Fire Souls (Nathan Meyer album)

*Take Cover*  (2000)
 Fire Souls

**Fire Souls** is the second studio album by Australian recording artist Nathan Meyer, released on November 11, 2002 by Animal Records. Following the relative success of his debut studio album, Meyer was back in the studio with the sessions spanning around from September, 2000 to July of 2002 in Melbourne Recording studio Armstrong Studios, all the while supporting the subsequent singles from Take Cover (2000).

*Fire Souls* took what Meyer's previous work had done well and mixed it in with a more pop sounding environment that tackles and speaks of themes of love and growing up, Meyer at the time, had just graduated high school during the process of writing the album. It received more positive reviews compared to Meyer's last album, which had the issue of not knowing which way it wanted to go in consistency [1]. This album was more filled out and had a driving story behind many of the lyrics in the songs. In Australia, the album sold 2.4 Million copies, becoming the best selling album in Australia almost four years after it's launch, in the United Kingdom, the album also went on to sell 3.4 Million copies and 2.5 in the United States respectfully. The album peaked within the Top 10 in many countries except for Japan and Latin America where the album charted within the Top 20. Five singles were launched from the album including the chart toppers in many countries "Shadows", "Mistaken", "No Problems", "Cali Sunshine" and the album title track "Fire Souls". All singles in Australia went to Number One, with Meyer becoming the only act to have three of the five singles from the album to chart for more than 10 weeks at Number One. The album was further promoted by the Fire Souls Tour between 2002 and 2003 which eventually became a world tour after Meyer announced Australian shows and for it to only become an Australian tour, however, all Australian shows that were announced had all tickets sold 15 minutes after the shows were announced, making Meyer the biggest Australian act as of 2002. The album was reissued in 2027 with Fire Souls 25.

## Background and Recording

After the launch of Meyer's first debut studio album, that with the relative high success and even more so coming from the Australian charts which had Meyer peaking at Number One. That Meyer would almost immediately be back in the recording studio mere days after the launch of his debut studio album with the goal in mind to produce the same sort of sound, but more refined. Though taking out the time to later promote the singles which became Top 20 singles, however, the later two due to single promotion would have Meyer score two number ones, Meyer was raring to go back into the studio and start writing and recording songs for what would become his next album.

By the time Meyer had began writing and recording his next album, Meyer was in the final two years of high school, and was more so focused in on the likes of his school work and completing it, much rather than the likes of recording music as a whole hence the long recording periods between Meyer's first two albums. Much like his previous album, Meyer recorded the album at Armstrong Studios in Melbourne, Victoria during periods where he did not have any form of classwork during the first two years of the studio recordings and during some points, would often spend Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays sleeping at the studio. During the first initial sessions, the song "I Want To", "Build A Bridge", "My Own Planet" and "Cali Sunshine" were recorded. Mark Williams and Max Burt only having four songs by the end of November of 2000, initially began to become skeptical of Meyer's writing again stating that with the pace and output Meyer was producing, was estimating that a single or album would not be out until the likes of anywhere between 2003 to 2005.

During 2001 however, Meyer began to further stretch his recording time, not coming in anywhere between two to three weeks at a time due to his high school finals, tests and exams. However, Meyer would come in during high school term breaks and start recording, usually opting in to sleep either at a hotel or in the recording studio itself to where he could record the album and the songs that would eventually follow. The lead single for the album "Shadows" would come as soon as April of 2001 to where, according to Mark Williams, CEO, stated 'he came rushing out of the room and saying he's got the lead single, he knows what the lead single will be'.

## Personnel

#### Musicians

* Nathan Meyer - vocals, guitar, background vocals, programming, arrangements
* Patrick Joseph - Drums, Bass, Drum programming
* Link Smith - Keyboards, Piano

#### Technical

* Nathan Meyer - executive production, engineering, production, mixing, mastering, Dolby Atmos Mixing, Hair, Album Design
* Dexter Lawry - photography

## Certifications and Sales

#### iTunes Reissue (2003)

 Canada (Music Canada)
 Japan
 New Zealand (RMNZ)
 United Kingdom (BPI)
 United States (RIAA)
 Worldwide