Overview

WOW! Thank you to everyone who has supported our campaign so far! I am so incredibly grateful and excited to make this album for you. Because we’ve made so much amazing progress so quickly, I’m hoping to raise $15,000 by the end of this campaign, which will allow me to record more songs and use fuller production. Any contribution goes a long way to get us to Boston and make this album bigger and better than ever! Thank you again, and I can’t wait to make more music for you!

Hello, world! My name is Nate Spanos, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Nuremberg, PA.

I grew up playing piano in classical music recitals and church worship services. In college, I branched out into songwriting and rapping. After spending a few years starting a family, teaching elementary school, and directing some choirs, I returned to writing and performing songs and raps because of a deep conviction that Jesus loves us and that I can use my music to tell His story. Whether through songs, raps, or Scripture settings, I share my work because I am loved.

My debut 2019 album “Child Coming Home” told a story about a prodigal son who came home to his father and became a parent himself. My new project, an original musical called “Hardheartphone,” tells the story of an “elder brother,” a fame-seeking pastor named Aaron who rediscovers a deeper purpose while regaining his first love for Jesus. I’m very excited to share these new compositions with the world. 

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my first ever, professionally produced studio album.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded album with Mike Davidson in Boston, MA. Mike is a Boston-based producer and engineer with 15+ years of experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Mike and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

While I haven’t made it to Boston yet due to the current health crisis, I will––and I know this album will be worth the wait! In the meantime, I’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing a demo of one song remotely, with the assistance of some pretty amazing technology.

This first song is called “Close to You,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund this initial recording process for "Close to You" on my own, to create an album of songs with full production and professional quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Mike and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the album. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this album. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the album will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Prior to writing "Hardheartphone," I often thought of my music as a tool to gain fame and to make a living as a Christian musician. I started writing “Hardheartphone” when I realized just how inadequate that goal was. Fame and money are good gifts, don’t get me wrong, but in chasing them alone, my heart had become hard. Writing this story and these songs and raps has helped me to wake up to my personal need for an inner transformation and for a deeper purpose.

This musical "Hardheartphone" tells the story of a pastor who's on a journey similar to mine. His job is to care for people, and like me, he’s not living up to that calling. But "Hardheartphone" tells the story of how he finds his way back to his first love.

I’m so grateful to Jesus, and for Him changing the trajectory of my story, painful as that’s been at times. I’m thankful for how He’s been helping my heart to love Him and people again. These days, I’m no longer thinking of my music as a tool to get success but as a gift I give to bless you and strengthen your heart. I'm convinced that whether your heart is hurting or healthy, you could use a little of the hope this musical has to offer. But in order to give this gift to you, I need your help.

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.