North London rising star, Natalie Shay, has recently dropped a raw and truly personal single Owe it to You.
The indie pop singer narrates being in a relationship and struggling to resist temptation in the track, which fits the vibe of her forthcoming EP, NAKED.
Owe it to You is one of five tracks from the EP, which delves into the life of a 21-year-old musician and her relatable everyday life.
Shay has collectively amassed hundreds of thousands of streams to date and NAKED is set to add to her success. She says:
I love authentic 80s synth and drum sounds, but I also love modern pop vocal lines and effects. And of course, lots of guitars. I try to include a flavour of each of those things in my music. It was very important to me that all of the songs had their own unique stamp and vibe but still all fitted and worked together under the same project”
We got the chance to chat to the emerging artist about her forthcoming EP, what’s she does for inspiration during quarantine and lots more!
Hey Natalie! Tell us all about your new single, Owe it to You.
Owe it to You is a song I wrote with my incredibly talented writer / producer friend Kaity Rae. This is the second single off my debut EP, NAKED.
The track focuses on being in a relationship and struggling to resist temptation. Do you think it’s important to write about personal experiences?
I really do. I love to document my life and emotions through songs. Every song I write can take me back to exactly when I wrote it; I can feel the same feelings. I just hope that by writing about real experiences I can connect to listeners and I hope they relate on some level.
Your EP, NAKED will be out on 17th April! You give us raw emotions and 80s vibes. What is it you love about 80s music?
I just love the unique production. It’s so interesting and full of things that keep the ear interested. I love mixing this with more modern writing and melodies and seeing what we can create.
We know it was your first time including brass instruments in your music to fit the 80s vibe. What is your favourite thing about the EP?
In all seriousness my favourite thing is that exact sax solo in the track naked. Really looking forward to seeing how it’s received. It’s so exciting and new for me, definitely opens a lot of doors for my live set up.
You spent time at the prestigious BRIT school. What are some things you learned that have stuck with you?
Mainly just learnt how to be a working musician. I’ve learnt how to be independent and how to work in a creative industry. I’ve also made connections for life and friends that continue to inspire me.
In times like these, we can imagine you’re stuck at home like the rest of us. Who/what do you go to for inspiration when you can’t focus?
I’ve had a lot of time with my own thoughts and a lot of time to think. I’ve been discovering a lot of new music too which is always inspiring. I’m mainly inspired by other people’s work and my own feelings and emotions.
Your career is just getting better and better! What advice would you give somebody just starting out?
Believe in yourself and what you want to do. Create the music you want to make, not what you think you need to make. And ENJOY IT! Every part of the journey is special.
You headlined a couple of shows in 2019. Where would you love to perform?
I’d love to play Brixton academy. It’s a fantastic venue, definitely a dream of mine.
We can’t wait to see what this year has in store for you! What would you like to achieve by the end of 2020?
I hope the EP does well! I hope to write some great new music to follow it up as well. Just hope to see the listeners grow!