Natalie Shay is one of the most exciting singer-songwriters emerging from the UK indie-pop music scene. Having performed at the world’s biggest festivals for new music SXSW and The Great Escape, as well as well-renowned festivals like Reading, Latitude and Victorious, the North Londoner is making her way across the globe, turning heads with her explosive live performances.
Picking up the guitar at the age of five and attending the prestigious BRIT School in her teenage years, music has always been a part of Natalie’s life and her passion from a very young age. Known for her honest and relatable songwriting, Natalie is creating songs that empower and support, from infectious heartbreak anthems to up-beat tracks on love and friendships. She also doesn’t shy away from topics, speaking openly about mental health and anxiety.
HELLO NATALIE SHAY, WELCOME TO BLACKBIRDNEWS! YOUR LATEST SINGLE, “ALL THE TIME,” EXPLORES THE INNER MONOLOGUE OF A FAN GIRL AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING GREAT ATTENTION. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG AND ITS CREATION PROCESS?
Yea! This song is about the lead singer of a band that I’ve been in love with since I was 10 haha. Last summer I played the same festival as them and I met him for the first time at the festival. It felt like a whole dream come true moment so I went home and wrote the chorus of the song that night. I later took my chorus to the studio with Jordan Cosmo and Camilla Dunhill, and this is the finished song !!
WITH YOUR EXPLOSIVE LIVE PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES AT MAJOR FESTIVALS LIKE SXSW AND THE GREAT ESCAPE, YOU’VE BEEN MAKING WAVES IN THE MUSIC SCENE. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR SUCH HIGH-ENERGY PERFORMANCES, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SHOWS?
I always hope someone can find a connection in one of my songs. I wanna be related to, that’s my main goal with my lyrics. As for the performance itself, I hope they feel captivated and come watch me live again haha.
FROM PICKING UP THE GUITAR AT AGE FIVE TO ATTENDING THE PRESTIGIOUS BRIT SCHOOL, MUSIC HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PART OF YOUR LIFE. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY AND EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED YOU AS AN ARTIST TODAY?
I feel every step and part of my life has been part of the journey leading to where I am today. Brit school was an amazing experience for my music, having the chance to collaborate with other people from all different creative backgrounds but it also was a big part of my growth as a person. Being in London is so amazing for the arts. And I’m obsessed with people. I love people. I’ve always stayed true to who I am and my own voice, I hope that comes across in my art.
YOUR SONGWRITING IS KNOWN FOR ITS HONESTY AND RELATABILITY, TOUCHING ON TOPICS LIKE HEARTBREAK, LOVE, AND FRIENDSHIPS. HOW DO YOU APPROACH SONGWRITING, AND WHAT MESSAGES DO YOU AIM TO CONVEY THROUGH YOUR MUSIC?
I either write alone in my room on acoustic guitar or collab with other writers / producers in sessions. I always try to write my own lyrics. Lyrics are my thing. I wanna tell my story and the stories of people close to me. I love performing most of all and there’s great magic in performing a song about something related to you.
“ALL THE TIME” HAS A FAST-PACED, ENERGETIC SOUND WITH ETHEREAL VOCALS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE SONIC DIRECTION YOU CHOSE FOR THIS TRACK AND HOW IT REFLECTS THE EMOTIONS CONVEYED IN THE LYRICS?
I hope the speed of the song shows the frantic ness of the emotion and how excited I felt that day meeting him. My excitement is what I wanna show through the arrangement. Also it’s just a banger 😉
THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ALL THE TIME” TELLS THE STORY OF A TEENAGE ICON FANTASY. WHAT WAS THE CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE FOR DEVELOPING THE CONCEPT OF THE VIDEO, AND HOW DOES IT COMPLEMENT THE SONG’S NARRATIVE?
Was an easy concept to come up with as it basically mirrors the lyrics of the song ! I wanted it to be about my teenage fantasy with my idol. Something I’m sure most people can relate to. The video was directed by Eleanor Grace Hann, she led on the visual side of things. We worked with a great team in London to shoot this video in 1 day. I hope it does the song justice.
YOU’VE GARNERED SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS WITH OVER 9 MILLION STREAMS ON SPOTIFY AND RECOGNITION FROM VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS AND PLATFORMS. HOW DO YOU STAY GROUNDED AMIDST THIS SUCCESS, AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD IN YOUR CAREER?
I have been doing this for such a long time now ( I started performing my original songs at 13 years old) I feel like it’s just been something that’s grown for years and years. I’ve worked so hard for my entire life, so success feels good, but I’m always looking onto what’s next. Music is such an incredible opportunity of a life project to embark on. I love every minute.
YOU’VE BEEN OPEN ABOUT SPEAKING ON TOPICS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND ANXIETY. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR MUSIC CAN CONTRIBUTE TO DISCUSSIONS AROUND THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE LISTENERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SONGS?
I am incredibly honest in my lyrics. I hope people can sense this. I’ve been through all of the emotions and I understand the mindset of a driven dreamer, I’ve seen it destroy people and I’ve also seen it make people. I try to be open and honest about this stuff, to show that everyone goes through the same stuff.
WITH A GROWING FOLLOWING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS LIKE INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND TWITTER, HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR FANS, AND WHAT ROLE DO THEY PLAY IN YOUR JOURNEY AS AN ARTIST?
These days they’re a huge part of it. They can get tiring having to think of new things to post every single day. But I love how connected it means we can be to fans and also how we can reach new people. I love seeing what other artists are up to. And I love being creative with my content. I try to reply to everyone I can, so that’s important to me 🙂
