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So who is this Natalie person, anyway?
Many songwriters start at a very early age, learning to play guitar in their bedrooms. They start writing songs when they are 10, or 13, or 15 (usually to impress some oblivious boy or girl) and whaddya know! After years of perfecting their craft, some songs come out that are good! And that’s a great way to go about things.
But Natalie has never been one to do things like everyone else.
While everyone else was listening to U2 and Pearl Jam, Natalie was listening to the Gershwins and Harold Arlen. While other people were singing along with Nirvana, Natalie was singing along with Judy Garland. (Don’t get me wrong, of course Natalie loves U2 and Pearl Jam and Nirvana NOW. They're some of her faves, actually. But we’re talking about THEN.) Basically, she grew up listening to the Great American Songbook – learning to tell stories clearly and place an emphasis on melody, and that while “simple†often does not mean “easy,†it is always, always more the effective choice. All of these things profoundly influenced the type of songwriter she would become.
That is, when she finally became a songwriter. Which didn’t happen for a number of years. Because Natalie took a few detours along they way, graduating with honors from UCLA, studying at Oxford University in England, and living in New York City for a spell.
And then…she began writing songs. Almost by accident, really. A very good friend named Kimberly (thanks Kimberly!) read a poem Natalie had written and encouraged her to “just start singing her poems.†Ummm…YEAH. Riiiiight. ‘Cause THAT’LL work.
Except it did.
That first poem Kimberly was talking about, and the first song Natalie wrote, was “Moon, So High.†A few months later, that first song won Honorable Mention in the Billboard Song Contest. So Natalie figured she might be on to something here.
She’s been writing. And writing. And writing. She’s expanded her influences to Dylan, Springsteen, Clapton, and a bunch of others that you see on the left side over there. She also does a lot of work with charities, and has helped out The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and Theatre Neo. Currently she is proud to work with The Center for the Partially Sighted, and enjoys helping the visually impaired. Yeah, she’s one of those annoying do-gooders, but hey, cut the gal some slack. No one is perfect, right?
She performs mostly around Los Angeles, so if you’re in the area, she’d love to see you! Meeting the fans face to face is a ton of fun, so don’t be shy! If you can’t come, be sure to drop a line and say “hi.†She answers every email personally, and your notes make her day.
Speaking of days…have a good one. ;-)
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Natalie's song, "MOON, SO HIGH" won Honorable Mention in the Billboard Song Contest.
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Natalie was the featured artist for February on the GoGirls Music homepage. GoGirlsMusic.com
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