In Rotation: Nate Sib

Nathan Joseph Subbiondo was born in Los Angeles in 2004, which means he completely missed the blog-era electroclash wave and the peak of bloghouse. He grew up in the aftermath, soaking up Justin Bieber melodies, Skrillex drops, and the muddy basement trap of Future. On paper, that lineage sounds like a recipe for a 2012 frat party nightmare. But under the moniker Nate Sib, the 20-year-old is mutating those exact influences into massive, distorted pop anthems that actually stick to your ribs. I usually roll my eyes at the hyperpop label. Nine times out of ten, it’s a sugar rush of blown-out bass and pitched vocals designed to game an algorithm before the gimmick wears off. Nate has actual pop architecture under the noise. On his latest single “Face Card,” co-written with Jonah Abraham and Billy Walsh, the track is built on a lethal, pulsing synth line. The drums snap with rigid, mechanical precision, leaving wide pockets of space for his vocal to cut through the distortion. When the hook hits, the bass swallows the low end entirely, but the melody stays crystal clear. He has been bubbling for a minute. You might have caught him on stage at Coachella this past spring, gazing out at the desert crowd alongside his childhood friend and collaborator 2hollis. Or maybe you heard his early cut “Why can't you see” synced up on EA Sports NHL 24. Now backed by Republic Records, he is gearing up to drop his debut album reborn on August 21. The industry is already catching up to the sound. “Face Card” cracked the top 40 on Apple Music's New Music Daily, right on the heels of his previous synth-heavy drop “Let You Go.” The real proof is in the room. Right now, he is out on a West Coast arena run supporting Joji and Corbin, testing these chaotic, infectious records inside massive venues like the Chase Center and Ball Arena. Arena pop usually sands down its edges to reach the back rows. Nate Sib is bringing the basement grit to the rafters. Check it out below.