Sadly Nathaniel died in an automobile accident on Nov 8 2015.
See his Facebook page for more up to date information.
There is a collection of photos 2005 to 2015 here
Nathaniel O’Brien Bio update
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Eighteen-year-old Nathaniel O’Brien has returned home after a busy four weeks in Tamworth. After winning a scholarship through the CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Tamworth, Nathaniel attended the 2014 CMAA Australian Academy of Country Music – senior course from the 4th to 17 January. Nathaniel is a Graduate of the 2014 Senior Academy, and 2011 CMAA Junior Academy.
Nathaniel enjoyed the 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival, performing at several Shows. Throughout the Academy, Nathaniel was under the mentorship of many amazing artists and musicians including; Kevin Bennett, Amber Lawrence, Simon Johnson, Tamara Stewart, Peter Winkler, Brad Bergen, Pete Denahy, Kasey Chambers, Lyn Bowtell and Ashley Dallas.
Nathaniel was interviewed and sang for Channel 7 TV shows “Sunrise”, and “Weekend Sunrise”, and performed on the Fanzone stage & HQ stage situated in Peel St. Nathaniel was also interviewed for Radio and Newspapers across Australia, including “The Northern Leader” newspaper, and Tamworth’s Radio 2TM.
Nathaniel will be releasing his latest EP “Without You” mid 2014 (details will be announced soon.) Produced by Adelaide based producer Matt Hill from Hillside Studio’s (which was a part of his prize from winning “Adelaide’s next Superstar” competition in Sept 2012),the EP features three of Nathaniel’s originals in his unique and unmistakable vocal mastery. A video clip is being produced this year also of the title track, “Without You”, alongside renowned Adelaide producer, Trevor Worley.
The sound on this EP places Nathaniel firmly among the exciting young acts that are changing people’s perceptions of Country Music in Australia. Nathaniel can be described as being one of the most intimate and yet exciting power singers in the scene: he is dynamic! When he sings he has that rare ability to connect you emotionally and effortlessly impress with seem less vocal riffs as well as belting out those huge notes with velvet tonality and conviction. In my opinion, this defines him as one of our most versatile future contemporary country singers. He is a singer with finesse way beyond his 18 years.”
This determined young man from Rural South Australia has already achieved wins with two of his songs
APRA/Country Music SA Overall Winner Country Music Song of the Year 2013:- "Without You" APRA/Country Music SA Overall Winner Country Music Song of the Year 2012:- “Take Me Back”
Nathaniel’s Multi Awards during the 2014 Tamworth Festival
**A u s t r a l i a n • C o u n t r y • M u s i c • P e o p l e ' s • C h o i c e • A w a r d s**
*Most Promising Future Star Nathaniel O'Brien
**CCMA Senior overall champion**
Nathaniel O'Brien was announced as winner of the Senior Overall
Nathaniel O'Brien in Male Vocal Senior
Nathaniel & Tanya in Senior Group/Duo
**The Senior Aristrocrat Entertainer of the Year**
Nathaniel O'Brien won the senior title Aristocrat Entertainer of the Year 2014
**Manilla Grand Overall Winner**
1st Senior Male Vocal
1st Senior Australian Country
1st Senior Gospel
1st Open Songwriting
1st Open Duet
Nathaniel has shows booked for 2014 in SA, NSW, Norfolk Island and VIC. He was involved with the Adelaide Cabaret festival 2013 with Kate Cebrano, and has been one of four selected this year to create his own show for the 2014 Adelaide Cabaret festival.
Nathaniel O’Brien (16yr old) has had an amazing year, starting with the “Junior Aristocrats Entertainer of the Year” at the Tamworth Festival in January 2012. Since then he has gone on to win several 1st and has now taken out the inaugural title as “ADELAIDE’s NEXT SUPERSTAR”, securing a $20,000 recording & video package and a trip to the 26th Aria Awards on the 29th Nov in Sydney at the Entertainment Centre. The organisers of this event were totally amazed by Nathaniel’s vocal ability, and said “The standard of talent that we have seen through the auditions, the (10) ten heats, (2) Semi Finals and the Grand Finals, has totally blow us away”. We were inundated with thousands of prospective contestants and had the dubious task of selecting 120 to vie for the Grand Final and the prise package” “We wanted this competition to be more that just that, we wanted to be able to nurture, coach, support and channel all this talent.” “Our aim is to make Adelaide the hive of Live Music Events, and take it back to it’s glory days of the 70’s and 80’s, before Poky machines. Nathaniel has a unique voice that will see him rise to be a Super Star, and he showed what he had to offer at the Grand Finals.
outside the Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Nathaniel O’Brien is fast becoming one of the most promising young country music singers in Australia. After having nearly two years break from singing, he has begun performing again, to take out; The Junior Overall; The Grand Overall; The Junior Victorian Champion of Champions, at the recent Mildura Country Music Festival.
This is not the first time that Nathaniel has taken out these prestige’s awards, he first achieved the title of Junior Victorian Champion of Champions, Overall Junior winner & Grand Overall winner back in 2008, only the second person to achieve this in the history of the Mildura festival. He has travelled the miles and competed against other highly successful competitors to take out firsts in both the Junior Vocal, and Country rock Section & third in the Australian Country. There’s no stopping Nathaniel now, as he continues to fulfil his dreams, and is looking forward to the challenges ahead this year and is determined to cement himself a place in the Australian Country Music arena.
Nathaniel hopes to gain a spot in Camerata next year as well as attend the 2011 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Nathaniel Says; “To be able to obtain the opportunity to attend Camerata would be a great experience and would be an extra stepping stone towards my future career of being a well established artist within the Australian Music industry.”
Since returning from Mildura, Nathaniel has performed with the Brighton Secondary School Concert Choir for the SANFL Grand Final, and he will be attending and singing as part of the Mental Health Awareness week.
After attending the St Arnaud Country Music Festival, where Nathaniel took out the overall, 1st duet, 1st Junior vocal, 1st Australian Country, he also was awarded the scholarship to attend Camerata Academy of Country Music in Tamworth. This is a dream come true, "said Nathaniel "Something I have wanted for a long time & for it to be really happening seems surreal".
In November Nathaniel took out the Title of South Australian Champ of Champs, which makes him a duel Champion for Victoria & South Australia.
Tamworth 2011, has seen more accolades for this young singer, obtaining 5 out of 5 wins @ Manilla Country Music Festival (40kms out of Tamworth), & runner-up in the Overall.
He came 1st in the CCMA Open Duet, for the second time (He won this title in 2007 with sister Tracey Rains (TWO BLUES) & came 2nd in the Melinda Schneider Idol, after singing her song "He Still Calls Her Angel". On returning home, Nathaniel was delighted to receive a personal call from the Famous singer to invite him to be a support act for her when she is next in South Australia. "It was a totally amazing experience to sing on stage with Melinda Schneider's band backing me, & I can't wait to be given the opportunity to perform with her again". Said Nathaniel
To contact Nathaniel email: tobinbronze@bigpond.com or phone: 0428 922 614
Check his Myspace site
Updated Feb 24 2011
See more info and updated Achieevments here (to Feb 2011)
Melody Feder and Nathanial with their Rocky Page and Cindy Shelton Awards because
they won the Senior and Junior Champion of Champions Quests Nov 2011
at Port Augusta 'Top of Gulf Festival 2008" where he won Junior Entertainer of the Year (photo by I Fisk)
A recent (Dec 2007) picture.
with Beccy Cole at the Southern CM Club Sept 2007
Nathaniel sang the National Anthem at an awards ceremony, held at Burra Community School, in front of the whole school & the Governor, Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson this morning, Monday 14th May 2007
Nathaniel with Grant Denyer and Karen O'Brien in Chan 7 Studio
Nathaniel and sister Tracey Rains with some awards mentioned above
(picture from their Mother Karen!)
Some of Nathaniel's Activities from 2003
| 2010 | Sept Mildura Country Music Festival Two 1st's and a third as well as the Junior overall and Grand overall...and the Junior Victorian Champion of Champions |
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| 2008 |
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Busking |
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to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service | |
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Drought Relief Concert, Nathaniel O’Brien & Tracey Rains Free Music, Free Dancing, BBQ. Free Bus To & From venue | |
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SA Council of Country Music Showcase - Alison Hams, Mark Tempany, Nathaniel O’Brien, Tammy-Lee & Candy Latham |
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O'Brien Family singing as Guests @ the Gawler Country Music Club | |
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Floor Show & Entertainment , hosted by the O'Brien Family for the Volunteer’s Group | |
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1st U13 Country Vocal Solo | |
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Finalist of the Junior Champion of Champions 2007 | |
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NCMC Afford Rd Pt Pirie, South Australia | |
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Nathaniel performing at the Variety Concert , Ascot Theatre, Kadina, as a part of entertainment for the Copper Festival (Kernewek Lowender) | |
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Nathaniel sang in the Town Hall | |
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Singing National Anthem to the Governor General Her Excellency Marjorie Jackson-Nelson | |
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Charlie McCracken, Rob Edwards, Tracey Rains, Nathaniel O'Brien, Suede Country Band | |
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Nathaniel performed to a packed crowd on the R. M. Williams day stage with Lee Kernaghan, Steve Ford & the Flange, Tania Kernaghan, & The McClymonts etc |
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Nathaniel & Tracey Rains, singing x30mins sets | |
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1st Under 11 yrs Vocal | |
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1st Junior Vocal, & 2nd Open Duet | |
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Live Interview Radio 5CS |
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Live Interview Radio 5ABC | |
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1st Junior Gospel 1st Junior Australian Country. 2nd Junior Country Rock 1st junior vocal |
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1st OPEN DUET ~CCMA finalist in Junior Vocal Finalist in Junior Gospel 2nd "ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR" @ Aristocrats Tamworth 2007 17yrs & Under 2nd in Coca Cola Amotil Competition |
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1st Junior 13 & Under |
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1st Junior Gospel |
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1st. Junior Vocal 2nd. Junior Gospel |
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1st in vocal 11yrs and under |
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Special Guest with Tiffney Stroh + Road Train | |
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1st in Vocal section | |
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Support artist for Wayne Horsburgh | |
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Where Nathaniel was asked to perform alongside great artists such as; Melinda Schneider, Felicity Urquhart, Ronni Rae Rivers, Royden Donohue, Daniel Thompson, Jim Hermel & Band, Travis Collins, Craig Giles, Graeme Hugo & Iron Bark Band, Chrissie Murphy & Highway 32, Sandra Humphries, Brendan Beleski, Samantha McClymont, Peter Coad & Coad Sisters, Bush Balladeer of Aust 2006 Julie Perandes, Luke O'Shea and Cruisers | |
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1st 13yrs + under vocal 2nd Junior duets |
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“Barry Thornton award” in the 13yrs and under vocal section. Finalist Finalist finalist finalist |
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3rd place at Manilla Junior Vocal |
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Performed a concert for the residents perform on their local radio live | |
| 2 0 0 5 |
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Nathaniel performed at various clubs |
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1st in Junior Vocal | |
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1st in vocal 11yrs and under | |
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Awarded the “Len Wakefield Memorial Trophy” | |
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Encouragement award in Junior gospel 1st Star Step Up |
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1st in 11-12yrs vocal 2nd in 15yrs under Gospel |
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1st in 12yrs and under | |
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Carinya Nursing Home -fundraising concert (Clare) Sept 04 Wheal Burra Burra Festival (Oct 2004) *Parklynne Nursing Home (Adelaide) Burra Activity Centre |
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1st @ Search for a Singer, winning a course with SA Casting for singing, acting and dance. |
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semi-finalist at SFAS and Battle of the Bands @Fellini's on O’Connell St Nth Adelaide | |
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1st in 6-11yrs obtaining a 98% in his adjudication |
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2nd in Vocal 6-11yrs | |
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1st Place |
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1st in Pop Vocal (prize of a recording package) |
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Honorary Mention 14yrs and under |
| 0 3 |
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2nd place in the 6-11yrs |
