UCT Newspaper
Natalia (Bright Young Thing) February 2007
Article by Tali Barnett

If Cape Town is sexy, sultry, and serious yet sweet, singer-songwriter Natalia encapsulates the energy of what it means to be young, free and dreaming in this city. Even the title of her just-launched album, Long Street Lullabies, speaks of a mix of street-smart energy and waning innocence, which many students feel as they tumble through university life. Natalia understands this, as she was a Business Science student at UCT, before realizing that she wanted to follow her passion for music, becoming ‘a beach girl roaming the streets of Oranjezicht, with her guitar on her back, writing songs out loud.’

20-year-old Natalia has always combined her natural talent with hard work, resulting in a striking array of career moments in the South African music industry. She has been writing songs and playing live gigs for the past eight years, and has performed at a prestigious list of top Cape Town venues, such as Zula Bar, Cool Runnings, Café Vespa, The Independent Armchair, Mercury Live and Baraza. She has played both independently and supported other musicians, including Rodriguez on the Detroit artist’s recent tour of South Africa. Her sunshine-and-Sundays infused song ‘Nowhere’s Calling’, which makes you want to jump up and go on a spontaneous roadtrip, was used in the TV travel series ‘Going Nowhere Slowly.’

Natalia’s hard work ethic is combined with a sense of fun, a splash of humour and a touch of the mysterious. This draws her listeners in, who appreciate her refreshing, tantalizing talent with both lyrics and music; and the quirky, playful mood that are unique to her performances. One can’t help smiling at the cheeky, seductive simplicity of when she sings ‘I’m a beach girl, you’re a waiter, come see me later’ in Beach Girl, or smiling at ‘are you interested in love, did you read about it in a magazine?’ in Bright Young Thing. It has been said that many past boyfriends have come to her gigs to see if they can spot themselves in a song! The originality and quality of Natalia’s songs and guitar-playing proves that she has a deep understanding and appreciation of music, especially for someone so young. Her fresh, original lyrics, combined with her rich voice and catchy, pop-rock melodies provide a complete and thoroughly enjoyable musical experience throughout Long Street Lullabies.

Natalia launched her album at The Waiting Room in Long Street on 26 February 2007, where it was warmly received by a large crowd of fans and friends. Her polished performance showed the professionalism and perseverance that has taken Natalia to such a credible position in the South African scene, and as her audience sang along and called for encores, it was clear that her growing fan base only wants more. Natalia will be touring to Joburg for the next month to give her fans there a long-awaited treat, after which this starlet of the city will return to Cape Town to continue her musical journey. For Natalia, success is definitely calling!

'Long Street Lullabies' is available for purchasing at Mabu Vinyl, the music shop in Rheede Street Gardens, African Music Store in Long St, online at Rhythm Records, or at Natalia's live shows.

Natalia Live @ The Coffee Bean
16 November 2006

I have been to many of Natalia’s gigs and am still in awe of her magnetic stage presence… Many of her songs are dedicated to her friends in the audience and this is evident from the tremendous response she gets at the close of each song.

Her style is very tongue-in cheek with a humorous twist in some of her lyrics… Rumour has it that a few ex-boyfriends pitch up to her gigs just to hear the song written about them! ‘Beach Girl’ is definitely on my favourites list!

Near the end of Natalia’s set, her brother joined her on stage for 2 songs (He used to drum for her band ‘Janie Jones’) - A truly amazing combination and I particularly liked ‘Wooden Fireplace’… The audience was captivated which proves Natalia’s popularity is strengthening her as a solo artist, and she laps it up as the crowd shout for her to play their favourite songs!

Natalia… We Love you!!!

Review by Aidan Harper