Features

Riding the wave

A singer-songwriter from Arnos Grove is making a splash in the music industry, writes James Cracknell

Singer-songwriter Natalie Shay lives in Arnos Grove (credit LPR Agency)
Singer-songwriter Natalie Shay lives in Arnos Grove (credit LPR Agency)

A singer-songwriter from Arnos Grove is hoping to make it big after signing for a new record label.

Former Ashmole Academy pupil Natalie Shay has released a new single, New Wave, ahead of an upcoming EP that she hopes will propel her into the mainstream.

Natalie has already struck up a considerable following online – racking up more than 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify – thanks to a string of catchy pop choruses. Now, after a long pandemic-enforced break, she’s been throwing herself back into the rhythm of live performances.

Natalie told the Dispatch: “I did a socially-distanced headline set in June in Hackney and that was the first indoor gig I had done [since the pandemic]. Through the summer I have been doing festivals, including one of the [council’s] Month of Sundays events in Ponders End which was really fun.”

New Wave was written by Natalie with help from her close friend Kaity Rae, a successful music producer and songwriter who also hails from Enfield. “I wrote the song at her house, we grew up together,” says Natalie. Explaining the inspiration behind it, she adds: “After a relationship, there’s that little period of time where you need to find your way, then the new wave comes and it’s a super exciting start of something new.”

The 22-year-old has far more experience than her age would suggest, having first started performing at the age of 13. Attending the famous Brit School, which has launched the careers of Adele and Leona Lewis among others, certainly helped put Natalie on the road to success.

She said: “Starting performing so young was good for me, it has really helped. My first gig was when I was 13, a bit randomly it was in a Sainsbury’s car park in Balham.

“I play with a band when I do full shows. I have been on BBC Introducing which has been very supportive.”

As for what’s next, Natalie is looking forward to performing at Camden Assembly on 24th November, followed by the launch of her new EP. “I got a new manager and they introduced me to this new label in Brighton and I really got on with them. I have done two singles now and hopefully the new EP will be out in January.

“When I reach a goal I feel good for about a day and then set myself a new target.”

Follow Natalie Shay online:
Facebook /NatalieShayMusic
Instagram @natalieshaymusic
Twitter @natalieshay_
Visit natalieshay.co.uk


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