Wellerman – The Album


Wellerman – The Album is the debut album by the Scottish singer-songwriter Nathan Evans, released on 4 November 2022 by Electrola and Universal Music. It was supported by the lead single "Wellerman" which achieved global commercial success, reaching number 1 in the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium and Germany. It was subsequently certified 2× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, and in the United States was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, missing the Billboard Hot 100 by charting at number 116.

Background and release

Following the viral success of his 2021 rendition of "Wellerman ", which sparked a global interest in sea shanties, Evans compiled a full album mixing traditional maritime songs, covers, and folk-influenced arrangements. The release came amid renewed mainstream fascination with folk-style music, catalysed largely by social media trends. Critical response to the album was mixed but acknowledged its role in defining Evans’s post-viral career direction. A live review noted that the album "is a decent start, showcasing … the artist he wants to be," describing the record as an amalgam of folk-pop influences comparable to contemporary acoustic/pop-folk acts, with a mix of traditional songs and modern sensibilities. The review commented that Evans still showed enough charm and vocal strength to carry the material, despite limited experience.
In May 2021, it was announced that Evans was publishing a collection of Sea Shanties titled The Book of Sea Shanties: Wellerman and Other Songs from the Seven Seas. The book was published on 14 October 2021 by Welbeck, more than a year before the album was released. It contains 35 shanties and the stories around them.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's listing.
  • Nathan Evans – vocals, associated performer
  • Saltwives – production; engineering; studio personnel
  • Alex Oriet – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
  • David Phelan – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
  • Samuel Brannan – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
  • Tom Hollings – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
  • William Graydon – composer/songwriter/studio personnel
  • Mike Hillier – mastering engineer/studio personnel
  • James F. Reynolds – mixing engineer/studio personnel