Charlotte, North Carolina-based singer-songwriter and musician Natalie Carr recently released her new single, “Apple Pie,” a funky, sensual tune with a bluesy guitar riff.
Natalie explains, “‘Apple Pie’ is an ode to empowering yourself after a difficult life event and remembering your own worth and value in a world that oftentimes makes it difficult to feel that way. I think it’s about dismissing fickle opinions of people that don’t know you, whether in real life or on the internet, and standing in your power. The lyric, ‘sweeter than apple pie, but I’m a f***ing lullaby’ is about knowing you are both memorable and here to stay. I love the funk-pop elements and four-on-the-floor drive of the record – it was the first time I experimented with genre-bending to this degree, and it’s telling that I still don’t know how to describe this song!”
What sets Natalie apart is her natural ability to take complex and personal truths and translate them into relatable music.
Natalie is currently working with industry legend Dallas Austin and rising songwriter Dan Priddy on a variety of songs and projects. Along with a feature on RILEY’s new buzzing single “Gucci Store” and an exciting new sponsorship/endorsement deal with Lee Jeans, Natalie has beaucoup momentum.
CelebMix spoke with Natalie Carr to discover more about how she got started in music, the evolution of her unique sound, and her creative process.
What three things can’t you live without?
That’s tough! Probably my precious cat (Toby), Trader Joe’s, and copious amounts of coffee.
What inspired your latest single, “Apple Pie?”
I wrote “Apple Pie” about finding your power and connecting with your sense of self after a difficult life event. I really wanted to write a four-on-the-floor song that inspires confidence and detachment from people that don’t have your best interest in mind.
Walk us through your mindset as you entered the studio to record the song.
Since I write and record almost exclusively by myself and at home, “Apple Pie” was a solo process until ultimately bringing in instrumentalists and production. The song actually started out without any kind of drums or drive, and was a pretty stripped-back, slow, and groovy guitar loop that I added vocals over. ‘Eating you like apple pie’ was a placeholder, but I ended up liking the way it sang so much that I kept it and kind of wrote the song around it.
You have a brand-new single, “SEVEN2TWO,” coming in August. What can you share about the song?
So, ‘SEVEN2TWO’ is probably one of the sillier songs I’ve ever written. I was on a walk one day and started humming the words, ‘mental state like Florida weather’ and thought about what I could do with that lyric. I came inside and started free-styling the rest of the song until it was finished. I would say this track is the least personal to me in the sense that I wrote it from the experience of someone else and not myself, and maybe that’s why it was so fun to write. I love the way the track turned out, and how it’s pretty different from anything else I’ve released. Although I’m not necessarily ‘rapping,’ it definitely has a quicker cadence and a more flexible structure than songs I’ve released in the past.
How did you get started in music?
I grew up playing guitar and piano and writing music, but it wasn’t until much later in life that I decided to start recording music and releasing it. I had never in my life sung in front of an audience until summer of 2021, and although it’s always been a dream of mine, I treated it more like a fantasy until I mustered up the courage to really put myself out there. It takes a lot of vulnerability to transform a private and personal hobby into an actual career, and I’m really proud of the steps I’ve made and the work I’ve put in.
Did your sound evolve naturally, or did you deliberately push it in a certain direction?
I experimented quite a bit when I was starting out, and I think in a lot of ways I still do. Working with the legendary Dallas Austin has taught me a bunch, and he’ll be the first to say something to the effect of, ‘if you wrote it, it’s you.’ I have a small team of producers/engineers that I work closely with (namely John ‘JMac’ McCall and Dillon Lawter) and we’ve always been open to exploring different directions and genre-bending. I think that’s the beautiful thing about the current state of the music industry – I literally see artists change it up all the time, and I think it’s rad. Most creatives are multi-faceted and to adhere to one tiny little niche or lane can be quite deafening. That being said, I think it’s important to assess what is working for you, your heart, your business, and your audience, and always keep that information in mind.
How do you keep your sound fresh, and avoid falling into the trap of imitating either yourself or others?
I often feel like I’m just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the music I’ve written versus what I have yet to write. I always have something to say and write music constantly. I’d be lying if I said there isn’t that voice in my head that’s like, ‘You’ll run out of ideas and tricks inevitably,’ but I think that’s normal. I’m so entertained and in love with the craft of writing, recording, and fleshing out a song, that I know it’s the one thing about myself that I could never not do. As far as imitating others, I don’t think there’s a ton wrong with drawing inspiration and uniquely applying it, as long as it’s genuinely still ‘you’ and not a blatant rip-off of someone else’s hard work!
Are there any special recording techniques you use in the studio?
Since beginning to engineer myself in 2020, I’ve definitely developed a bit of a process when it comes to tracking, comping, and producing my vocals. I would say your first couple of takes could be magic, depending on how emotionally connected you are to the song you’re recording, and those ‘warm-up’ takes typically have some of the best gems! Always keep those playlisted for later. Try to identify the emotion of the song while recording and own that – it will typically reflect in how you’re singing the song and the overall feel. On the days you’re just not feeling it, be an actor and literally pretend to be someone that connects with the song – you’ll be shocked at how much your mental affects the quality and efficiency of your work.
What inspires your writing? Do you draw inspiration from poems, music, or other media?
I think my everyday life inspires my writing, and maybe to a fault. I oftentimes fall into the trap of reliving experiences and dissecting them until they’ve run dry. I’m trying to write songs about fictional characters or others’ experiences and see where that takes me, as an exercise. The reality is that ‘you’ will always be injected into songs, no matter what they’re about. We can only speak from our own feelings and interpretations of events, and that’s what makes songwriting paradoxically unique AND universal.
What can you share about your writing process?
I’ve really tried to hone my process and start with melodies and then move on to lyrics, but in the past, I’ve been a lyrics-first kind of writer. It honestly depends! My notes app and computer are full of songs and bits of lyrics, and usually, when I commit to a melody, I’ll consult lyrics I’ve already written and try to structure the song around them. In the past, I’d sacrifice melody and structure just to get all my lyrics ‘in’ the song, but I’ve kind of learned that the better product comes from honoring what the song ‘needs,’ over the one-million things I’m trying to say and squeeze in.
Which artists in your opinion are killing it right now?
So many artists are killing it right now and the landscape is more sonically diverse than ever before, which is equally inspiring and exciting. It depends on genre, but as far as alt-pop I’ve been really inspired by Tessa Violet, NERIAH, and Benee as of recently. More broadly, I love seeing iconic female artists like Miley, Taylor, and SZA continually grow, evolve, and give us masterpieces at every stage of their lives. It’s an honor to share this planet with them at the same time, like truly.
What can your fans look forward to over the next six months? Music videos? Live gigs?
I have two music videos coming out (one for ‘Apple Pie’ and one for SEVEN2TWO’) and I am SO excited to have these out into the world. I put so much love, care, and time into conceptualizing these videos and they require so many selfless and talented people to bring them to life. When they’re finally out, I feel like we’ve made mini-movies and it’s a wonderful feeling. I have a few more dates left on my summer mini-tour, and new songs coming out as well!
Follow Natalie Carr Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo7nIsWWcp51ku6LAwKWgnmWTlr%2Bzec6pnKerXaq9bq3BqKytZZGlva2xjKmgnmWjpLuow9Giq6Kml2Kur7CMqaytrJmjtG60xKuqnqSWYry2wIytn56qlWQ%3D