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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Eagle

Singer-songwriter Natalie York brings more rock n' roll in her new album

Singer-songwriter Natalie York’s career has taken her from her native D.C. to a cabin in the Catskills in upstate New York to complete her second studio album, “Promises.”

York, 24, grew up in the suburbs of Washington, and music was a core piece of her upbringing. She played piano and saxophone growing up, which set the foundation for her career in music.

York attended the University of Miami in Florida, where she began as a jazz major before entering the university’s newly-created songwriting program, established by American singer/keyboardist Bruce Hornsby. She was the first graduate of Hornsby’s Creative American Music Program, according to her “website”:http://www.natalieyork.com/’s bio.

“I was incredibly lucky to have been given that opportunity,” she said in an interview with the Eagle. “I was writing songs as my homework.”

York’s first album, “Threads,” was a product of the songs and recordings from her senior project. For York’s second album, she wanted to give her audience something different.

“I used to get a lot of comparisons to Norah Jones, and people would tell me that they added me to their playlists of what they listen to when they drink tea at night,” she said.

Although there is nothing wrong with that impression, she wanted her second album to be a more intimate, “rock-ish, fun sound,” she said.

“My music has really veered to a more rock ‘n roll direction [with a full band],” she said.

York began a tour on March 27, with her first show in her own backyard — at Iota Club and Cafe in Arlington, Va.

“I think what’s really special about coming home is that the audience is the same as the [ones she had growing up],” York said.

The audience can hear an “evolution” of what she’s been doing, something she really appreciates. Some audience members even have the first three songs she recorded when she was 15.

York currently resides in Brooklyn, a place where she has seen changes to her musical style and influence. A successful tactic for keeping her audience’s attention in a “saturated” New York music scene has been playing with a full band.

Her full live band was also a vital piece of her sophomore album, released in January. The recording trip to the Catskills in March 2013 helped York and her band focus upon the music.

The recording experience was a “huge learning process,” but it is something she says she will apply to future albums and during her live shows.

While York is on tour, she will also be participating in a project called “Real Women, Real Songs,” started by a former music teacher and mentor at summer camps at UVA, Carrie Cooper. The project gives women like York a weekly prompt to write a song. According to York, committing to writing a song each week will be a challenge, but it will also be a great base for future work.

“Who knows, some of these songs might end up on my next album,” York said.

You can hear Natalie York’s music on her Soundcloud page

jmorice@theeagleonline.com


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