Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of LRP Agency
We got to chat with musician Natalie Shay about her song “Medicine Boy” and what initially got her interested in making music.
What initially got you interested in writing and producing music?
I’ve always played music and have been into music, and I heavily idolised artists such as Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus at a young age. I knew from very young that I wanted to be a performer. Around age 12/13 it all fell into place and I began doing my artist project, I’ve been doing it pretty much full time ever since! I love how you can turn a story or emotion into a song. I love that I can listen to my songs over the years and it takes me back to a point in time. I love listening to music from artists that also do this.
As a young artist have you found that social media has been a helpful way for you to find an audience or are there better platforms that people can go to to help up-and-coming artists?
I do think social media is helpful, but obviously, I am aware of the negatives too. I guess that comes with most things in life though, it’s what you make of it. I’ve been releasing music since before streaming was a focus, and I’ve seen the change from downloads to streaming becoming the main focus of a campaign, I don’t think I could have done what I’ve done in my career without the audience that social media gives you access to, but I would always encourage fans to still buy a song if you really like it, or come to a show.
Tell our readers about your song “Medicine Boy.” What inspired the story you’re telling through the song?
“Medicine Boy” plays on the theme of comparing a fresh dysfunctional relationship with a boy, to a drug. The lyrics are written so that if I told you the whole song was about an addictive relationship, it would make sense.. But if I also told you the whole song was about recreational drug use, every line would still make sense. I wanted to capture the essence of a bittersweet relationship, the way – you know it’s bad for you, you know you can do better, but it’s not bad enough to make you want to leave, and the ‘highs’ of the romance are too good to walk away from.
I really wanted to write about the way a relationship that ‘isn’t good’, isn’t always ‘totally bad’. Writing from personal experience, I like to document stages of my life and emotions I’ve felt through songwriting and lyrics. I was really struggling to find a way to express the thoughts and feelings I felt in this chapter of my life, however, I really feel we encapsulated the entire story in this song.
How creatively involved were you in the “Medicine Boy” music video?
Pretty involved! I did all of the styling myself, and I gave input on the general idea of the bed and the colour scheme, however, the storyline and all of the camera work/direction / and direction of the extras was the genius mind of James George Potter.
Has this time of shutdowns and the world-changing every day had any influence on your music?
Yes! Mostly just in the obvious sense of being inside for a year, having time to think beyond next week for the first time ever. I’ve learnt so much about myself and I’ve grown up so much, I hope to bring that new maturity into my music.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
I always say, make the music you want to make, be the artist you think you are, don’t try to mimic or copy, and write from the heart. And most of all, if you’ve made music or want to perform… don’t wait! JUST DO IT!