Mostly known for his acting roles in projects like FOX’s Red Band Society and Disney’s Prom, Nolan Sotillo showed the world that there’s more to him than just acting. The 26-year-old West Palm Beach native is also a singer/songwriter and is actually really good at it, too.
“Music definitely was first. I think, you know, going back to when I was a little kid, I would always sing and perform for my parents. And when they had friends over, I’d come out put on little performances,” Nolan tells Celeb Secrets host Juliet Schroder in an exclusive interview. “[Music] is kind of what took me out to LA in the first place. I happened to get a couple ‘lucky breaks’ as I like to call them, and I had to roll with the punches and take them wherever they took took me. But throughout all that time, I was always working on music in the background. And then I kind of got to flip the roles. I wanted music to be the focus, so that’s the way it’s been the last three years.”
Back in May, Sotillo released his debut single “Stop,” which he co-wrote with his idol and legendary producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, George Strait). Describing the moment as “a long time coming,” Nolan knew in that moment that once “Stop” was complete, he had to get his music out in the world for people to enjoy.
“My music is soulful country,” Nolan shares. “I grew up on playing George Strait, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffet and The Temptation in my dad’s truck, so I draw from a lot of those guys for influence. And when it came to songwriting, I drew from the country realm. But then obviously, you know, I grew up in the nineties and the early 2000s, so I listened to *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, and then different types of rock music. I just fell in love with music and studied anybody I could possibly find [inspiration] from.”
The soulful tune, which introduced country fans to his unique sound, received incredible feedback, resulting in the release of two new songs, “Prove Me Wrong” and “I’m Still.” Co-written by Sotillo alongside Trafton Harvey and produced by Grammy-nominated Brad Hill, “Prove Me Wrong” is the country-rock infused story of a guy who thinks he has everything figured out until he falls in love and that all changes. “I’m Still,” which was a completely unannounced track, was penned solely by Sotillo and lands on the other side of the relationship spectrum as it tells the tale of heartbreak. Showcasing his musical diversity, “I’m Still” offers a more soulful and solemn perspective on love.
“The fans have been awesome. I’m so thankful for them,” Sotillo explains. “They’ve, they’ve gone crazy with [my music]. They’re sharing it, they’re making playlists, and you know, I can’t thank them enough honestly.”
Up next, Nolan will be “hitting the roof” as he’s set to headline a string of shows at multiple Tin Roof locations across the US this fall. Kicking things off on Friday, September 24th in Memphis, Tenn., Sotillo will hit cities like Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Myrtle Beach before wrapping on Friday, November 6th in Raleigh, NC. Sotillo will also be performing on multiple Country Thunder dates throughout the season while releasing new music before the start of 2022.
“Being able to go and play these songs that [I’ve been working on] for the last year is a rush. I’m just stoked to be able to play and put on a show,” Nolan shares. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to never taking anything like that or what’s coming for granted ever again. Every time I go out there, I want to be like it’s my last show and give it everything I’ve got.”
To learn more about Nolan’s music, watch our full interview below — and don’t forget to let us know what you think of it by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
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