those writes, and from stuff that's still set to come out, as well. There were times, like, driving up to The Reklaws’ cottage in a snowstorm to write with Scott and Stu and Jenna — it's pretty cool I get to call those people my friends and I get to do music stuff with them. Having their support, as well as the support of other writers letting me cut their songs is pretty unbelievable, actually."
That authenticity is most evident in *Ain’t Like Me*. The song feels lived-in, largely because it is. While some artists manufacture "relatable" moments, Haller’s connection to the track is rooted in a specific, somewhat messy reality involving red shorts and a wine stain.
"Definitely," Haller says when asked if the song felt personal. "As soon as I heard it. It was exactly what was going on in my life. I mean, I've told this story a few times, but a little while back I happened to meet my girlfriend Jocelyn through a friend, and when we met, I was wearing these tiny little red shorts and a wine-stained sweater. She tells people that's when she knew right away, I was the greatest ever — so the song just related to our story so much. I had such a strong connection to it, which was even stronger knowing the people so well — Geoff Warburton, Griffen Palmer and Mark Schroor — that wrote it. So, it made a lot of sense. It also had that kind of infectious energy I’m always looking for."
And while he has already teamed up with Brett Kissel and The Reklaws, Haller is looking toward the edges of the industry for his next move. He isn't interested in staying in a lane just for the sake of safety.
"Oh, this is a good question," Haller says. "You know what? People might think this is a very strange thing to say . . . but all I've been listening to lately is Tate McRae. She's a Canadian pop artist and her melodies are incredible. She writes amazing songs and she's so cool. I think she's from Calgary. That’d would be really fun. I feel like I could think of way more — there are so many people in and out of the country world that I’ll love to collab with."
The hunger for new material is a constant in the streaming era, and Haller is aware that the "greedy" nature of fans is actually a compliment. He is sitting on a vault of music, but he is waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger.
"People are going to get more soon very, very soon," Haller says. "I can’t give a specific date because everything is still kind of floating around. But I'm really excited to let everyone in on what we’ve been working so hard on. Right now, it’s all about rounding out the full project . . . so for now, it’s all about the live show, and we’re hoping people are going to love it. It’s kind of cool that that’s where they’re going to get these songs for the first time. I feel like I've been working on them for quite a while, so I'm excited for people to finally hear them. When I release anything, it's miraculous when even one person relates to it. It blows my mind every single time. So, I'm just going to keep trying to do stuff that's authentic to me and try to hone on in on that even further. I'm really excited to see what the future holds."
Haller is a technician who has finally been given the keys to the lab. Watching him on this tour isn't just about the music; it's about seeing a decade of preparation meet its moment.
**Nate Haller on tour with Tenille Townes:**
* Tuesday, Nov. 8 - The Biltmore Theatre – Oshawa
* Thursday, Nov. 10 - Wax Nightclub – Kitchener
* Friday, Nov. 11 - London Music Hall – London
* Saturday, Nov. 12 - The Danforth Music Hall – Toronto
* Sunday, Nov.
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