Nathan Cavaleri: From Demons to Miracles

Nathan Cavaleri has lived more than one lifetime. The child prodigy has survived cancer, performed on some of the biggest stages on the planet, collaborated with everyone from BB King to Etta James and suffered a mental health collapse.

After several years away from the spotlight during the mid-2000s, Cavaleri returned in 2019 with the EP Demons and the subsequent albums Demons (2020) and Miracles (2023), releasing his most personal work to date.

This year the guitarist and vocalist has embarked on Growing Pains – The Nathan Cavaleri Story Tour, which finds Cavaleri weaving music and storytelling into a powerful live narrative tracing the ups and downs of his career and life outside of music.

While he sadly won't be bringing the tour to Adelaide this year, Cavaleri did take some time out from his busy schedule to chat with The Note about his experience away from the stage, writing new music and his memories of recording Live At The Wheaty in 2025.

First off, when you think back to where it all started - learning to play guitar while going through cancer treatment - can you believe how your life has panned out and where you are now?

Life has taken so many unexpected turns, with some of my favourite moments being realised in ways that can't be engineered. The dark periods were hard, but every time I get to the other side, I'm reminded to have faith in the unknown.

How much did that experience inform your outlook on life and the choices you have made along the journey? Did it instil a resilience in you?

Resilience, absolutely! But only when I was able to learn the lessons I needed to learn. In some situations, the same challenge kept popping up until I finally "got it". From going through leukaemia, to dealing with "bullies" both as a child and an adult, to facing my own internal fears – getting to the other side of those challenges is the reason I feel so free today.

As a teenager and then into your 20s, you were playing with the likes of B.B. King and Tommy Emmanuel, performing shows across the globe and hailed as a child prodigy. You were on top of the world. Then you hit 30 and began suffering a variety of health issues. Do you think it was burnout, the pressure of being the next big thing or a bit of a combination of everything in your life just becoming too much? 

I can understand why many thought my mental health issues came from burning out – and whilst the pressures to achieve might have created a disconnect with my own deeper needs, mortality was ultimately at the root of my anxiety/depression.

I was losing a lot of loved ones in my life. Grief pointed its finger at me and I didn't know how to make sense of it. Consequently, anxiety, panic and all their "cousins" were frequent visitors until I worked through my fears. It was a damn scary time, but all worth it!

You took a holistic approach to help you recover during this period of your life. What spurred you down that path, and what types of changes did you make in your life?

I've always been someone who needs to understand why. This clinging to reason isn't always good, but it obviously served me when it came to dealing with my mind and body. The mainstream approach felt like I'd be smashing the warning lights on my dashboard, whilst the holistic approach (generally speaking) helped me to see and address what was under the hood!

I've consequently acquired all of these tools and knowledge to not only help myself (and others) during a crisis, but also to prevent those challenges from happening to begin with. The by-product of going down this path was that it opened me up to a whole new way of navigating life.

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During this period, you also stopped performing and took a break from music. Did you ever think that was it, or was music always something you wanted to get back to once you were both mentally and physically fit? 

I never stopped writing music, but for many years, I thought it was over. Partly because I was competing with my younger self, and partly because I'd had so many traumatic moments on stage – the idea of getting back up there scared the shit out of me! But as I started to identify the cause of my anxieties and how to deal with them, bit by bit I reclaimed various joys in my life that had been corrupted by the darkness. I eventually found freedom on stage as well. It took a lot, but I got there!

While you might not have been playing as much, were you still listening to music during this time, and if so, were there any artists or songs that helped you or provided an escape? 

Oh yeah! When you remove any pressure to be successful, you end up doing what you want. Nobody's opinion but your own matters, so you end up just listening to and playing the music that moves you. It varied from J.J. Cale to Lana Del Rey, The Black Keys to Soundgarden. I'd go back to where it all started with Diesel, Dire Straits and Cold Chisel. If I felt like sinking into some sadness, I'd listen to Radiohead and Jeff Buckley.

There are a lot of people, particularly with the way the world is going, who also suffer from depression and anxiety. As someone who's come out the other side, do you have any advice or words for people to let them know it’s ok to talk about how they're feeling and to seek help? 

Anxiety is a natural human response asking for your attention. Unfortunately, it thrives on the feeling of alienation and therefore clings to isolation like it's a safety mechanism. But the reality is, millions have experienced anxiety/depression and taken back their power over it. There is knowledge out there waiting that will change your life in ways you could never imagine.

Believe it or not, when you find what works for you, apply it and get to the other side, you may actually be grateful for the lesson. Anxiety is a cue to address something that needs addressing and a lesson that needs to be learnt. Get that shit done so you can go from living defensively to creatively. There’s nothing wrong with you. Quite the opposite. :) 

On a side note, it's also the reason I've put out an online course, which you can find out more about at nathancavaleri.com.

While it was obviously a tough time in your life, it did result in Demons, arguably your best release (although I have a soft spot for Miracles). How proud of that album and your return to the stage? 

So damn proud. It's ME! Imperfections and all. It was the first album that said more than what my guitar ever could. It was a creation that had me on the edge the whole time, in all of the right ways. Miracles, however, was something different. Miracles was when I jumped and worked out I could fly! It's so special that those snapshots in time came with the musical expression that is Demons and Miracles.

Has that experience changed the way you approach music? 

Absolutely. Creating at a time when I never believed I'd release or perform had me creating from the purest and rawest of places — uncorrupted by the pressure for the album to sell or the opinions of others. It's like I was a kid again, except with all of these other ways to create. That's my anchor, and I need to do whatever I can to make sure I have access to it, especially at times when external influences or pressures take over.

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You just kicked off your Growing Pains tour, which is part live music, part storytelling show. What was the idea behind this tour, and do you find it cathartic to open up about your past and what you’ve been through?

When I returned to the stage, I'd share experiences past and present in between songs. I'd receive feedback that people wanted to hear more about my life journey, so my team suggested I create a "life story" type show. We gave a small sample at a Theatres Victoria showcase at The Round, and over 20 theatres booked the show. Guess that was all the feedback we needed!

I don’t think I’ve stopped enough yet to know what this show is doing for my soul. It's so different to anything I've ever done, and most of my attention is on making sure it entertains and inspires audiences. After the show, sometimes I find myself feeling pretty still, as if I've blown a fuse, and other times I feel really elated. I think the true effects may reveal themselves when the tour ends.

How have the shows been received so far, and have you had any memorable interactions with fans? 

I love getting out the front after the gig to hear from the audience. It's so fulfilling to see their eyes beaming, sometimes with tears. So many hugs!!! (Lucky I’m a hugger.) If I were to pick a common response, it's that the show has, in some way, made them reflect on their own experiences and challenges differently. It reaffirms my belief that we all live our own unique lives, but at the root of it, we all experience the same fundamentals. That's why I encourage everyone to share their own stories in one way or another.

Sadly, you're not making it to Adelaide this time, but I wanted to mention your live album recorded at The Wheaty. Why did you choose to record a show at this particular venue, and what are your memories of the gig? 

Adelaide is definitely on the cards for next year! As for Live at The Wheaty, we recorded over 40 gigs with the intention of releasing a live album. The hard drive got corrupted and left us with three to choose from. I didn't like the three. Luckily, the engineer at The Wheaty had recorded the show multitrack without me asking. It was a good thing, because I remember it being the best show of the tour anyway!

Final one: where do you see yourself in another ten years?

Recording and touring music, continuing to help people who are struggling with anxiety and fear, and immersing myself in family life. Basically, a more evolved version of what I'm doing, only with a little more time and space…and money. Money's not the answer, but it can help. Ha!