WE GOT TO CHAT WITH NATALIE SHAY!

What made you want to be an artist?
I've been playing classical guitar and doing musical theatre since I was 5 years old, I was always playing music and performing, the artist thing was triggered by seeing Taylor Swift on her Speak Now tour, I was so blown away and inspired by seeing a girl play guitar and sing songs she'd written at the O2 arena, I just wanted to give it a go! 10 years later we are here!

What inspired your new song “New Wave”?
This song is quite conversational and literal. I wanted to capture that amazing butterflies type feeling you get when you first notice you might be onto something new with someone, but also don't really know how to play it out just yet but want to hold onto that excitement for as long as possible.
And I guess it mostly touches on how for me, entering a new relationship is kind of always the marker of a new life chapter, I guess quite embarrassingly I mark out the chapters of my life timeline with relationships I've had, I feel this is because after a relationship, you come out (hopefully) a better, wiser person, but also there's that little period of time where you need to find your way, then the new wave comes and it's super exciting start of something new.

Has the pandemic affected your music?
It made me write more! I wrote so much in the lockdown periods, I guess it almost sped up the inevitable development of my writing! I really missed playing live but  think ultimately it made me appreciate it more, I tried to make the most of everything, I've learnt a lot.

What is something you want listeners to take away from your music?
With all of my songs I hope people can relate to them! I try to write about things I've felt and document emotions as best as possible, in the main hope that someone can listen to one and be like ‘that's how I feel!’.

As someone who's made such major accomplishments in the industry at a young age, such as being featured in Billboard and The Line Best Fit, as well as being a part of the jury for the UK Eurovision competition, what types of goals do you have to further yourself beyond this point?
The goals shift with every achievement, I dont think I'll ever feel like I've reached ‘the goal’ because as I check things off lists and more opportunities become available, I'm always striving for more. The main goal is just to keep doing music full time forever!

Are you currently working on a new project?
There MAY be another EP…. ;)

Lastly, anything you would like to tell our readers?
STREAM ‘NEW WAVE’!

Find Natalie Shay here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieshaymusic/
Website: https://www.natalieshay.co.uk

Interview by: Laury Verdoux