Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats return with their fourth full-length album, South of Here, a project that dives deep into a lifetime of pain and trauma, transforming these experiences into a poignant reflection on love, loss, hope, and resilience.

Following the success of Rateliff’s 2020 solo LP And It’s Still Alright and the Night Sweats’ 2021 release The Future, South of Here expertly merges Rateliff’s emotional storytelling with the raw, R&B revivalism that has brought the band worldwide acclaim over the past decade.

No less than Robert Plant has praised him, “He is one of these guys that will just carry the torch. Beautiful songwriting, beautiful singing, great delivery, and he is a magnificent guy to go with it,”

South of Here's creation was a cathartic process for Rateliff, who found himself grappling with anxiety and insecurity. “Brad [Cook] was a great producer to write alongside,” Rateliff shared. “This album is a look into my own struggle with anxiety, insecurity, and also stories of my life. He encouraged me to take responsibility for my own narrative in the songs and to write about what’s happening in my life. These recordings were done together in a room with my closest friends. I hope these songs and stories give people an opportunity to better understand their own struggles, whatever they may be.”

The new album features 11 original tracks written by Rateliff and performed by the Night Sweats: Nathaniel Rateliff (vocals, guitar), Luke Mossman (guitar), Joseph Pope III (bass), Mark Shusterman (Hammond B3, piano), Patrick Meese (drums, piano), Daniel Hardaway (trumpet), Jeff Dazey (tenor sax), and Andreas Wild (baritone sax). The band's performances on this album are infused with intuitive beauty, while Cook’s production captures their soulful energy with immediacy and purpose.

Before diving into the new album, Rateliff faced significant personal challenges. He struggled with heightened anxiety and a constant state of negativity. “I was not in a great headspace,” he admits. “I was neurotic about imperfection. Any detail that was off was a real distraction for me.” Seeking clarity, Rateliff traveled to North Carolina in January 2023 to work with Cook in his studio. Over ten days, they found their rhythm, leaving with a collection of new songs.

In tracks like “David and Goliath,” “Heartless,” “Get Used to the Night,” and “South of Here,” Rateliff addresses damaged connections with raw honesty. Other songs, such as “Remember I Was a Dancer,” “The Center of Me,” “Everybody Wants Something,” and “Time Makes Fools of Us All,” offer cinematic depictions of self-doubt and lost innocence. Unified by themes of identity and belonging, the album resonates with the shared understanding that we are all navigating this beautiful mess together.

South of Here stands as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats’ most essential recording to date, capturing the struggle and resilience of the human spirit. “I always try to put some bit of hope in there,” Rateliff reflects. “The world feels pretty bleak right now, but nobody needs me to say that. We have to continue to figure out a reason to make things better, regardless of how bleak things may be. Admitting those difficulties builds strength.”