About Natasha Watts
Natasha Watts. Singer. Songwriter. Performer. Entertainer. Hailing from humble origins, which helped furnish the soul and the mahogany tones of this unique vocalist, Natasha has been immersed, active and successful in the music industry for some time now.
Although having started to sing at an early age, it was performing arts that was her first passion, she trained in ballet/tap/jazz dance and singing never became a priority until she discovered she had a voice, a powerful, almost precocious one that defied her tender age.
Throughout her life she was surrounded by all genres of music, from reggae and jazz to blues and funk. With a DJ as a father and a soul insane older sister, she really had little choice and she soon became familiar with every rare groove and soul track well before her years.
At the age of sixteen Natasha teamed up with Roame Lowrey (percussionist with Maze and Frankie Beverley) and he took Natasha under his wing and across the Atlantic to experience recording and help nurture and develop her talent as a young recording artist. Whilst in the States Natasha worked in a stage musical and performed with Kirk Franklyn and the Family. Although this was the embryonic stages of her career, it transpired to be fruitful period in both her talent and development and the inspiration she received from her then musical peers coaxed her down different musical avenues, discovering a new found love for gospel and organic R&B. Natasha’s stay in the United States coincided with the arrival of her son Taylor and subsequently music for once had to take a back seat….but this was far from end of her musical expedition!
In 2006 Natasha found herself fronting funk outfit Funkshone, they produce just one album together before parting company and Natasha makes the bold move to go it alone.
Having always credited her mother, Sandra as her inspiration and in 2008 the woman who moulded Natasha’s soul and direction, passes away. Yet, through this distressing and heart-breaking period, comes the life affirming ‘Time to Shine’, to this day, still Natasha’s favourite number due to the deeply personal resonance behind it.
Natasha exploded on to the UK soul scene with her explosive voice with ‘Show Me’ after her first collaboration with Cool Million �" featured on the Cool Million III album, which was rapidly followed up with the summer smash of 2012 ‘Back 2 U’ with producer Ric Atari �" available on the Soul Seed Vol 1 album, supported with a sleek promo to match the silky tones.
The last few years have seen Natasha in demand more than ever for her vocal talents and vivacious on stage presence and many well-respected producers have elicited her formidable talents as well as various fellow contemporary songwriters (Natasha has a publishing deal with Kinetic Music) and bands from Papa Records, Reel People, Bugz in the attic’s Kaidi Tathum, Speedometer on Freestyle Records, various tracks on Purple Nervous, Barcoda and most recently as the main vocalist on a forthcoming Yam Who? EP on the cutting edge record label ISM Records. There have also been gigs at huge events around the world, including IPM, Southport, Amalfi Conference, Moscow, Croatia and Miami for Natasha, whose fast becoming the brightest (and busiest!) UK soul star.
2012/13 were and are equally busy for Natasha when she supported the legendary Betty Wright at various gigs all over the country from Blackpool Soul to the Southport Weekender among many others. It was Natasha’s second consecutive appearance at the Southport Weekender too, something of a rarity for an artist. There are also future collaborations in the pipeline of house music with some of the biggest names including Josh Milan, Kerri Chandler, Dawn Tallman Manoo, Black Coffee and Tribe Tony Humphries Music as well as Remi �" aka Neil Pearce, Ziggy Funk, a duet with Lifford and also Mark Evans and Michelle Weeks
In September 2013 ..... Natasha was nominated for The best new soul act Soulsurvivors magazine .... Natasha won by a clear mile .......... This was voted for by the public and is a clear indication of how much she is loved ! This was to be the starting point for all of Natasha’s dreams to start coming true!
The exciting launch of the stupendous new album in February 2014 which already has three number ones attributed to it already (‘Go Slow’, Christmas no1 on the UK soul Chart along with the equally successful ‘Back 2 u’ and ‘Born a Star’) Changed dropped in November 2013 to critical acclaim ..... The track topped the charts and to date has had the most radio play of all her tracks. Roll on February 2014 and the album has been released , the reaction has been priceless with regular play from Jazz FM and BBC Manchester /Solent and London the album looks set to be around for many years to come.
Natasha has written every track on the album and this seems to be show casing not only her beautiful vocals but her ability to write a killer track ! The world is really starting to notice this wonderful home grown talent!
Natasha’s musical journey has resulted in only what can be described as an evocative musical journal, something she describes as “deeply personal, resonant and cathartic and it’s been in the making for some time now”. It appears that time has come and the album is tipped to fly and with prestigious house and soul label Cool Million supporting and producing it only validates and further cements Natasha’s soulful credentials. Recent regular plays on Jazz, Solar and Smooth FM respectively, also means, for once �" you can believe the hype!
As a new and exciting musical journey opens up, join Natasha for the most soulful and funkiest ride of your life! Enjoy! X
