Natalie Williams
Secret Garden
Released 30th October 06 on
Eastside Records
Natalie Williams invites you into her ‘Secret Garden’, the new and defining work for this fantastic UK neo-soul artist who has been building solid credential on the live music scene since the release of her debut album in 2003.
‘Secret Garden’ encompasses classic soul, jazz and hip-hop. Influences include Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Chick Corea, Charlie Hunter, Mancini with features from a fantastic roster of the finest UK musicians on Rhodes, Moogs, horns, live strings including virtuoso flute solos from Gareth Lochrane and horns from Ben Edwards & Mark Brown (Basement Jaxx)
Co-written and produced with ‘Mercury Music Prize’ nominated producer, Drew Horley (whose credits include TY- Upwards, Estelle, Jay Sean and Roots Manuva), ‘Secret Garden’ is an accurate representation of both Drew and Natalie’s eclectic musical influences. As a team they developed a unique style forged around the strength of Natalie’s amazing vocal range and ability and created a classic album.
The opening title track, 'Secret Garden' welcomes you into Natalie's world of blue skies, sunshine and flowers. “A world of no complications, where life is fun and easy”. A getaway from the daily stresses one encounters in a big city. This album has ‘elevated her to premier league status in one fell swoop; real quality vocals, strong material and key production’ B&S June 06
“Does It Feel Good” is described by DJ Bigga as ‘breathtaking...a beautifully harmonious track that highlights Williams vocals to stunning effect and one that’s rarely off my turntable’
‘Phychedelic Love’ elevates this album onto another level, full of sweeping orchestral strings (Mancini’s ‘Lujon’) recorded live by the ‘Budapest Philamonic Orchestra’ and a floating vocal exploring the world of dreams and the surreal.
The first two singles taken from Secret Garden ‘Butterfly’ (Nov 2005) & ‘The Way We Like It’ (May 2006) have gained massive support from the likes of Trevor Nelson (Radio 1), Ronnie Herel (BBC 1xtra), Simon ‘Skoolboy’ Phillips (Capital Radio), Firing Squad (Kiss FM), Robert Elms, Norman Jay, Tony Blackburn & Vanessa Feltz (BBC London). MJ Cole describes ‘Butterfly’ as ‘Beautiful music, majestic, soothing and as graceful as a butterfly’.
The 3rd single from the album is ‘This Girl’ to be released on 2nd October 2006. A wonderful upbeat expression of falling in love with your best friend – this is Natalie Williams defining song that encapsulates everything about Natalie the artist, the writer and the person that she is. With mixes from MJ Cole, Lazybatusu & DC Joseph this will be one of the big radio tracks of 2006.
Natalie Williams Live
Recent performance highlights included performances with The Heritage Orchestra in the Miles Davis Hall at the world renown ‘Montreux Jazz Festival’ 2005 & 2006 and a live session with her full band for Giles Petersons World Wide show in March 2006. Natalie is about to embark as a featured vocalist on the ‘Bugz In the Attic’ national tour in June 2006 with a highly anticipated album launch party to take place at Kindred Spirit in July 2006
Since living in the UK, Natalie has also performed in some of the country’s most famous venues headlining at The Jazz Café, Cargo and the Café de Paris. She has also played at the 2003 London Jazz Festival, supported US R&B Grammy nominated artist Joe on his 2004 national tour (Birmingham NIA, Manchester Apollo, Hammersmith Apollo), supported Roachford at the Jazz Café, The Hippodrome (supporting Sunshine Anderson and City High). She also performed with & alongside Dwele, Terri Walker, Amy Winehouse & Jamie Cullum, features regularly at all the ‘insiders’ live soul nights including Michele Escoffery’s ‘Kindred Spirit’, Patrick Alan’s ‘Music Box’ and her own monthly event with her full 10 piece band called ‘Soul Family Sundays’. Internationally, she has toured Europe, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Nepal.
In June 05 she was asked to perform on flight 5065 of the London Eye supporting Fair Trade in Africa which was filmed by BBC World and rubbed shoulders with Joe Brand, Skunk Anansi & Damon Albarn.
Press Highlights
The specialist music press hailed Natalie as a major new talent including features in Time Out, Trace, Touch Magazine, B&S, Echoes, IDJ and the Evening Standard.
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