NATALIE WILLIAMS

True artistry tends to sidestep the allure of celebrity in favour of championing itself as the sincere alternative; it’s behind the songs that tickle the emotions, whisper the deepest secrets and prove that the artist possesses a genius that’ll ensure they’re remembered as one of the shining lights of our era. This is the story of Natalie Williams – a Mobo nominated singer-songwriter whose accomplishments as one of the UK’s leading soul-jazz stars speak of a woman who understands how to combine her femininity and independence with a superior talent to create songs of love’s highs and woes that resonates with the soul. It’s a gift that was first developed as child growing up in Berlin. Born to a Hungarian mother and British poet, John Hartley Williams, Natalie first realised her love for jazz music after discovering her dad’s immense record collection. Listening to artists such as Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin inspired her to take the singing further than just a hobby and after attending a series of workshops at high school, she was awarded a scholarship in 1995 to do a course at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. She then spent a term at the Hanns Eisler School for Music studying jazz under the tutelage of the renowned vocalist Judy Niemack and two years later, she moved to London to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where past alumni include soul singer Omar, Dido and the legendary jazz composer Dave Holland. By 2000, she was touring Europe as a member of the European Youth Jazz Orchestra, and spent her last year at Guildhall collaborating with a number of underground producers before signing a development deal with urban independent label Eastside Records. She says: “I knew that what I’d learned in school was useful and had been very valuable to me to grow as a musician, but I also knew I had to get out there and just do my thing.” Her 2003 debut, Lucky Old Sun, was a live album that put a new spin on classic jazz standards and was recorded in only two days. This was followed up with the critically acclaimed album, Yours Truly, in 2004. The jazzy soulful opus drew comparisons with Erykah Badu and Jill Scott and firmly established the young talent with the stunning vocals as a fresh exponent of modern soul and jazz. Her newfound status saw her take 2006 by storm. She released her third album, Secret Garden, and around the same time became the resident singer at the world renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, playing opposite luminaries such as Jeff Beck, The Crusaders, Tower Of Power, Steve Gadd, Kenny Barron, Nigel Kennedy, Joe Lovano, Jon Hendrix and Jools Holland. Her monthly residency, Soul Family Sundays, that began in a low-ceilinged bar in Islington in 2003, moved with her to this prestigious venue and has been a sell out event ever since (now almost 5 years running). Guests have included Amy Winehouse, Terri Walker, Jamie Cullum, Hamish Stuart, Alice Russell, Gwyneth Herbert, Krystle Warren, Jarle Bernhoft and many more, and in 2009 she was proud to release the Soul Family Volume 1 compilation album featuring the cream of UK soul talent including Conner Reeves, Vula (Basement Jaxx), Tawiah and Lucie Silvas. Also a very accomplished songwriter, Natalie signed her first publishing deal with Peer Music in 2007 and as a top-line writer she has collaborated with Shy FX and Hospital Records’ Nu:tone, gaining fans from enthusiastic D&B lovers worldwide. The long awaited 4th solo album from Natalie, My Oh My, was released in Sep 2010 and is a stunning collection of songs which draws on all of Ms Williams’ many influences, effortlessly bringing them together through masterful song-writing and peerless vocals. My Oh My is a pop-inspired opus displaying a new phase in Natalie’s musical journey with every tune written by Natalie herself. Some with help from her handpicked band, some with trusted producers Anthony Whiting (M.I.A.), Mathias Wollo (Lemar, Wiley), Drew Horley (Estelle, TY) and some just with Natalie and her piano. “I began to realise I wanted to expand what I do musically into other areas and take even more control of what I do artistically. The musical inspiration was a lot to do with my musicians and what we do live, so I kept it very much in the family. Lyrically, it’s nearly always personal experiences or those of other people, and that led to one recurring theme – wanting someone to not take you for granted!” This is no manufactured record. This is a statement of soulful intent. Throughout her career, Natalie has toured extensively around the globe, performing at a number of the world’s leading jazz events including opening the 2009 London Jazz Festival at the Barbican with Guy Barker’s Jazz Voice, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as well as Glastonbury with Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra. She has also appeared as a featured artist with The Heritage Orchestra, Goldie, Bugz In The Attic and with and alongside Amy Winehouse, Shlomo, John Legend, Lemar, Alison Moyet, Jamie Cullum, Babyface, the Neville Brothers and recently with Manu Katché on his French TV show ‘One Shot Not’. Over the last few years, she has also been developing her own label, Sound Tribe Records, to release all her upcoming material in a joint venture with Eastside Records. As Natalie goes from strength to strength, it’s clear she’s the kind of artist who’s pioneering the DIY ethos with a fierce belief in her craft – a drive rewarded in October 2010 when she was nominated for a MOBO award for best UK soul, in a category alongside international legends Sade, Corinne Bailey-Rae and Plan B. Whether she’s moonlighting as sensational singer-songwriter, producer, label owner, or champion of burgeoning talent, she’ll forever be the epitome of a true artist.