Nat Lefkoff (born May 18th, 1994, in Davis, California, United States) Indie Folk Musician

Nat Lefkoff began playing music and writing songs at six and picked up the guitar in third grade.^[1] He credits his father for his early love of music. His father would play music like Neil Young in the car and emphasize meaningful lyrics, giving Lefkoff his appreciation of songwriting. This early exposure instilled in him an appreciation for storytelling and the power of music.^[2] Music initially started as a hobby for Lefkoff but gradually evolved into a true passion. Throughout high school, Lefkoff participated in various bands, allowing him to collaborate with other musicians, develop his performance skills, and explore different musical styles.^[3] Lefkoff progressively gained confidence as a performer by playing in local bars and venues. While attending Evergreen State College in Washington, Lefkoff actively engaged in music, joining more projects and further developing his musical skills and network. After moving, Lefkoff began independently organizing tours for his musical projects, which indicated a growing desire to reach wider audiences.

Lefkoff's early exposure to music instilled in him an appreciation for the storytelling power of music. When listening to music with his father, he was "blown away by how much [he] could feel from a piece of music..."^[2] Lefkoff prioritizes the "poetry of the song" over technical and musical elements.^[3] The art of songwriting—the structures, the lyrics, and how the poetry of the song comes together—appeals more to him than the art of music (how the song sounds, what chords are used).^[3] His lyrics are deeply personal and explore themes like love, loss, self-discovery, and the human condition. Lefkoff's music is rooted in indie folk, a style characterized by introspective lyrics, acoustic guitar-driven melodies, and intense storytelling. He also incorporates elements of rock and pop, allowing for versatility in his arrangements, ranging from solo acoustic guitar performances to full band setups.^[3] Lefkoff mentions "an indescribable feeling of pride and satisfaction" whenever he creates a song that sounds good to him.^[3] Aaron Davis, a Sacramento Bee journalist, stated that he was not expecting the "emotional shrapnel one inevitably catches from the tracks."^[4] Lefkoff strives for authenticity and emotional honesty as doing so creates meaningful and relatable music.^[5]

In 2017, Lefkoff released his debut self-titled album, Nat Lefkoff, published on January 1st, 2017.^[3] Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lefkoff was employed as a music tutor for kids at Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek, California.^[3] After working for a while, he was worried about sacrificing his dream for a stable career. The success of his sophomore album, Heavy Lifting (October 6th, 2021), allowed him to pursue music full-time.

He found that touring helped his music career and allowed him to explore the United States Lefkoff said in an interview with Evan Lewis, "I decided to tour the country back in January of this year 2023. A best friend of mine from back home in California had announced that he was getting married in Upstate New York, and so I knew I was going to have to travel out."^[1] To fund his travel to New York, he played shows that included house shows and small venues to pay for the trip.

Lefkoff spent much of 2024 tutoring for his new album, There You Are (September 14, 2024), produced in collaboration with fellow Davis musician Rowan McGuire, who had previously worked with Lefkoff on his second album, Heavy Lifting. Lefkoff concluded the touring in a performance at the Farm to Fork Festival in Sacramento on September 21st.^[6] He then had an album release event at the Davis Odd Fellows Hall on September 14th.^[4] He utilized an online form on his website for people to request to host shows, enabling him to perform in unconventional settings alongside more traditional venues throughout the year.

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