Last year, less than twenty days after independently releasing his second single, "STILL GOOD", Nathan Oswalt fell into the worst depression of his life. "I've been battling anxiety and depression ever since I started high school, and possibly even before that," he shares. "This time was different." Three days later, on July 29, 2023, the Vancouver, Washington native - who has both autism and Type 1 diabetes - found himself in the hospital after attempting suicide by overdosing on insulin. It was his second suicide attempt in a two-year span, and the first to result in hospitalization. "[The attempt] was more of an urgent cry for help more than an actual desire to end my life, but it was still very scary," Oswalt shares. "I didn't necessarily want to die, but I also knew that I couldn't live like this anymore. The whole ordeal was a major turning point for me."

Over the next few months, Oswalt embarked on a journey of careful reflection, self-evaluation, and rediscovery of himself and his faith. Through frequent therapy sessions, Bible reading, prayer, conversations with family and close friends, and revelatory private writing sessions (the latter of which inevitably morphed into new song material), the neurodiverse aspiring artist ultimately received the help he had so desperately needed for years. "It took a whole heck of a lot of soul-searching to get from where I was then - and from where I had been before - to get to where I am now," he explains. "I've always used songwriting as a means of thought-processing, but at this point in my life, it's evolved into something so much deeper, richer, and more meaningful than just a mere hobby. Now, for me, it's essential."

Following his discharge from therapy, Oswalt set out to put everything that he had learned from the experience into practice. "The whole incident - and its aftermath - was a much-needed wake-up call. Something had to change, and I had to want to change. This time, I did." To that end, he began setting boundaries in his personal life, started developing healthier habits (a consistent daily schedule, for example), and even moved into his own tiny house, constructed in his parents' backyard. He also returned to his part-time day job as a cafeteria worker in his local school district, more driven and purposeful than ever before. "For the first time in my whole life," he shares, "I've truly been able to fully comprehend and appreciate that there are, in fact, people in my corner - family, friends, coworkers, therapists, teachers, et cetera. They all love me and care about me for who I am, while at the same time, they're all gently - but firmly and consistently - pushing me to improve in the areas where I need improvement. For me to actually realize that - and remember that fact on a regular basis - that's a major breakthrough."

Armed with a newfound appreciation for life and gratitude for the people around him, Oswalt's attitude and personality began to shift dramatically, and it wasn't long before the people in his life started to take notice. "A lot of folks keep telling me how proud of me they are," he says. "They're saying stuff like, 'Dude, you're doing so much better. How is that possible?' And I tell them every time, 'God. That's how it's possible.'"

 

Born and raised in a strong Christian environment, Oswalt has long intellectually accepted the faith he grew up with as true, but he struggled to truly accept the message of the Gospel on a more personal level until his recent crisis pushed him, in his own words, to "dig deeper into what I believe and, more importantly, why I believe what I do." His journey led to profound realizations concerning his own brokenness, as well as the true depth and power of God's love, mercy, and grace.

 

"I finally was able to be more honest with myself about my own shortcomings," Oswalt explains, "but for the first time, I wasn't beating myself up anymore for the mistakes, missteps, and poor decisions that I've made. It felt like my eyes had been opened to a whole new, fresher understanding of what the Bible actually says - about myself, about the world around me, and about how God truly sees me. I've always believed in God; I've always believed that Jesus died and rose again, but it's taken me so long to really grasp that everything He did, He did for me. And not just for me, but for all those who turn to Him in faith for salvation. To truly internalize that the perfect Creator of the universe loves me in spite of all my flaws, failures, and imperfections, so much so that He sent His Son for me - to actually understand that knowledge in my mind and cement it as truth in my heart - that's a Holy Spirit miracle right there."

His faith restored and strengthened, Oswalt now resolves to devote his musical endeavors - and every other facet of his life - to knowing Jesus more and making Him known to others. "Jesus saved my life," he discloses. "Not just by what He did on the cross to free me from sin and grant me the promise of eternal life, but He saved my life on this side of Heaven twice in the last two years. There's no way to pin my survival - and the change in my heart that followed - on just random coincidence. God did it, one hundred percent. And now, I just want to follow His plan for my life - wherever He leads me, that's where I want to be. Whoever he wants me to reach, that's who I want to reach. If He can do what He did for me, He can do the same thing for others, and I believe He wants me to be a vessel that He can use to help people who are going through similar stuff that I went through. Lives and souls are at stake. Eternal destinies are on the line. I'm done procrastinating."

​

Done procrastinating, indeed: "WHO KNOWS", Oswalt's first single of 2024 and third overall, was released on April 19. "I actually first came up with 'WHO KNOWS' in 2019, just before graduating high school," the now 23-year-old artist reflects. "I was way more optimistic and hopeful about my future back then, before my depression and anxiety reached a breaking point. As a result of everything that's happened since I initially wrote it, this song has taken on a whole new meaning for me. It's about choosing to trust God with your future rather than giving in to fear and doubt over not knowing what the next day is going to bring. I was actually initially hesitant to record 'WHO KNOWS' under my own name, but after everything that I had just been through, I knew deep down that it was finally time to get it done. This is a key part of my story, my testimony, and it's my God-given responsibility to share that with others."

To bring "WHO KNOWS" to life, Oswalt teamed up once more with Jonathan Campean (who co-produced and engineered "STILL GOOD") and Ian Manubens (who co-produced Oswalt's debut single, "OUTRUN"); both Campean and Steve Hotra (Oswalt's longtime mentor and former music teacher) are credited as co-writers of the track. The song received unexpected recognition just one day after its release - finding its way onto official playlists curated by prominent Christian music organizations such as NewReleaseToday (NRT), Awakening Events (AE), and even the prestigious Gospel Music Association (GMA). AE even highlighted "WHO KNOWS" on their official Instagram page, ahead of newly-released material from several more established CCM acts - including Apollo LTD, KJ-52, JWLKRS Worship, Alexander Pappas, and even Phil Wickham. Only Anne Wilson, whose highly-anticipated new album REBEL dropped on the same day as "WHO KNOWS", received more promotion from AE. "I'm still in shock," Oswalt admits. "The only organizations I reached out to while initially promoting "WHO KNOWS" ahead of its release were NRT and Jesusfreakhideout, so for my newest song to get noticed beyond that was a truly unexpected surprise."

​

Oswalt's resumé continued to expand just over a month later, when he joined an Instagram challenge posted by Josh Wilson, one of his favorite childhood CCM artists who still influences his musical style today. The challenge ultimately spawned Wilson's new single, "God's Not Mad at You", on which Oswalt, along with several other fans of Wilson's who were invited to participate in his "Counting Choir" challenge, was credited as a backing vocalist. "Josh Wilson has been doing this whole 'mental-health-from-a-Christ-centered-point-of-view' thing long before I started following in his footsteps," Oswalt says, "so collaborating with him, even in such a small capacity, was a massive dream come true for me. Josh and I are both passionate about sharing our individual testimonies of how following Jesus provided a solid foundation for self-improvement and mental health, so I hope that I can actually work with him directly someday on future material."

 

Since the unlikely collaboration with Wilson, Oswalt has also formed an even unlikelier acquaintanceship with Chris "Manafest" Greenwood, a seasoned Christian music veteran and fellow independent artist. "His songs 'Avalanche' and 'Never Let You Go' really got me through some rough patches during my adolescent years," Oswalt shares. After taking advantage of a free CD giveaway hosted by Manafest and NRT, Oswalt emailed the artist his thanks, along with several links to his own material - and less than ten minutes later, Manafest himself responded, offering a positive comment on "WHO KNOWS" and encouraging Oswalt to continue in his creative endeavors. "I just thought to myself, 'There's no harm in reaching out, right?'" he recalls. "Never in my wildest dreams did I expect him to actually reply back with a personal message. My motivation to keep making music for the Kingdom has reached an all-time high, now that I've got Manafest - THE Manafest - cheering me on!"

​

Most recently, with the encouragement of his parents, Oswalt submitted "WHO KNOWS" in The American Songwriter Song Contest (2024) under the "Christian" genre category. This year's annual, global competition features a star-studded Judges Panel, including award-winning CCM artists Taylor Cain Matz (of CAIN) and Brandon Lake in the "Christian" category. A total of 35 prizes (17 for second place in each genre category, 17 for first place in each genre category, and 1 grand prize) are up for grabs, with winners to be announced in the spring of 2025. As one in a sea of thousands - maybe even millions - of aspiring songwriters and artists competing, Oswalt is well aware that his chances of success are radically slim. "I don't expect to win anything," he acknowledges. "For me, it's just a fun way to get my music 'out there' and potentially reach a larger audience. Hopefully, more people wind up listening to my music and drawing encouragement from the songs that God has placed on my heart as a result of this whole thing. In short, I have cautiously high hopes and realistically low expectations."

​

Already one of Christian music's best kept secrets and most exciting new talents, Oswalt remains firmly committed to honing his craft as a producer and engineer, all while creating his first-ever full-length album from the comfort of his own home studio. But, as he knows all too well, plans can change. "I'll keep everyone updated," he promises. "No matter what happens, I'm just looking forward to whatever the good LORD has in store for me and this musical ministry that He's given me to pursue."

Maybe Nathan Oswalt did die on July 29, 2023 - the old Nathan who had been so hopelessly lost in emotional instability and frequently wrestling with spiritual doubt and social insecurity for so many years. Ever since that fateful day, a different Nathan Oswalt has emerged - one overflowing with humble gratitude for the many blessings that he used to take for granted, firmly rooted in the unwavering truth of Scripture, wholly devoted to his LORD and Savior, and more passionately determined than ever before to spread the Gospel through the musical gifts and talents that he has been entrusted with by the One responsible for lifting him out of the grave of despair and raising him to a joyful, purposeful, beautiful new life. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10, NIV)

(And yes, this ridiculously lengthy artist biography was, in fact, written entirely by none other than Nathan myself. If you're still here, kudos to you for reading the whole thing. God Bless!)