Nathan Blasdell was born in Asunción, Paraguay, but spent most of his life in Rochester, in the American state of New York after he was adopted. Recently, the singer posted a video where people did not know where he was from; he explained that he was born in Paraguay. The Instagram reel quickly blew up, receiving love from Paraguayans all over the world.
Surprised by the warmth, Nathan at first did not understand where these feelings came from. However, despite not living in Paraguay, he rapidly embraced and returned that affection. The Asunción Times speaks with the singer to learn more about his story, his connection to Paraguay, his musical influences and his current band, Losers Club.
Nathan Blasdell origins
“I was born in Asunción, Paraguay in 1994, but I spent most of my life in the States. Most of my life has been in Rochester, New York. I do not really know the full background about this, but American adoptions used to be very popular in Paraguay. It was one of the easier countries to adopt from”, explains Nathan Blasdell.
Nathan refers to one of the most controversial adoption periods in Paraguay during the 1990s, although he clarifies that many cases were legitimate. “There was a lot of legit adoptions, nonetheless. I was one of them. I know information about my real parents, who I never met. My round of adoptions was one of the last.”
His connection with Paraguay
“I remember a lot of stories that my parents told me about the country. When they adopted me, they had to stay in Paraguay for 2 or 3 weeks. My mum fell into a storm drain and they were blown away by how many locals helped her”, Nathan Blasdell recalls.
“I remember the stories of what a great sense of community there is in Paraguay and how well they treated my parents. Growing up, they always tried to expose me to my heritage. I have to give my parents a lot of credit, as they made sure I never forgot where I came from.”
“They always told me that being Paraguayan is something to be proud of. Football was one of my strongest ties. I grew up playing it and it was my favourite thing before music. When the World Cup came around, that is how I found pride in myself.” In 2012, he returned to Paraguay through the Ties Programme, alongside other adoptees. “It was really emotional. A lot of people looked for their real parents. I walked that line between embracing my culture and not wanting to explore what my life could have been.”
Nathan Blasdell and music
He started playing guitar at ten years old and formed his first band at twelve. “In my senior year of high school, my first serious band got signed. I thought that was going to be my life, but we broke up quickly. I joined metal band Set My Friends On Fire after touring with them”.
Between 2014 and 2023, that became his life. “We were a pretty big band in the US. People came to festivals just to see us. However, I did not realise at the time how big the opportunity was. Now Paraguayans say ‘I had no idea there was a Paraguayan in I Set My Friends On Fire’. But my heart was always in Pop Punk and Punk Rock. I left on good terms and wanted my own project. In 2023, I started taking Losers Club more seriously.”
Losers Club
Although the band was formed in 2019, 2024 marked its real beginning. “At first it was a side project. I did not want to leave my previous band, but I was writing so much music and built a makeshift studio in my basement to record. I called some friends for a music video and three of them are still in the band. We wanted this to be fun, not overly commercial. It was about remembering why we loved music.”
Regarding the name, Nathan Blasdell explains: “It is something people can identify with. And I am a big Stephen King fan, the kids’ group in IT was called that. It fit who we are.”
“Bands like Blink-182, Green Day, Misfits and All Time Low are some of our greatest influences. We wanted to be a little different, though. There is a gap between what punk was and what it is now.” Simple Plan played a crucial role in their growth. “They have been incredible to us. Touring with them was surreal. Their drummer is always helping us and giving us opportunities. They were my idols and now they are my friends.”
What lies in the future for Nathan Blasdell
“There are so many cool things coming up. I feel more connected to my background than ever. It is unreal, really. It has given me a new perspective and appreciation for the culture, and there is a part of me that I did not know I was missing. Paraguayans know that I grew up in the US, but they do not care. They only care that I am from Paraguay.”
“It really makes me think how lucky I am to come from such a great community of people and how lucky I have been the whole time without understanding it. We want to do some collaborations with Paraguayan artists and we are definitely coming there soon.”
“This is an exclusive to The Asunción Times: I have a kid on the way. Automatically, Paraguay is going to be a huge part of his life. And all of this repercussion could not have come at a better time. All of this reconnection makes me see it in another way. I want him to be proud of Paraguay and where I am from. It has given me a new perspective with music, but also on parenting and being able to make sure that Paraguayan culture and community are part of his life”, concludes a very emotional Nathan Blasdell.
