She has been on the Grammy ballot and released a new album the week this interview was recorded, which was one year after having released a self-titled album. In just the last two months alone she has gotten an array of nominations. She performs extensively in the mid-Atlantic states and has even authored a book in addition to being a songwriter.
“My father is a famous Haitian singer. (He) actually sings in English, French, and Spanish, and Creole… My aunt also was, like, in this famous Haitian girl group… And then I have a cousin who’s a music producer.”
“I said, ‘Okay, let me take these three songs and let me send it around on the Internet,’ and somebody was interested and that’s how I did my first album.”
“I used to live in New York for about five-and-a-half years and I started writing – I have over 50, 60 songs and they were based on different types of relationships that I had while I was in New York. I go back and I look at some of them and I (think), ‘My God, I really hated this guy!’ Or, ‘This one was fun,’ or, ‘I was in pain over this.’”
(on the decision for her new album to be all in French) “I wanted to do something different this year. I love jazz, but, I kinda get bored – that’s a big problem with me – when I have to perform these songs over and over again I’m like, ‘Oh God, I need something different.’ … I just love singing in French… There’s just something so authentic about it. It moves me.”
“When I released this one album I had so many people contact me and say, ‘I want to help you promote this album.’”
“I do this a lot for myself also. It’s not necessarily about the audience. Like, I want people to enjoy my music and I put a lot of love and passion into it, but at the same time I have to be me, and me is always changing slightly or in a large amount, so that people can’t just say, ‘Oh well, she’s doing the same thing over and over again.’… With me you’re always going to get a different flavor, a different taste.”
(on what she credits for all the momentum and attention she has had) “I think a lot has to do with the music production and also with the writing. But I think it’s also me pushing myself and believing in myself and just trying to get the music out there.”
“I had a Congress person come in during Jazz Week and he said, ‘Oh my God, I just love this. We’ve got get you out there and doing more of this stuff.'”
“Sometimes doing this – the independent artist thing – can get you down sometimes because you keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing, and you’re like, ‘Oh my God, how much longer … is it really worth it to do it?’ and there’s always something that pops up for me that says, ‘You know, Natalie, you just have to continue this. This is where you’re the best – when you’re entertaining other people, when you’re helping other people.'”
“It’s not only about getting a nomination or award, but, somebody’s listening to your song and you don’t know what can come about just by entering a competition.”
"You Are My Everything"
“C’est Toi et Moi”