Natanya has cemented her name among the most promising up-and-comers with her latest two-part project, Felines Return.
The singer/producer began her career at just 15 years old, releasing ‘Sunset Melody’ in 2019. Her experiences with music go back to early childhood, beginning in piano lessons which she brings into her career today.
Garnering co-signs from the likes of Janet Jackson, SZA and Doechii, alongside opening for PinkPantheress, Destin Conrad and soon Rayvn Lenae, it’s clear that Natanya is a name we’ll be hearing often.
Her Latest Release
Felines Return Act II – the second half of her new mix-tape – was released earlier this month, 3 months after the first half was released. When asked about whether she’d always planned for it to be a two-part project, she told Brig:
“Before I got to releasing it I really didn’t imagine it to be a big mix-tape, and then after we got into the process of working everything out we kind of realised- you’re coming out of a period where you weren’t really releasing much music at all, you’ve really got to hit strong this year.”
“The parts are so different from eachother, part one is so different from part two and I think they really work as two separate universes that join into one… Act II is really – I would say, a lot softer and intimate and more vulnerable. Act I is very braggadocios and abrasive and it really demands attention. But act II invites you in”
Following the success of the first half of the mixtape, Feline’s Return Act II was highly anticipated among fans. She released the first single ‘Jezebel‘ at the beginning of September, to much acclaim.
“’Jezebel’ was a big kind of ‘I get it’ to women.”
She explained this further, saying:
“As I found myself growing up and having to make a lot of tough choices myself and managing the difficulty between being the best woman that anyone in my life knew – the best daughter, the best sister, the best friend – also whilst trying to advance my own life and push myself and take time for myself. it was kind of a ‘I get it’ letter to women everywhere.”
“You’ve gotta take the judgement to get what you want and really express yourself and be who you are. Either you live an unhappy life faking, or you step into who you can be.”
Natanya has referenced a lot of her biggest inspirations, from Michael Jackson to Tyler the Creator. On what musicians inspired her when making Feline’s Return, she said:
“I listened to a lot of Joni Mitchell. That’s the first person that really awakened me… She reminded me of myself in a way, in how she started to tell her story and all the things that had happened to her on her journey. Her life was so normal, it wasn’t different to anyone else’s, it was struggles we could all relate to.”
“I’m the biggest Amy Winehouse fan… At the time the film had come out, it reminded me of how much I loved her. I did a massive re-education on Frank and Back to Black.. ‘Moviestar’ was really inspired by Frank, with the tongue-in-cheek way that Amy used to write. I had a weird situation with a guy, and I was feeling really defensive about it- and I kind of like ‘if I was looking for love, I wouldn’t be with you.’ And I got into that character quite heavily.”
“I love the Dublin Castle, so I hung out there a lot too and played on the jukebox. I found out bands I’d forgotten I’d loved like Blur. I was listening to a massive mix of anything I could find. SOPHIE was a big one as well, I love how she produced. I was combining everything, anything I could get my hands on that was music.”
One thing that tends to stand out about Natanya is the transparency she brings to every song she releases. Her lyrics are often raw and relatable, and she explains how this is one of her biggest intentions when writing:
“I really want the music to be as honest and as exciting as I found music to be when I started my own journey discovering my favourite songs at 14. I just want people to feel like, ‘I get it’… I always aim to just drop my ego, and that’s something I have to teach myself now when im writing again. I need to teach myself to just drop the ego and just write about what I’m thinking, instead of trying to edit and give an optimistic or overly aspirational version of life that a lot of people don’t live right now. I want to be honest.”
Recent Tours and The Future for Natanya
Natanya has opened for some familliar names: Flo, Destin Conrad and PinkPantheress. When asked what it was like to share the stage with them, she said:
“getting to tour with those people has been incredible. Its such a lesson, such a learning experience to get to watch them do their thing.
“it teaches you perseverance as a support act as the truth is, when you’re supporting someone, you’re not the main focus. It’s about them getting their show right. So there are moments where you might not have a sound check, where you might not be able to see the stage until just a few minutes before you go on, and you have to be fast.”
“Seeing shows that are completely boundless and limitless is so inspiring. Like what can I do when I have that budget, what can I do when I really get the facilities to create everything I’ve ever dreamed of? How can I really take it there, you know?”
These performances took her to new heights, as an influx of fans impressed with her performance began to tune in.
“I met so many new fans. So many new fans came on board for Act II just because of that [PinkPantheress] show in Brixton. It was so impactful. One of the greatest feelings is getting to play to a room of people who don’t know who the hell you are and winning them over. Its really proof of concept.”
However, whilst she is grateful for all of the new fans that have joined her, this can bring a lot of new emotions and problems to deal with:
“it’s really great when new people join because its proof of concept. It means that my art is touching people. I won’t lie and say that it hasn’t been overwhelming and it’s definitely given me a nod to the future. Like when this explodes, what things am I going to have to do to make sure that I can protect myself or I can keep my nervous system in check. Its intense with lots of people loving you. Its not natural.”
Natanya has said before that the idea of being a legend scares her “in the most beautiful way.” She opened up about this further, telling Brig:
“I have this really coo-coo theory that most music really just isn’t an individual thing. Even when you ask me how I write songs, I really don’t feel like I’m awake when I’m writing songs. Not to be a hippie or like, take it there, but I don’t always know why I made that decision or where its coming from. I just really had to let go and take away all my ego and all the things I put on me to present myself to the world, and that’s when the best songs come.”
“I relate to so many people that came before me that I consider legends, and I really think there’s been nothing like this before musically, there’s been nothing like this before production wise. There’s been no universe like this made, especially not in this country.”
“When its matured; it’ll be a big deal. And I think the idea of that, knowing that, because I’m an honest person, I don’t like to over compliment or over criticise, It’s really intense to me because I know when people really really fall in love with someone’s perspective, it’s overwhelming.”
“As much as I would love it because it would prove to me and maybe my parents that I made the right decision to follow music instead of a law degree, it scares me because my life will be really different”
Natanya will be supporting Ravyn Lenae from today, November 2 in Manchester, through to 6 November, ending in Cologne.
She does not currently have a tour of her own announced. However, when asked about the possibility of her own tour and if she would visit Scotland, she said:
“I would love to come back to Scotland and perform. It’s such a beautiful country, every time I’ve gone, I’ve loved it. My goal right now is to share the music with as many people possible as I can, and I do think there will be a moment where I think ‘okay it’s time to take this on tour myself, and be the headliner.'”
With the release of Feline’s Return Act II completing the mixtape, fans are looking forward to what the future holds for Natanya.
“I’m writing songs all the time. When I can squeeze one out I’m writing one. And I really wanna create something that shifts culture… I want people to think ‘oh my god, I didn’t think this was possible’ so whatever I do next, I really want it to be up there with those generational albums and that’s my task for myself.”
So, why should you tune in?
“I say it all the time, but if you join in now, you’ll be in for one of the most interesting stories in modern music and I mean it. Nobody’s out here doing that, everyone’s music sounds like they’re sleeping. Mine doesn’t, mine is awake. There is intention behind it and there’s real story line.”
Featured image credit: Tallulah.fx
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