Nathan Evans

Nathan Evans is a Scottish singer from Airdrie who rose to global fame in late 2020 and early 2021 by posting videos of himself singing traditional sea shanties on TikTok. A former postman who had been making cover songs online since 2012, he began sharing shanties like «Leave Her Johnny» and «The Scotsman» before his rendition of the 19th-century whaling song «Wellerman» went viral.

His a cappella «Wellerman» inspired countless duets and remixes, and after signing with Polydor Records he released an official studio version alongside a dance remix by 220 KID and Billen Ted that topped the UK Singles Chart in 2021, sparking a broader online sea shanty trend known as «ShantyTok». The success repositioned centuries-old maritime folk music for a mainstream streaming audience.

Beyond «Wellerman», Evans built a catalogue of original songs and shanty-inspired material, including the EP Merry Christmas Everyone and tracks like «Roll The Old Chariot» and «The Last Shanty». He remains known for blending folk tradition with modern pop production, and for demonstrating how a niche musical form could break through via social media virality.