Backstory:
Natural Father hails from the small town of Marquette, nestled in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The group was formed by childhood friends; lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Max Harper, and drummer, Ryan McCarty. After spending their adolescence playing in various local bands, they began to write their own music that resonated with their experiences growing up in the midwest. Their unique sound caught the attention of bassist, Lily Evans, and lead guitarist, Sam Ellis, turning the duo into a quartet that they decided to call Natural Father, named after a phrase in a poem Max’s father wrote him when he was young. Their shared love for music and the raw emotions they poured into their songs turned them into a local sensation, and before long, they were performing at any venue that would have them, and even some that wouldn’t.

Genre:
Indie Folk Rock

Title:
“Against the Grain”

Full Song Lyrics:

(Verse 1)
Em G D A
Packed my bags, left it all,
Em G D A
Chasing dreams and heed the call,
Em G D A
Small town boy with big city dreams,
Em G D A
Life ain’t as easy as it seems.

(Chorus)
C G D Em
Against the grain, we fight,
C G D Em
Through the darkness, we seek light,
C G D Em
Oh, we’re just drifters in the night,
C G D Em
Burning bright, burning bright.

(Verse 2)
Em G D A
Bottle of whiskey, old guitars,
Em G D A
Underneath the moon and stars,
Em G D A
We sing our stories, tell our tales,
Em G D A
On this journey, we set sails.

(Chorus)
C G D Em
Against the grain, we fight,
C G D Em
In dreams, we take flight,
C G D Em
Oh, we’re just drifters in the night,
C G D Em
Burning bright, burning bright.

Favorite Fan:
The band’s favorite fan is a woman by the name of Millie Jensen. Millie first became a fan when she saw Natural Father play at a local bar in Marquette. She fell in love with the band’s soulful lyrics and authentic sound. Millie has been to every one of their shows since then, and even followed them on their first small-scale tour. She loves how their music tells a story that’s both personal and relatable. She says, “Natural Father is my favorite band because their music speaks to the soul. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and it’s real. Every song is a journey, and I feel like I’m on that journey with them. They’re not just a band, they’re storytellers, and I can’t wait to see where their story takes them next.”