Natalie Williams' Secret Garden

Interview by Severine, We7 PR Guru
To kick off 2008, we thought we would feature one of our most exciting R&B artists, Natalie Williams. Natalie Williams is one of your favourite artists on We7, having spent more than a month on the Top Artists Chart. Her suave voice and jazzy beats have seduced us too! So we thought it would be great to get to know her better and find out about her career so far and her future. Let's have a look!

The interview

'Secret Garden' has been out for one year now. How has the past year been for you?
2007 was a good year for profile building and getting the word out. The main thing that took off for me was my monthly residency at Ronnie Scotts where I do my soul night, Soul Family Sundays. It's been a good means to getting my music out there and playing very regularly with my band. I also went out to Japan for a promo tour supporting Nate James, played in Sofia in Bulgaria to an amazing crowd, played at the London Jazz Festival and I've had a good start writing the new album, so all in all it's been a really varied and exciting year. Long may it continue!!!

Which has been your best moment since the release of 'Secret Garden'?
I really enjoy the live side of things and when I did the album launch for Secret Garden at Michelle Escoffery's Kindred Spirit night, the whole 2 and a bit years of making the album suddenly seemed to pay off. Then 'This Girl' got playlisted on Radio2 and it also won best video at the Urban Music Awards, which was more than I could've dreamed of, especially because it was such a small independent production. It's always exciting when independent artists get a look in and I've had some amazing feedback all year.

As a kid, did you always want to be a singer or did you have other dreams?
I started playing piano at quite a young age, but when I discovered singing around 14, I totally fell in love with it and decided to go for the singing thing full force. I came to London in 1997 to study singing, but I was never sure where or what it would lead to. I just knew it was my calling and now I know it is the best job in the world. It's my hobby, my social life, my passion and I get to travel around the world AND get paid... ha ha. Dream!!!!

When did you realise that you could definitely have an opportunity in the music industry?
I got signed to Eastside Records pretty much straight after I left college. I never really had the ambition to become a big pop star, because I actually studied jazz at the Guildhall and I was happy with the idea of playing in Jazz clubs around the world all my life, but then the songwriting thing happened and I realised that I had a knack for it. That opened a whole new world to me...

What made you want to become an artist?
All of the above. I feel totally at home on stage and love the buzz. There's nothing like getting an amazing response from hundreds or thousands of people. Also I feel I have something to say as an artist and song writer and I want to influence other young artists the way I was influenced by the people I listened to.

How would you describe your music? Are your songs a message to others or do they resemble a part of your life?
My music is definitely in the soul genre, some of it quite old school 'motowny', some of it fused with JayDee style hip hop beats and also jazz improvisation. I've listened to a lot of music over the years and I think my sound is a healthy mix of everything that's influenced me. Lyrically a lot of my songs are autobiographical or about situations or scenarios I've seen my friends be in. Then again, songs like 'Butterfly' or 'Psychedelic Love' are more on the surreal end. I try to stay away from clichés when I can and I get bored of lyrics I've heard a million times, so I try and find new angles for songs when I write.

You recorded your first video clip with your friends in a VW van: how much fun was that? Do you have any other ideas for your next video?
I loved doing the video for 'This Girl'. It was a very long day, but I loved the idea of the van and the angels singing along in the back. We had to cut quite a few scenes out due to time restrictions, so I hope the idea came across, but it was an absolute scream making it and the directors were 2 of my best friends too, which made it even more fun. I won't be making another video for Secret Garden, coz we're working towards finishing the next record, but yes, I always have ideas for videos. If I can see the video to a new track, that's always a good sign.

Have you ever fallen for your best friend? (ref. to 'This Girl')
Ha ha. Maybe, maybe not??? I think it happens more often than people think. I've always seemed to go out with guys that were good friends of mine before we got together. I guess that way at least you know what you're getting into and have no nasty surprises awaiting you...

You have mentioned your musical influences on your website being Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder or Bjork but what is the CD you are the most ashamed of having in your collection? ;)
God, where do I start? Actually I'm not ashamed of anything I've ever listened to, but at one point I was crazy about Disney songs and I have most of the movie soundtracks in my collection. It's always been my secret dream to be one of the Disney voices. The good thing is, even if I don't get to be the English Pocahontas or little mermaid, I could still do it in German or Hungarian. That would be a laugh!!!

I've seen a new track on your MySpace page, 'System': is this your next single?
No 'System' is a collaboration I did with a great drum and bass producer called Nu:Tone. I've written with him for his last 2 albums and 'System' was on his most recent record 'Back of Beyond'. We always seem to come up with quite good tunes together, so I think that collaboration will keep going for a few more projects. It got really good feedback on 1xtra actually and I like having other stuff come separately from my own projects.

Do you have any advice for our new artists who have joined We7?
I think the two main things that work for artist in this day and age is having good digital distribution and representation, but also making sure that the gigs happen and people can see you live. That way word of mouth gets out and if there's good online support, you're laughing. That is how I go about finding new music.