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Natalie Chapman - Independent, Beautiful and Superlatively Talented
Natalie Chapman - Independent, Beautiful and Superlatively Talented
When listening to her vocals, you might get the feeling that you have discovered a delightful sonic recipe: Take a little bit of Melissa Etheridge, mix in a bit of Fleetwood Mac, add a dollop of The Doors and sprinkle with a dash of Joni Mitchell. And viola! You are close to recreating her distinctive voice.
Natalie has always been an entertainer. Growing up, she was exposed to the likes of Kenny Rogers, Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel, The Doors and John Denver. Her love for an eclectic range of artists bolstered Natalie's interest in music and ignited her talents.
She took an active interest in theatre, music and dance and spent her childhood honing her skills in all three arenas and racking up a performance CV longer than most veterans could ever dream of, all before she even finished high school. Natalie is a proud graduate of the Waterfront Theatre School where she qualified with an LTCL and completed her performance diplomas in ballet, jazz, tap, singing and drama.
Natalie proceeded to work continuously on stage - both as a singer, dancer and actor. But, being the consummate artist, an adventurous streak is par for the course and her wanderlust started calling. She jetted off to London and ended up living there for four years, where she continued developing her songwriting skills, and worked in various jobs from independent filmmaking to public busking in between her extensive travels through Europe.
During this time, Natalie started doing live gigs with her five-piece band in and around Cape Town and performed at Opium Club, Independent Armchair Theatre, V&A Waterfront, Obz Café, Acoustic Café, Kennedy's and many more. She performed with a variety of local musicians include Steve Newman, the legendary Tina Schouw and Ezra of Pop Idols fame.
Three years of fundraising and hard work paid off and Natalie received great response to her original blend of Acoustic, Folk /Pop/ Rock sound. Her hit single "Are You Coming Home?" broke all expectations by industry standards, when reaching No. 2 on OFM's Top 20 hit list.
The response from the public was immediate and her fan base began to grow around the country. She was placed on high frequency play lists on top radio stations like Highveld, Jacaranda and Algoa FM.
Her long awaited debut album, Between the Lines was released in October 2007 and Natalie wrote 80 % of the material on the album herself. Three of the tracks on the album were play-listed in the UK and Dubai and Natalie endeared herself to a throng of fans.
Natalie has shared the same stage with industry greats such as Arno Carstens, Dan Patlansky, Albert Frost, Southern Gypsey Queen, Piet Botha, Heinz Winckler, Tony Cox, Jason Glover, Gerald Clark, Ezra and has performed at Oppikoppi, Vodacom Summer Festival, Kirstenbosch Gardens, STRAB, White Mountain Folk Festival and Splashy Fen Music Festival.
Having been seasoned with wisdom and enriched by years of live performance, Natalie has decided to return to independence. After trial and error with her record label, she will now produce her 2nd album independently. Although this is a more difficult route, she is confident and excited to produce a world class product that will remain true to her vision. She will release her new album later this year.
Natalie Chapman is a remarkable talent and a remarkable woman. Her fortitude and entrepreneurial independence are the perfect complement to a perfect rock and roll package. Her sizzling looks, powerful presence and rocking tunes are the perfect tools to make her shine - like the world-class star that she is.