Love Song to Paradise Goes From Viral Hit to Nashville Studio Single

In the early days after the Camp Fire, we told you about a couple of musicians from Paradise who wrote a love song to their home town that went viral online. They were gifted professional studio time in Nashville two week ago, and now they’ve released the results.

When Nathaniel Smith and Miykael Goodwin of Cold Weather Sons first wrote “One of These Days,” they were just two guys on two acoustic guitars, one of them gifted to Smith after he lost everything in the Camp Fire.

Like others forced to evacuate, Smith got his first look at the rubble last week.

The 33-year-old tried his luck in Nashville for three years awhile back. “I was an assigned song writer there with Centricity Music.”

As word of his situation spread on social media, Smith heard from Chuck Butler and Joël Bruyere that a studio date awaited him and Goodwin if they could make it to Nashville. Goodwin’s family came up with the airfare.

“It was really emotional for me because I haven’t been back in nine or 10 years since I left,” Smith said.

Goodwin said they got good counsel at the mixing board: “Less is more.” He added the heart of the song is still there. It’s a fully produced track with drums and keyboards and electric guitars, but the vocals are the main point. “It’s about the message of the song, really,” he said.

Goodwin lives in Chico now, but he grew up in Paradise and said nearly all of his school buddies either lost their homes or know people who have. “Who knows what the future holds?” he said, although his hope is that the town will rebuild.

Soon you’ll be able to hear “One of These Days” on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify. The men intend to donate the proceeds to Camp Fire victims once they meet with an accountant and figure out how.

Smith qualifies as a refugee. He’s living with his dad in Chico now, and he’s got a GoFundMe page up in hopes of raising enough money to buy an acoustic electric guitar for the benefit concerts they’re preparing to perform at in the coming months.