Natalie Walker (vocals)
John Stenger (synth, piano)
David Mason (drums)
John Davis (Bass)
Aaron Nevezie (Guitar)
Produced by: Natalie Walker, Dan Chen & Nate Greenberg
All booking inquiries read and considered: contact@dorado.net
It's often said that the true test of an artist's worth arrives on their second album, when they have to prove that their first was no fluke. By that measure, Natalie Walker has succeeded wildly with her sophomore effort With You, a startling maturation from the former lead singer of Daughter Darling.
Expanding the strengths of her first solo album, 2006's Urban Angel, With You is a cool, elegant collection of ethereal songs with a warm beating heart, music that retains the stylish, spacey vibe of her debut while revealing an accentuated pop flavor. This is music that's insinuating and alluring, seductive yet sweet, an album that is poised to make Natalie Walker a breakout star, the kind of electronica singer/songwriter whose music is inescapable. Of course, Walker already has been hard to ignore, as Urban Angel penetrated the mass consciousness, earning strong reviews from Billboard, Urb, Trace and All Music Guide, as such singles as "No One Else" and "Quicksand" received heavy rotation. Another sign of how Urban Angel struck a universal chord is how its songs kept popping up in films and movies, starting with Sofia Coppola's use of a Thievery Corporation remix of "Quicksand" in Marie Antoinette, then spreading to the television hits Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy.
All this acclaim and exposure raised the stakes for With You, and Natalie Walker responded by deepening her music, expanding her horizons while digging deep into her soul. Once again, she teamed with the Brooklyn-based Stuhr – the same duo that produced her debut – which gives With You a sonic throughline with Urban Angel, but Natalie and Stuhr were not complacent, they opened up new sonic vistas on this second record.
Alternately introspective and sleekly stylish, With You is a subtly adventurous album, one that is immediately appealing yet reveals more with each listen. Such complex, intertwined textures are surely a progression from Urban Angel but moving forward was not necessarily easy. “A sophomore record is really tough,” Walker admits. “I had no idea how difficult it would be. I know I wanted give myself some room to experiment with a lighter and more upbeat sound, but it was really challenging for me to keep things simple. I wanted to force myself to get out of my comfort zone – and I did.”
Indeed, some of the best moments on With You find Natalie stepping out of her comfort zone, weaving gently insistent pop hooks into her graceful electronica, as on "Ordinary," which has a nearly New Wave sparkle, or on "Over and Under," a melodic, rhythmic chill-out track that's rightly the album's first single.
With You is graced with poppy singles – songs that can pull in a broader audience without alienating her devoted fans -- but it hardly stays in one spot. Natalie agrees “the first half of the album is pretty upbeat but as you listen, it brings you back to the soft and serious side of my first album.” With their graceful, meditative lilt – equal parts folky dream-pop and electronic elegance -- “Monarch” and “By and By” are reminiscent of her debut but like everything here, the music and the emotions are heightened, which may be why "With You" is the title track, as it has a real emotional pull: “’With You’ is about real love – a love that gets stronger with patience and working through life together."
That genuine emotional connection is what drives Natalie Walker to make music. “I want to write songs that stick with people. It’s incredible to receive emails from people telling me that a certain song moved them or really connected to their life at the time they heard it. It’s why artists write. We want to feel like what we’re doing means something.” It's hard not to listen to With You and not feel that Natalie Walker is indeed making music that means something.
On Urban Angel:
"Be it Natalie Walker's drowsy vocals or the elegant song constructions, this album drifts by like whispers and drugs you with a hypnotic undercurrent." -Billboard, 2007
'Simply marvelous!' The Philadelphia Weekly
'You've got to get a copy of this CD, folks. It will be the best
music purchase you make all year.' Dave's Lounge
'An artist like Natalie Walker comes along only once in a great
while.' A&R Worldwide
'one of the most intriguing new talents I have heard in a while.' Arjan Writes
I love your music, you're amazing. Your wikipedia says you're from Indiana and went to Avon High School. Is this true? It cites your biography on your website but your it doesn't mention Indiana. I'm from Hendricks County myself, about 15 minutes from Avon. Peace and love, Bob Junt
hello Natalie.., Greetings from my Prog-Art-Sky! ...thank you for possibility to get acquainted, and have a possibility to enjoy your beautiful music and talent... Thank you also for your interest to my artworks... You also always welcome to my pages! Have a great Cosmic Energy! All the best, Ed Uni†Sky
Hey Natalie! I've been a really big fan of yours for a while, but because I'm stupid I only just realized that you have a second album out. Woops! I'm off to buy it off of iTunes. Anyway, I like your music alot. It's very relaxing and helps me sleep at night. So...thanks! I hope you're doing good! Talk to you later!
Thanks for the add Natalie Walker, I love your sounds btw, awesome! If you get a chance, please take a listen to our first Chill out release "Beach Music, Cafe Music & Bar Music Collection" by ACO Ambient Chill Out. We'd love to know what you think of it! http://www.sanfrescorecords.com/SR/Chillout.html Click Chill Out Music to visit our Chill out Music page Cheers ACO
Chick.... I'm getting ready for the '09 Century Series ride in Chico sponsored by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. at the end of this month... I'm adding playlists to my ipod and want to add your list of favs to it. If you were on a long ride, and had many miles to absorb ahead of you, what would you listen to? Nat, send me a good list... thanks Chick!
<font size="4">MAM You Make me Fan of your Voice in Smallville Soundtrack I love <b>"Empty Road"</b> its heart-touch song perform I hope you will perform more songs for <b>SMALLVILLE</b> </font>
MAM You Make me Fan of your Voice in SMALLVILLE Soundtrack I love your song Empty Road its heart-touch song perform I hope you will perform more songs for SMALLVILLE
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