Written By: Amanda Policastro
Check out our interview with country artist Natalie Alexander !
Photo Credit: Brandon Showers
upfrontNY: You’ve recently released your new single, “Cruel.” What can you tell us about the song?
Natalie Alexander: “Cruel” is a song that I loved the second I heard it. It talks about the cycle of hurting other people just like you’ve been hurt in relationships.
upfrontNY: Was the process of picking out a single to release difficult? What made you pick “Cruel?”
Natalie Alexander: I knew I wanted “Cruel” to be the lead single because it’s so upbeat and fun, yet it has a strong, relatable message. That is something that’s really important to me as an artist and is definitely one of the main reasons I picked it.
upfrontNY: You’ve recently started songwriting and playing the guitar. What has been the biggest challenge?
Natalie Alexander: Finding a way to vocalize what I want to say. Writing is a great vehicle for sharing stories, but the hardest part for me is figuring out what words can say the most.
upfrontNY: When writing lyrics, is it easier for you to draw from real life experiences or use your imagination?
Natalie Alexander: Right now I would say it’s a mix of both. I have some things I’m working on that are from experience, and others that are little tidbits of what I’ve experienced that serve as the root of an idea for a new song that is more imaginative overall. It’s definitely a process.
upfrontNY: What can you tell us about the sound of your new EP?
Natalie Alexander: My EP is a selection of songs that I think will resonate well with a multitude of different 2017 country fans. Each song is unique, I chose to experiment with my sound with each track. I’m excited to get more feedback from different people who listen because I’ve enjoyed hearing which song of the four is the favorite. Everyone’s taste is different.
upfrontNY: Carrie Underwood has been a big influence for you. What about her has inspired you?
Natalie Alexander: I mean the most obvious, her vocals! She makes hitting those high notes look unbelievably easy, and she resonates so beautifully the whole time she does it. I also admire how grounded she seems. There is an effortlessness about her too that amazes me.
upfrontNY: What do you love most about being on stage? Do you still get nervous?
Natalie Alexander: I definitely still get nervous right before I’m about to start, but the best part is after that melts away and I start having fun – there’s a performer’s high that is unbeatable. I love it.
upfrontNY: What are your hobbies outside of music?
Natalie Alexander: I’m a huge movie fanatic, I love going to the theater on a Sunday, staying all day and seeing 2 or 3 films. I also love cars and racing – that’s something fun I’ve been able to enjoy doing with my dad.
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