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Featuring a mix of pop, dance, R&B and house elements, songstress Natali Yura has an immediate global appeal with an intoxicating sound. The 24-year-old recently perked up our earbuds with her magnetic single “Fall 4 U.” It was produced by legendary Grammy award-winning producer Rodney Jerkins and is pure sonic goodness.
GroundSounds recently caught up with Natali to talk about her latest track, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering Natali Yura, can you tell us a little bit about your upbringing and how you got started with music?
I don’t remember exactly when I started to sing, but I know I was very young. I recall frequently singing into a hairspray bottle as if it were a microphone and dancing in the mirror, I always yearned to perform. When I was around four years old, I was so into my “performance” that I fell from my dresser and broke my arm…hairspray bottle still in hand! Throughout my childhood I was constantly performing in singing competitions, one of which was on my mum’s birthday when I was nine years old. I sang “My Heart Will Go On” about ten consecutive times—no one could have taken that microphone away from me!
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your latest track “Fall 4 U?”
You know, it was a very interesting creative process working with my team. We recorded the song in Paris, which is already a very creative environment. We went to the Louvre Museum, and I talked with songwriter Lazonate Franklin for hours—we shared a passion for subjects like cosmology and astronomy. Some of this comes through in lyrics like “your supersonic globe” and “your orbit’s in control.”
What has it been like working with Grammy award winning producers Rodney Jerkins and Dan Tannenbaum?
When you are in the studio with someone of Rodney Jerkin’s magnitude, you can clearly sense that he is incredibly gifted. Working with him is intuitive and fluid, you can feel it in the room. It was actually quite an emotional experience. We talked a lot about tons of different topics, which allowed him to get to know the real me very quickly. He is a genius.
Dan Tanenbaum is also an incredible influence! He creates music his own way–it’s so great to be a part of his projects. He is an amazing musician and talented melodist!
What was it like shooting the music video for “Fall 4 U” and working with iconic movie producer Martin Bregman?
It was great night! We filmed during the evening on the “Night Express” train. Our beautiful stylist, Peju Famojure, came all the way from Paris and brought a ton of different clothing options – we didn’t choose anything ahead of time. At the last minute, we decided that we needed to choose something with a hood and Peju miraculously found the perfect garment! We shot the video all night— I went through the carriages and banged against the walls of the wagons until I had bruises, but we wanted everything to feel natural and authentic. It was an unforgettable night!
I met Marty when I was 16, it was the best gift I could have asked for, I am so thankful for having met him! He gave me direction and helped me realize that I have endless possibilities in life, but it is up to me to go after them. He is a very wise man and I am grateful for the potential he sees in me. He radiates such a strong, positive energy–no one can compare!
Having lived on three different continents, you have a diverse global background, which cities have you enjoyed living in the most and why?
You know, when you are a child and you grow up in three different countries and multiple cities it shapes who you are as a person. I am lucky to be able to call so many different places home. It was such a magical feeling to land in London after being away five years and still feel like I belong. Traveling is a very special part of my life, I feel very fortunate to have been able to experience so many different parts of the world.
What musicians/bands are you currently listening to?
There are so many! When I was growing up in the 90s it was, of course, Destiny’s Child and the Spice Girls! The last time I found myself really shaken by an artist though, was when I first heard Amy Winehouse – I loved her until the end and always will. It was devastating for me to see her pass. We won’t see another talent like that for a while. However, I’m excited and optimistic about a lot of music that’s coming out these days. There’s a lot of awesome stuff coming out right now and I think this decade of music is going to be extremely interesting as artists continue to test the boundaries and transcend limitations of being categorized as one specific genre.
What is it about pop, dance and RnB elements that attract you to this sound?
There isn’t one particular thing that draws me to this sound. What I sing is really dependent on my mood and how my soul wants to sing at that moment.
What’s next for Natali Yura, what can fans look forward to?
We will be releasing the video for “Fall 4 U” in the beginning of November, I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you all!
