Nate Smith said it was “bittersweet” to wrap up his 2024 tour dates after marking some incredible milestones throughout the year.

The Academy of Country Music crowned the California-born country star the New Male Artist of the Year at the 59th ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas. Smith manifested two collaborations with pop-punk icon Avril Lavigne (and took the stage with her during the award show). He released a 7-track EP, Through the Smoke, bridging the gap between his self-titled debut record and his highly-anticipated sophomore project. California Gold arrived in October, just a few shorty months before Smith served as a Country Music Association presenter for the first time in a heartfelt moment during the 57th CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

Smith isn’t slowing down any time soon.

The “World on Fire” hitmaker teased epic plans on the horizon in 2025 — including more music, and what to expect in his next chapter — during a recent interview with iHeartCountry.

Smith Strikes 'California Gold'

Smith, 39, admitted it can be “a scary thing” to release new music following a successful project. “But, you know, for me, it’s always about the songs. It’s always gonna be about the songs. I think that’s the most important thing. …if the song’s right, you’ve got something.

“That was the starting point for me, is making sure those were right,” he said of his creative process while working on California Gold. “It was just a great record to make. I’m really proud of it for a sophomore album. There’s a lot of Easter eggs and nuggets in there. Especially in ‘California Gold,’ the title track, there’s a few things about my hometown and stuff.”

For Smith, who grew up in Paradise, California, the term “California Gold” represents “the good stuff,” memories throughout his life, mistakes he’s made along the way, relationships and more. The 16-track sophomore record presents a cohesive blend of deeply emotional ballads with lighthearted, upbeat anthems meant to crank up loud on the weekends. California Gold remains country to its core with elements of other genres — including rock, EDM and more — naturally emerging. Smith said he aims to “always go with what feels right” when he’s writing music. “So, if there’s a little bit of rock to something, or a pop element, it’s just because it felt like it was right for the song. …I like so much music that I think it just bleeds out.” That includes “Can You Die From A Broken Heart” with Lavigne, and “I Like It” with Alesso:

Fix What You Didn’t Break
Want Me Back
What Alone Looks Like
Can You Die From A Broken Heart
Perfect
Carry You Home
Goodbye Again
Not of This Earth
Wish I Never Felt
Faith
Bittersweet
Gave It All
Hurtless
Bulletproof
California Gold
I Like It

'Figure Out Something That's Bigger Than You'

Smith’s unwavering efforts as an artist landed him an “unbelievable” moment at the CMA Awards, hosed in November at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. He deemed it “one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and for such a good cause..” Smith spotlighted CreatiVets, a nonprofit organization that aims to use arts and music to help wounded veterans, in the annual Crown Royal moment during Country Music’s Biggest Night. Smith interviewed Scotty Hasting about music’s role in his life after his time in the military. Hasting told Smith, “music saved my life.”

Smith applauded Hasting for “staying so strong,” and acknowledged that “people don’t realize this, but it’s mentally tough to be an artist. It’s pretty mentally tough. It’s the coolest job in the world, especially if you love doing it, but it’s – I don’t think people realize. So, to see him stepping into this so strong and ready to rock and roll is just amazing. …He’s just a very sweet, genuine person, you know? And (he) deserves everything coming his way. And then seeing him get that standing ovation during the award show was unreal. It choked me up. I actually cried a little bit up there, and I was trying to get it back together.”

The “Whiskey On You” star said he felt like “an older brother” and “a mentor” while sharing that moment with Hasting. Smith’s No. 1 word of advice is to “find out a reason why you wanna make music other than just making music, you know?

“It’s important that you have something you wanna offer the world bigger than yourself,” he said. “Like, figuring out, ‘OK, I wanna help people heal through songs. I’m gonna write music from my own life that touches their lives.’ Whatever it is, figure out something that’s bigger than you. All this stuff’s gonna go away, you know what I mean? It’s here and it’s gone. But if you can do something that can really make a difference in someone’s life, then you’re making an impact on the world, you know?”

'A Sense Of Purpose': What's Next In 2025

Smith has had the chance to observe his own impact on the world when he connects with crowds during live shows. The conversations he’s shared with the fans he’s met — including some heartfelt, emotional moments — “really (give) you a sense of purpose.” A self-proclaimed introvert, Smith said he went from feeling afraid to make eye contact with concertgoers to cherishing the bond he shares with the audience.

“It’s a good reminder that you are making a difference,” Smith said. “It’s not meaningless. All the hours flying from place to place, and all the hours to create these songs and record them, and all these things. All this stuff actually does matter, you know? And if it’s for that one person, that’s everything. And I really do believe that.”

Smith said it was “bittersweet” to play his last show of the year in Nashville last month, and he’s looking ahead to a packed schedule in 2025.

Smith confirmed he’s writing and recording his next album in the first couple months of the year, “but I don’t wanna rush a lot of things with this one. I really want it to be right.” He teased of the record, “my whole theme for that one is just gonna be raw, and real, and transparent, and probably more organic-sounding to reflect that message. It’ll probably be more acoustic-driven to reflect that kind of thing.”

In March, Smith is kicking off some headlining global tour dates and will “serve as direct support for a pretty big artist” when he returns to the U.S. Though he hasn’t confirmed that tour as of publication time yet, Smith is part of the lineup of a newly-announced, one-night-only show at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn will co-headline the concert with Smith and RaeLynn on Friday, May 30.

Dani Lynn Howe