Houston singer-songwriter Nate Vickers has been bringing rock music back in fashion with his explosive rock covers and a fresh EP of nostalgia-inspired originals. But when Nate posted his powerful rendition of “The Kill” by 30 Seconds To Mars online, the band’s frontman, Jared Leto, wound up among the cover’s biggest fans!
Just last March, Nate reprised his 30 Seconds To Mars cover, with his brand new and dazzling performance of “The Kill” going viral, amassing over 2.2 million YouTube views to date.
With a voice like glittered velvet, Nate’s new and improved cover balances the sorrowful grooves of the emo hit with spine-chilling vocals steeped in raw power. The acoustic guitars only draw added focus to the unimaginable emotions supercharging Nate’s voice.
30 Seconds To Mars fans have been going feral over Nate’s surprising rendition, with countless top commenters affirming it as one of the best covers around. As one fan wrote, “I 100% think this is THE best acoustic cover of any song I’ve ever heard. This acoustic rendition truly deserves every piece of positive praise it gets,” another fan added, “Lifelong 30STM fan since day 1 and I can without a doubt say this is absolutely incredible! Totally did the song justice!”
But it’s not just 30STM fans who have been falling in love with Nate’s cover. 30 Seconds To Mars themselves have shown their vibrant support, commenting on Nate’s viral clip, “You KILLED it.”
Any ex-emo kid would hit the ceiling after receiving a comment like this from their favourite band. But this wasn’t the first time Nate shared a wholesome online moment with 30 Seconds To Mars.
Nate uploaded his first cover of “The Kill” to YouTube all the way back in 2013. Then, a decade later, he reprised the hit on TikTok (where he boasts an audience of over 1.5 million followers), catching the attention of 30 Seconds To Mars’ frontman Jared Leto.
Jared ended up duetting on Nate’s TikTok cover, spreading it across his social media. The band later invited him to perform “The Kill” with 30 Seconds To Mars at their next gig in Houston, bringing Nate’s musical dreams full circle.
This wasn’t Nate’s only rock cover to go YouTube-viral. His acoustic rendition of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” has surpassed the two-million-view milestone as well. Music Man readers can check out the cover in the video above!
Nate’s host of 30STM covers certainly helped him break into the spotlight—the 27-year-old Texan now with a monthly audience of 1.16M listeners over on his YouTube Music page. His debut EP, 2024’s “A Little Too Late,” packs seven songs into a short 22 minutes. So far in 2025, Nate has already released three singles: two originals titled “Parasite” and “Just Pretend” alongside his cover of “The Kill.”
Nate Vickers is making waves in the rock music scene with his stunning covers and original tracks that capture the essence of nostalgia. His viral rendition of “The Kill” has not only captivated millions but also caught the attention of 30 Seconds To Mars’ Jared Leto. Discover more about Nate’s artistry and explore his breathtaking performances through the links below.