Growing up in the green hills of Columbia, Missouri, music has always been around Nathan Cochran’s family. His father played guitar and sang–and still does–and was a huge influence on him musically. He usually played a Beatles tune, or perhaps a little Jimmy Page solo. Nathan first learned from his dad and then on his own. Sitting in his room for hours on end trying to play what he was hearing from his favorite artists was his best education.
Nathan lived in Columbia until he was 19 and then joined up with the guys from MercyMe. Nathan was a talented musician, a guitarist who knew how to listen. And though the guitar slot was filled, Nathan was asked to join and play bass. Nathan learned quickly, that for him, playing the bass was a fantastically rewarding position. There is something special about holding down the low end. It’s almost a secret that only bass players are in on.
During his time with MercyMe Nathan also continued working on his own music. Even though playing bass is his main gig, he still plays guitar. Diving Blind is a side band he started with friends as another way to express himself creatively. In Diving Blind, Nathan sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar.
“I am blessed to say that in just a few years I will have made music my job, for longer than I haven’t! Which in this day and age truly is a blessing.” With MercyMe being one of the world’s top Christian bands, you can say it’s a “match made in heaven!” With a career that has already spanned 17 years, MercyMe is showing no signs of slowing down. Hailing from Grenville, Texas where MercyMe makes their home base, Nathan has a busy life with a wife and three children and two musical endeavors that prove music and passion go together.
We caught up with Nathan and asked him a few questions.
SD: Why did you change out your stock pickups?
Nathan: I felt that the stock pickups that I had lacked some life to them. Changing them to Seymour’s allows me to speak just the way I want. Also, most musicians are after a sound that is their own. Using Seymour Duncan pickups allows my guitars to speak the way they should. They all have their own character, and I want that to come across.Seymour Duncan  pickups don’t hide anything, they give that ‘true’ tone every time.

SD: Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
Nathan: In my Jazz Basses, I have the SJB-1 Vintage set and in my P-Bass I have the SPB-1 Vintage. In my guitars I have a custom set of Seth Lovers in a Firebird clone, a set of Antiquity Humbuckers in a ’81 Gibson 335, a SJM-3 Quarter-Pound for Jazzmaster, and Phat Cats in another Firebird clone! Love ’em!!
With my Seymour Duncan pickups, I certainly spend less time tweaking my amps and I have more time to just make music. You shouldn’t be hindered by your gear. Having great pickups in a well made guitar takes away most of the guessing game when it comes to getting the tones you want. You want true tone. You want the best. You want Seymour Duncan!
SD: How would you describe your playing?
Nathan: I am a pretty fundamental player. I joke around and say that I am a bit left hand deficient; but really I choose to play for the song. I have never been one to want to strut my stuff on every song. I think that just gets in the way. A song can live and breathe when everyone does their part. It dies when players are only living for their own glory.

Tour dates:
Click here for tour dates.
About MercyMe:
Since their beginning in 1994, MercyMe has been making music that people can’t seem to get enough of. Whether it is a song of hope and redemption, like their mega hit, “I can Only Imagine,” or a tune to make you dance, MercyMe delivers time and time again.
With a career that has garnered Grammy nominations, two American Music Awards, a Billboard song of the Decade award and sales of over 6 million records, the guys are still going strong, convinced that there is a reason bigger than themselves that they are still making music. And that is just fine with their fans.
About Diving Blind:
Starting with a handful of songs and a get together with friends, Diving Blind makes their first mark on the music scene. Featuring Nathan Cochran of MercyMe on lead vocals and guitar, they have released a four-song EP, but promise that soon, more is on the way. Musically a bit more aggressive than MercyMe, Diving Blind will still find an audience that will not be disappointed.
About the bands:
Click here for MercyMe. Click here for Diving Blind.