@NatalieImani
It's time to put the GBSTL spotlight on Natalie Imani. The singer has captivated audiences with a complete package of tight vocals, sexy dance moves, and passionate lyrics. GB caught up with her at her BET Music Matters Showcase showcase last month, where she worked it out in the performance sector, losing both of her earrings by the end of her set!
Natalie honed her skills singing background for John Legend and Jazmine Sullivan, but now she's branching out and doing the solo thing with an EP out now called Passion Mark; as she says, "Music is the mark of my passion." Not only that, but a passion mark is akin to a bodily mark that fans know of very well. "I feel like Passion
Mark, when they say 'Passion Mark,' you think of a hickey. You leave your
mark on somebody to show somebody else, 'Look I showed them love.' So I feel
like with Passion Mark, that’s my
mark that I am giving to everyone."
Find out a little about Natalie Imani below, and stay tuned for Part II, where GB pop quizzes the singer with some Sonic Facts!
Q: Hi I’m here with
Natalie Imani for the Bet Matters Music Showcase for April. Natalie put on a
dope show, so I just wanted to get some background on her. When did you start
to sing, Natalie?
A: I started to sing when I was, the very first time I
realized I could sing, I was 6 years old. I started out in school. In Glee
Club.
Q: And you attended
performing arts high school, is that right?
A: Yes, I went to LaGuardia
High School.
Q: What did you learn
in terms of singing, songwriting, stuff like that?
A: When I was in high school I learned a lot about performing, stage presence, we do a lot
of shows, I was a part of gospel choir; I learned a lot a bout singing
background, I learned all the different notes, writing music, so I learned a
whole lot in high school.
Q: Did you play any instruments?
A: No, I’ve never played any instruments.
Q: Really?
A: I’m in love with guitar.
Q: So, guitar is the instrument you
would want to play, if you could play one.
A: Yes.
Q: Okay. At the time you got signed to
RSA, what type of work did you do with them?
A: When I got signed to RSA, I was 14 years old. And they were a subsidiary of
Atlantic Records. I did a couple of songs, but I never put my album out. So I’ve
been working at it, trying to get my music out since I was very little.
Q: You worked with
artists, you worked with John Legend, is that correct? And you’ve worked with
Jazmine Sullivan. Did you do background singing for them?
A: Yes.
Q: So what did you
learn as a background singer when you did background singing for them?
A: I loved the fact that I had the opportunity to be a
background singer because it showed me the music industry from behind the
scenes. I was able to see, really what it takes to be an artist. To be a
performer every night. To be a songwriter, to be a business person. To have
good camaraderie with your band and everyone who works with you. I’ve learned a
great deal.
Q: Is every
background singing experience different? Working for John Legend is different
than working for Jasmine Sullivan. How are they different?
A: It’s always different, because you’re dealing with a
different personality. Some artists are very close to their band. Others are
very like, you get on stage, you get off stage, and that’s it. Very business
like. It’s always a different dynamic, you just have to feel it out and see
where you fit in.
Q: You’ve worked with
some greats, so who would you love to work with in the future?
A: In the future, I really like Miguel; I’d really like to do some work with
Miguel.
Q: He’s dope.
A: Yeah he’s dope. And I could see how our styles are going to complement each
other. I would love to work with John [Legend] as well, on my own project. I
could go down the list with people I would love to work with!
Q: When is it that
you decided that you wanted to do your own thing and be a solo artist?
A: It’s actually always been my desire to be a solo artist;
that’s actually the way it started out. After high school, I went to college, I
studied and stuff like that and it kind of took me off the mark a little bit as
far as being a solo artist. So I started singing background and I’m grateful
for that experience, I’ve learned a lot while I was back there. And I feel like
it geared me up, to be able to know what it’s about to be an artist now. I feel
the most ready now than I’ve ever been, all my life.
Q: And you have an EP
called Passion Mark now. Tell me
about that EP…
A: Passion Mark, I came up with that title because music is the mark of my passion. It’s
all about love, giving love, making love, bad love, you know, all the ups and
downs. I’m very in tune with my heart and what I feel, and I love “love,” as
they say. I’m sure everyone does. So that’s where passion mark came from, And
after, I feel like, I feel like Passion
Mark, when they say “Passion Mark,” you think of a hickey. You leave your
mark on somebody to show somebody else, “Look I showed them love.” So I feel
like with Passion Mark, that’s my
mark that I am giving to everyone. That is my mark that I am leaving for them
to walk away with.
Q: And you wrote the
songs on the Passion Mark EP correct?
A: Yes.
Q: Is there any song that was
particularly hard to write? Like, harder than others
A: As far as the topic or the style or…
Q: Either writers
block or a song that the feelings just wouldn’t come out, like you really
wanted to do it but it was just hard?
A: No, it wasn’t difficult with this EP. With this a lot of the songs I just
listened to the track and the words just came to me. I actually also collaborated
with Jazmine Sullivan on “So In Love.” That was a great opportunity. That’s
another thing about singing background; it kind of opened up doors and
relationships with other people as well.
Q: So the video for “It’s
Yours” was really, really sultry. Will there be another video off of the Passion Mark EP?
A: Yes! There is a video coming soon for “Designated
Driver.”
Q: Talk about how BET contacted you for
the show.
A: I went to high school, actually, with
one of the guys who works at BET. He’s been talking to me about getting on the
show for over a year now. I didn’t have my EP ready; Time was going by, and I just wanted to make sure that
I was ready, that everything was right. Like I said before, now I feel the most
ready, and I feel really good about tonight.
Q: What’s next for
Natalie Imani?
A: I’m going to be hosting my own showcase every third Friday of every month at
Nightingale Lounge. Also, I’m going to be performing in North Carolina, really trying to get Passion Mark out there to different
states. Do radio, get my songs out there, really get my name out there. And I’m
also working on my next project as well. Stay tuned for Part II!
Propers: Mars Phoenix (Photo)
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