In 2006…
Natalie wrote her first song in a studio apartment alongside the train tracks in Needles, CA, discovering her love for singing, writing, and playing guitar.
She began performing publicly in 2006 playing her original songs at open mic nights in bars and coffee shops in Arizona, as well as clubs in Laughlin and Las Vegas.
She eventually moved back to the Central Coast, playing shows with some of her musical heroes including Robert Earl Keen, Dave Alvin, Shooter Jennings, Reckless Kelly, Alejandro Escovedo, Hayes Carll and many more.
Primarily a solo performer, Natalie has also sung backup vocals for many of the most talented local musicians and bands on the Central Coast, contributing vocals to both live performances, and recording projects.
'Puhidua,' Natalie's debut album, features 16 original songs written, arranged, and produced by Natalie herself, released May 4, 2020. The project took her four years to complete. Compelled after her Grandfather Larry's death to leave behind recordings, the album was a ten-year dream in the making. As a third generation musician, Natalie is the first in her musical family to release an album. Her Grandfather was an outlaw country musician, but left behind only a few live recordings when he passed away in 2006. After his death, she vowed she'd leave behind more.
The title 'Puhidua' is a tribute to Natalie's heritage. Her Mother, is Native American, from the Paiute Tribe, in Bishop California. The word translates in the language to "Wildflower." The title is a beautiful tribute to her Mother, her heritage, and her wild spirit. The songs on the album tell the story of love, loss, heartache and growth of over ten years of writing. Some are poems, some are stories, and all of them are based off her life, or the lives of those around her. Covering multiple genres like folk, country, bluegrass, blues and even some piano ballads, the album stays in the Americana spirit.
The album was a labor of love, and reflects Natalie's hard work and drive. She released it on her own terms, and had a hand in every aspect along the way. It is the biggest passion project of her musical life, built from the ground up with blood, sweat and tears.
She also wrote, produced and released a single called ‘Electric’ released September 29, 2020. The single is based off her unpublished book of poetry written over 2019, and is a tribute to a love lost. The song was engineered by Tyson Leonard (Jeff Bridges, Alan Parsons Project), and was mixed and mastered by Steve Hall (Tom Petty).
Her live performances are humorous, intimate, and filled with stories reflecting life, love, and laughter. She been working as a one woman show for almost 15 years, and continues to perform, release and produce her own music. She continues to write, perform and reside on the Central Coast in California.