#123 Natalie Pearson
After a winning performance on the main stage at the Gympie Music Muster, a national tour, and climbing chart positions on CMC, KIX Country Radio and The Music Network; Australian Contemporary-Country newcomer, Natalie Pearson is making an impression.
She may be petite at 5'2, but this girl-next-door has some big notes to deliver.
Natalie received the most recent Australian Independent Music Award for Best Country, and has since opened for notable country music industry names such as multi Golden Guitar Award winners and nominees - Adam Brand, Travis Collins, The Wolfe Brothers as well as TV pop artists Jessica Mauboy and Karise Eden. She has also performed with rising star Casey Barnes on festival main stages. With her strong vocals and engaging live performance Natalie is certainly a performer to get excited about.
Her songs drive messages of sass and empowerment, Natalie believes we should know our worth, and never settle. Natalie has previously been included on the programs of Deni Ute Muster and Gympie Music Muster, VDM Fest, Tamworth Country Music Festival, WolfeFest and Brisbane RiverFest.
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Transcript
Rae Leigh: Welcome to a, Songwriter Tryst with Natalie Pearson. Hey, doing
Natalie Pearson: I'm great. How are you?
Rae Leigh: Good. And I love these live episodes where we're in the room and I get to actually, look at you
Natalie Pearson: yeah, it's very nice to be. Face-to-face.
Rae Leigh: and you're very pretty, so it's really
Natalie Pearson: Oh, thank you. So are you
Rae Leigh: Oh, thank you. I'm past the awkward part. okay, Okay. so I like to start by getting you in your own words. Tell us who are you and where do you come from?
Natalie Pearson: So I am a singer songwriter. I sing country Pop, and I. Originally I'm from Western Australia though. I was born in the UK I moved. Yeah. And I moved over to the east coast only about three, four years ago.
So came over there, Queensland where there's a big country music culture and started again, basically in a whole new state. So.
Rae Leigh: Okay, Okay. Wait, So let's go back to why were you born in the UK? Is your parents British or, yeah,
Natalie Pearson: So my whole family's from Liverpool in the UK. Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Liverpool.
Natalie Pearson: I don't really follow any sports, but my family are very big Liverpool FC supporters, so yeah.
Yeah. They will get up at whatever time in the morning to watch a game. So, but yeah, they Like my whole family from there. And I was born in the UK and then I was about two, my parents both had an option to take a redundancy package. And so they did, and then decided to just move to Australia randomly, just like, Hey, let's, let's try and get a, you know, , a better life or just a better lifestyle or try something different or
Rae Leigh: go somewhere warmer
Natalie Pearson: yeah.
Yeah. So, yeah, they moved to Perth in Western Australia. And I think for the first year they were living in a property in the middle of Perth and then started building. So I think when I was about three or four, we moved into a house that they built from nothing. And they're still there now, like in that same house, so yeah.
Rae Leigh: And so how many children are there?
Natalie Pearson: There's I've got two brothers and they're both born in Australia.
Rae Leigh: Okay, so you're the oldest.
Natalie Pearson: I'm oldest.
Rae Leigh: You're the mama sister. So move to Western Australia. What do your parents do? How did you, were they big influences in your music?
Natalie Pearson: No, they're, they're not very musical. My mum will love a bit of karaoke, but but in terms of coming from a musical background, not at all my dad was in electronics in telecommunications and my mum I guess did kind of bookkeeping kind of thing, but in the telecommunications industry.
And so then when I moved over to Perth, my dad started up his own business. So he was working out of a granny flat in the backyard and was basically fixing telephones, fax machines kinda anything that, you know, we don't really have any anymore, I guess
Rae Leigh: I was going to say for those who don't know what a
Natalie Pearson: Yeah, it's, it's all a bit obsolete now.
Rae Leigh: paper email.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, he used to do a lot of like insurance claim jobs for that. So, you know, when lightning's landing was Stryker house and blow up all the electronics in the house and he would assess that or fix it or whatever. So yeah, he did that for. A really long time. And then mobile phones started to take over and computers.
And then so now he, he works well, he's retired now, but he, after that, he worked for like F POS terminal. So replacing F POS terminals in businesses and reinstalling it and that kind of thing. And my mom is a carer, so she cares for the elderly and looks after them and make sure they have, you know, happy
Rae Leigh: seem pretty like Settled and I, you know, both hardworking, obviously and raising three children. So where does the musical influence come from? for you?
Natalie Pearson: I don't know where it came from, I guess it was just always there. Yeah. So like my mom said that when I was like two, I used to get up on like the mental piece of the fireplace and just sing and dance and, you know, grab a hairbrush or grab a hairdryer or like the, one of the plastic, you know, the toy ones and whatever, and just start singing in tap dancing. And apparently my auntie or someone in the family had said like, oh, watch out for her. She'll be on the stage one day. And then when we moved over to Perth I used to sing along to all the TV commercials and radio commercials.
And someone said to me, mommy, and she's, she's actually singing in tune, which is like unusual for someone that young to be able to pitch. So, yeah, I just sang along to musicals on TV and everything. And then ended up being enrolled in dance classes as you know, mums do with their, with their daughters, put me into dancing and then they put me into like, talent.
Competition and kind of thing at a shopping center, it's just, you know, like something that they used to do back in the day, like in the school holidays. Yeah. So, got up on stage and did my interpretive dance or whatever it was at the time. And then I got the encouragement award and they invited everybody back to like a karaoke party food for all the kids that were involved.
And I sang my favorite song Tamara from the musical any and yeah. A few people said to my mom, like she's tiny and she's got a really big voice and can sing and pitch. Like, I think you should probably enroll her in singing lessons. In fact, here's some free singing lessons, so yeah. So then that kind of started it all and
Rae Leigh: so other complete strangers were just like, whoa, you need to encourage this.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah Yeah And I just never stopped. Like, I've always, since then, I've always been on stage doing musicals or you know, amateur variety style shows. Or I went to performing arts high school. I went overseas and danced on ships for a little bit and then joined bands when I came to You know, be of age to go to nightclubs.
So yes, literally I've just never known anything else. I've never stopped.
Rae Leigh: I've seen some live video of your life stage performances and you do look really natural and really comfortable on stage. Has always been that way for you? Or is that something that has come
Natalie Pearson: It, it, I think it, I think it's something that always comes with experience.
Like I've, I. I'm really comfortable on stage, but the nerves getting up to stage. Definitely. Yeah. Sometimes it depends on what it is like the car, if I'm doing like COVID gigs or like, Hi, like corporate gigs or whatever. I'm not nervous about that because that's just like, you know, that's just like auto auto mode.
And I, I know what I'm doing, not that I don't know what I'm doing with other things, but I think when it's like, you're sharing your own music or it's like, I'm, I'm actually terrible at competitions. Like if, if there's a judging panel, I will be shocking. I just, yeah, it just,
Rae Leigh: wants to be
Natalie Pearson: no, no.
Rae Leigh: why we do it. Why don't we subject
Natalie Pearson: I don't know.
I don't know. And I don't know whether it's, you know, when I was. When I was younger and I did all these competitions as, as a child, maybe that has traumatized me. So now I'm like no competitions.
Rae Leigh: couldn't do it. I I remember when I was a kid, I entered a competition once for singing, but it was like a talent comp, but I saying, very sheepishly and then I got through, and then I got up for the next round and I did a dance because it was just, scary. I couldn't yeah, I can't do it.
Even last year, I did like, a festival and I was the only adult in the camp there. Everyone was, they were all
Natalie Pearson: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: And part of me, I didn't know that until I was there. And I'm like, pardon me is like, why on earth? Did they like, make me a finalist against all these teenagers. I felt, it felt so awkward.
And at the same time, I'm like, and at the same time, I'm like do not give it to me. Like I wouldn't hate to take away encouragement from a teenager because teenagers, need encouragement.
I don't need encouragement. I'm going to do this. Whether you like it or not. So, yeah, it's, it is a funny thing and it's, it's important to have encouragement, but we are the competition for every one person that gets the encouragement and wins, all the other ones don't like, they all get in, in like it's discouragement in a way.
And it's
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. And there's like, there's different things that people are looking for as well. Like
Rae Leigh: it's subjective.
Natalie Pearson: yeah, exactly. And I remember someone said this to me you know, like if. You know, there's a a male artist who is, you know, auditioning for the role of like, Annie. He's not like he's not going to get it because he's not suitable for the role.
Not because he's not good enough for the role, but it's just not what, it's not what. They're looking for, they're looking for a particular, you know, a particular voice in a particular style and, you know, a female to play that part. So it's, it's got absolutely nothing to do with that person's ability. Oh yeah.
I mean, you know, we're, we're definitely changing times. You never know we are, but but you know, it's that that's obviously like really generalizing, but the point is that there. When you're entering into a competition, they are, they're looking for something in particular and you may or may not be that.
And it's no reflection of how good you are. It's just not what they're looking for. And it took me a really long time and I still still come to terms with that. You know, it's still hard to kind of accept that you kind of, you get disappointed when you don't, you put so much effort in you don't get it. So.
Rae Leigh: And it is different when you're putting in a lot of effort, say cover gigs versus you're putting your heart on the line. when You're sharing an original song, which is what we're talking about is songwriting. And there is a huge difference between that vulnerability of sharing something that's personal to you and that feeling like that's being rejected. And I've actually kind of talked to this about this to a few people recently where it's like the songs that are the most personal to you, and probably mean the most.
To me, to me the most. And I've noticed to other people they're songs that mean the most to them are the ones that don't necessarily connect and do that well. And then it can be other songs that are still personal songs, but maybe aren't as deep and connected that Do that, you know, are the most successful? And that's something I'm only just learning.
Now is it like, I used to think the ones that I loved the most were going to be the big ones and then you get attached to the outcome maybe. And.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah, it's you just never know what people are gonna connect with. It's I think everyone is they're at different stages of life. So what you're going through at that particular time you know, maybe someone else in your fan base will come across that in three years time.
And so then they'll go, oh, actually that song is so relevant to me now, but you know, it's just, it's. It's hitting people at that particular point in time.
Rae Leigh: And it is timeless, Isn't it?
Natalie Pearson: Absolutely
Rae Leigh: Which I love. All right. So tell me about how you became a songwriter Then So we've learned about you're a natural performer and you've got natural talent, Awesome. Lucky you. but how did that turn into songwriting and.
releasing your own music?
Natalie Pearson: I think like when I was in my teens it was always encouraged. Like you should write your own songs and everything. And I just, to be honest, had nothing to write about. I was like, you know, 15, what a, what? A 15 year olds even. Say, you know, I just didn't really feel have I had any inspiration to write.
And so I kind of just, I was failing at it cause I just didn't have anything to say. So then when I started doing the Keva sane and I just kind of put that aside and I just thought I'm not, I'm not a writer. I'm not, that's not me. And then so many people used to be like, you should write your own stuff, you should write your own stuff on.
And I was like, oh no, it's not really. It's not really me. And then it got to the point where I was like, I really enjoy the stage thing, but I need something more. And I still even now feel like I'm not a great song writer. But then I'll get into a writing session and then I'll, I'll be like, okay. Yeah, I do.
Really love this. And I, I have actually written something that I think is good. So, yeah, it did take me a while to really kind of allow myself to to fail because I think that's what held me back so long is that it does take practice. It does take that, doing it over and over again, and writing, writing some.
Terrible stinkers to learn what is a stinker and then, you know, being able to know what, what you're trying to say and how to say it and be creative on how you're going to say it. And it did take me really long time to come to that. So then when I. Yeah. Started getting into co-writing sessions and learning from people who were better than me at writing who were more experienced than me.
I started to then get more confidence in myself. And so now I can go into a co-writing session. I'll be nervous going into it being like, oh my God, what if I'm terrible? But then when I'm in, in that writing room, I feel uninhibited and I can put out ideas that May or may not be good, but I'm okay with that.
I'm okay with just putting it out there and if they say, yeah, that's cool, then sweet. We move on to the next line. Or if it's, if it's not, then I'm okay with that. We are at, let's move in this direction instead. And I think that's what makes a good songwriter is to be able to just put it out there and And then analyze whether it fits what you're trying to say in the song and just be at being able to not edit yourself as you go.
Rae Leigh: don't be attached to the outcome of everything I love that. And I love that. You're saying it's something you have to work on because I think for a lot of people outside looking in and like, even like use like, oh no, I'm not a good songwriter straight away before you've even really tried, You know, you're 15, you know, it's going to take time. It's good to.
Be aware that it's something that you can learn, just like anything, really? everything is something you can learn. Some people it's going to come to naturally And some people it's going to take a little bit more work, but if it's what you want, it's something you're passionate, and excited about. Then you can, I think I spoke to pat Patterson.
Have you ever, done any of his workshops?
Natalie Pearson: but I have heard a lot about
Rae Leigh: Yeah. So he was on episode 40. And The last thing he said on the podcast was he gave everyone a blessing and he said, I give you permission to ride crap, because the more crappy right, more good stuff is going to come out. Eventually it was like 10% of everything you write is going to be gold, but you got to write the 90% of crap to get that good 10% And so the more you write, Essentially the more good stuff will come out.
Natalie Pearson: It's like, it's learning anything, right? And it's a physical thing in your brain. So like the more repetitive that you practice, something, the stronger those synapses in your brain are connecting. And so then the, the, you know, impulses know what path they're taking all the time. So the more creative you are, the more creative you will be if you don't flex those nerve.
Yeah. Those neurons connecting. Yup then it is harder. So it's like anything like repetitive doing it all the time. We'll just keep strengthening those connections in your brain. It's an actual physical
Rae Leigh: Yeah, I mean like a creative gym, like a songwriting gym.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: I need to go to the song, writing gym a lot more than I have been, but, okay. So You started running your own songs and you did some co-writes who was the first sort of really good co-writes that you felt helped you. develop your
Natalie Pearson: So my first my first co-writing session was with a guy called Michael tan. He's from Perth genius. Musician now lives in Sydney. He produces for like a lot of the big Australian acts.
Next summit at the Jade guy, Sebastian channel, kind of all of those, you know, Sony artists, I guess. And he is just, he can play every instrument. He's just so intelligent and so lovely. So when I did a car ride with him and I like it sucked my first guy, you know, it was, I bet he. He helped me work through it.
And then we ended up having a really good song that actually I released it was senseless is my very first co-write. But we worked on it together and I didn't, I didn't feel like he was judging me. I didn't feel like he was like, you know, I don't want to write with someone inexperienced. Like he was really helpful.
And I think that set me up for being able to. Contact more people about doing co-writes because I felt like, all right, well, I made it through that one and that was my very first go
at it.
Rae Leigh: does, how do you go from that? Your very first co-write Being with someone that experienced, did she have a friend or
Natalie Pearson: He was just lovely.
And I knew him from the music industry in Perth. So like I did, I didn't know him. You know, on a I guess professional level. Like we weren't super good friends now we are. But at the time I contacted him because everybody had such respect for him in the music industry. And whenever I was saying, you should write, you should write, you should contact Michael tan, you know?
And I was like, yeah. Okay. And so, I kind of, I was really nervous about doing it cause he was so accomplished, but
Rae Leigh: can be intimidating.
Natalie Pearson: it is very intimidating, but he was so lovely. So it,
Rae Leigh: well done, Michael,
Natalie Pearson: Yeah Yeah. He didn't traumatize me.
Rae Leigh: Okay. So you had that really good experience and you've done some more co-writing. How about solar writing? Have you? tried that a little
Natalie Pearson: I do, yeah, I do do solo writing, but I find that I don't. I don't complete as many songs when I do solo writing. I don't play guitar very well. I know basic chords, but I usually, you know, when I'm performing, I will get someone else to play guitar for
me
because I just, I like to see,
Rae Leigh: if I want to stop, I would prefer to do that.
I just don't have the money to be paying guitarist. So I'm just like, it's cheaper for me to actually. get, just get better at good time.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. I mean, it would be more economical, but I just, I'm just terrible at practicing guitar. I love singing. I don't love guitar, so I don't practice it. And I'm yeah, I probably could be better if I actually cared enough to practice every day, but I just don't and I had made that so.
That's
it
that's it. So, but I know the basics so I can get through that, but I do find that when I co-write with people, because they are more you know, they can do more things on the guitar. So they'll come up with some really cool rhythms or chord progressions, and then that's when I will flow. So once I hear something I'm like, okay, sing melody, sing lyrics.
And that would just. Set up for me. So I find it much easier for someone to just come up with a musical idea and then I'm like, okay, I'm ready. I'm here. This is my birth.
Rae Leigh: Yep. And what's easier for you, like say you hear a riff on a guitar or something. Does a melody come first for you? Or do you have like an idea and and lyrics?
that you like a story you
Natalie Pearson: Bit bit of both bit of both. It just depends on what it is. Sometimes I will cause I, I like to be prepared going into a co-writing session with ideas and I, my preparation is usually in the form of a what ideas cloud, you know, where you put the word in the middle or the title in the middle and then you just like explosion chat.
That's what they
Rae Leigh: yeah, yeah.
Natalie Pearson: And so then I would just kind of like go on. Yeah, just on tangents. And I will just write lots of different things that all go into this subject, just so that I have some way to bounce too. And then I'll take that into the session and whichever riff that they're playing that I feel like, all right, this feels like a, you know, more of an edgy song.
So I'm going to choose one of my edgier topics that I, that I have. And then That'll usually set it off and out. If I get stuck, then I'll look back at my chart and go,
like,
Rae Leigh: you do that for strong men?
Natalie Pearson: I didn't right. Strong man. So strong man was actually pitched to me yeah, by the producers that had worked on a few of my other things.
So yeah. They, they gave that song to me. Cause they thought better would see. Yeah, it would suit me, so yeah. And I love it. So yeah, it's really cool.
Rae Leigh: I love that. So when you're writing, when you're writing a song and even actually, when you think about you as an artist and your brand, I guess, cause that's something you have to think about as far as your business is concerned.
Is there like a vision or a goal or like a core message behind your music that you want? to like leave in the world?
Natalie Pearson: I think probably just self-acceptance like, I think a lot of the, a lot of the songs that I've been writing is just about being yourself and being true to yourself. So like, let him talk was one of my favorite songs that I've written in that is about ignoring the noise and just Let them talk, like, don't worry about what people are saying, because it can be discouraging and it's, it's your life that you're living.
It's, you know, it's not their life. So, they can have an opinion, but you don't have to take it. And that one really meant a lot to me. And I think that resonated with a lot of people as well. Cause that's a fan favorite among the people that listen to my music. I always say, I love let them talk with my favorite.
and that gets probably the biggest response when I do it live as well, because I do, you know, before I sing in, I will say this song is about this. And then at the end, people will come up and say, oh, I love that song. Like it's so true. You know, just so sometimes you get really caught up in what other people think of you.
Rae Leigh: Oh, it's imposter syndrome, isn't it? And I've definitely had that. Like, that's why I didn't sing for so long. Like I wasn't brave, like you used to just get up and sing in public. Like It just, it took me a long time to get over that fear of what other people? think.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. I don't think he ever really truly do get over it, but it's just like a little reminder, just like, you know, let's reel it back in.
Remember that doesn't matter.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Stronger sometimes. Like sometimes for me, I'm mentally stronger and. other times I'm a complete mess.
Natalie Pearson: I think that comes with being a creative, I think every, yeah, the amount of artists that I'm friends with, that we'll text each other and be like, Hey, I need to talk. I'm having a low week. And you know, and we, we pull each other out of it.
So, you know, they've done it for me. And then, and then when I'm having a positive week then, and they're having it, then I'll be like, all right, this is why you're amazing. And you know, we just do that for each other. So
Rae Leigh: That's good. And you do you need those supports because there's such a high when you release something into the world. And then when you do like a launch show or, you know, you get a music video on Sam tail, something like huge happens.
It's such an adrenaline rush. But there it's like a roller coaster. And like, you've kind of got to get used to and prepare yourself for the lows that come after that.
Natalie Pearson: find sometimes like when you release a song, cause there's been so much build up into the pre-release like your booking and all of these interviews, your like doing all the social media rollouts, you're telling everybody, Hey, the pre-orders coming in, like, build up, build up, build up.
And then the day that it comes out, you're like, oh, Well, that was
Rae Leigh: Anticlimactic isn't it? Yeah.
Natalie Pearson: What now it's now. So, you know,
Rae Leigh: it can be years of prep between a song being written and then the production and finding the right people to work on it. And then the PR team and then like the release strategy and the shows and the two, even if you have a tour, then there's a bit more of an extension because you've got your release and then you have like to his way.
That's all you're really promoting is those particular songs that. CD or whatever it is, that you merge that goes with it. Yeah. And that has its life cycle, but yeah, it kind of does kind of like, for me, as soon as one thing's released, I'm like, right. What's next?
Natalie Pearson: Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Like what's the next song I'm going to release. And I guess unless the whatever song was, is like a huge hit, which is what everyone wants. That's when your short cycle can then turn into a 50 year cycle, if you're right, you know, Whatever hit song. And
Natalie Pearson: still waiting for that one.
Rae Leigh: yeah, and that that's like, there is that one, if you want to become a one. hit, wonder whatever but like once you have that dance monkey, for example, once you have that song then you literally could have a career you're established and you can sing that song for the rest of your life. Just Megan appearances, singing that song. You don't even have to sing the song. Sometimes you just rock up and people, you know, I remember I went to a club in Melbourne once and someone told me they'd paid lady Gaga to rock up. At least 10 grand.
And this is 10 years ago, just to rock up for like 15 minutes so that I could say lady Gaga I had walked into that, like had been to their club for the PR PR. yeah,
Natalie Pearson: it's crazy. When you think what goes on behind the scenes though, with stuff like that.
Rae Leigh: I have no idea. I mean, but it is, it is kind of crazy and we'll probably never know until we, we have to experience it, fingers crossed, But it is one of those things that you just you music to connect and be able to do it, without having to have a side hustle, which. A lot of us do anyway. but yeah.
It's just,
Natalie Pearson: Especially after the 2020, that was.
Rae Leigh: How did that impact you? Because I know You had a pretty rough, rough. go of it.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. Yeah. I think it was hard for everybody who, what was that? It was hard for everybody, but especially the creative industry where, everything that we do is treated like a small business.
We have to, you know, live week to week going, what gigs do I have this weekend? And my whole calendar just cleared out and I still have to pay my rent. I have a mortgage in Perth as well from the place that I'd moved from. So I was like, how am I going to pay my rent and my mortgage and have no income.
So I did end up getting a side hustle casual job.
Rae Leigh: Yep. And W were you able to get like any of the assistance that like job keeper type stuff Because,
Natalie Pearson: I did at
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Okay. That's
Natalie Pearson: I did at first, but then once I started earning with the app and also like, it was, I could have just been. Done that, but also I felt like I didn't have a purpose.
Like it mentally, it really was. Hard as hard financially because I sat at home going, I literally don't have anything to work for. I don't have any purpose right now. I have no structure. I have nothing to do. I can't leave the house. Like it was really tough to literally have nothing to do. And I just yeah.
Got into a really, really dark space. So just getting that. Yeah, getting that side hustle, not only taking the financial burden off, but also having something to do and having a structure, like having a reason to get up and go to work and being around other people as well. Cause I was obviously I had colleagues and customers that we that we were still serving during the, during the period because I was working for a company that was essential.
So I, that. It totally just distracted me from everything that was going on
Rae Leigh: I'm really glad you had
Natalie Pearson: yeah, I am too. Cause I don't think I would have done very well if I hadn't of got that. So,
Rae Leigh: and there was a really big kind of push at some point during 2020, where in a way they were actually kind of saying that artists are unimportant and that what you do is not.
Useful or purposeful. And then there was a massive backlash of people saying, hang on a second. So like you're actually using art to tell us that we're not important. You know,
Natalie Pearson: Yeah, exactly.
Rae Leigh: this Let's let's actually rethink
Natalie Pearson: it will. What did, what did people do during the lockdown? They watch Netflix. They listen to music, they did, you know, all of the things that are created from artists.
So if that, if that didn't exist, you know, what would you have all done?
Rae Leigh: Yeah, exactly. And so there was a, there was a backlash, but for a moment there. There was a real sense of what you do is not valuable and we don't appreciate it. And to, it's already a hard job and it's already quite isolating and a thankless job.
really. And so you have to have another purpose, but to have that on top of just after losing everything, that you've been working towards for such a long time definitely like a lot of artists really felt that, which is why there was some good PR positive PR around arts and maybe there's now more appreciation because that happened.
but yeah, it was like I think everyone struggled with mental and, and just having every in everyone did, like, cause unless they were essential work already and then their lives didn't really change. But yeah, it was crazy. So I'm glad that you found something that was able to push, like get you through that.
And that's kind of. Yeah. I had to talk to people. That's why I started the podcast. I was like, I'm going to, I'm going to kill my husband by talking too much if I don't, if I don't like Get another outlet, cause I'm such a chatterbox, but, yeah. okay. So we talked about co-writing, and we've talked about your music and your vision of not wanting people to feel, I guess, what was it in your words?
Like not like,
Natalie Pearson: yeah, just the, yeah. Self-acceptance and also just being relatable. Like every, everyone goes through the same human emotions. Whether you're, you know, an artist on stage or whether you're working at the local supermarket, like your, everybody goes through the same human emotion. So for us to be able to write a song that people go, you're singing about my life, you know, that that's just really special.
Rae Leigh: So How did you get to that point? When was the moment you realized you needed to have
Natalie Pearson: I'm still learning.
Rae Leigh: Me too.
Natalie Pearson: I'm still
Rae Leigh: Was there, was there a moment for you that that kind of started to,
Natalie Pearson: I guess I kind of got to the point where I was trying to, trying to appease the industry and I was going, well, this is what they're saying that I should be doing. So, you know, I guess I'm doing more of this. And then I was, it was not authentic and you know, it, wasn't kind of connecting with people. So then when I started actually singing songs that You know, probably did ruffle a few feathers.
But I was like, well, this is my truth. And then people are like, yeah, I'm so glad that you said that because I feel like that too. So yeah, it's just kind of, you know, being real.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. And that's hard especially being female. I I hate that, that I have to say that, but like, I feel like being females, we have people pleases naturally.
Like we feel like it's our job make everyone else comfortable and happy and maybe it comes from like, Generally like generational stuff, where women were the, the ladies, and we'd make everyone else comfortable and that's our job. but at the same time, not knowing how to say no can be detrimental to ourselves. And I've been in situations where I haven't been able to say no, and then it's caused trauma and like, That like, I I hate this society like that.
A feeling of not being able to say no. And yet we can. And actually, they've just changed the law. Did you see that recently that like, the law around consent is completely off topic? but I just, I hit it on the radio the day, the other day they said consent from a female has to be a verbal. Yes. If they like, say for instance, if a guy's Going like hitting on a girl if she doesn't say anything, but she doesn't say no, then it's not rape. But like, they're actually saying, no, you have to get a verbal consent. Otherwise It is still, and I'm like, that's, that's a big change.
Natalie Pearson: That is a
Rae Leigh: because of that female thing of like, it's really hard to say no, but maybe.
we don't actually want to say yes either.
Natalie Pearson: Wow
Rae Leigh: that but anyway I'm just, You just reminded me of it. I haven't really talked to him about it. What's the best advice that you've ever been given?
Natalie Pearson: Probably just do you. Just do you, cause it's it's you, that is going to have to live with whatever comes from that. Whether it's positive or negative and at least then it's your decision and your choice. You're not copying anyone else. You're not second, you know, it's not secondhand information, it's not secondhand.
Work, I guess, I don't know. Just do you, because you're the only one of you and that's why people are drawn to you is because you have your own quirks and you are you
Rae Leigh: yeah. It's such a hard thing to say, like, easier to say than to do just because in the industry, especially when you're trying to.
Build a business. So many want to push you to be like something else that's already successful. or like we know that people like this, so if you do that, then people might like that
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. But there's already that, so they don't need to have that.
Rae Leigh: How do you, how do you do that for yourself?
Like what's your process to make sure that it's you and authentic to you and your truth?
Natalie Pearson: I, I guess I just do what I feel that I need to do. And I I try not to, it's really hard to, but I try not to compare myself to other artists. It's really hard when it's you following other artists on social media, because you know, you want to be supportive.
But at the same time, You know, people are putting up the highlight reel, people are putting up the best of, and they're making their lives seem super glossy and super successful. And like I'm guilty of that too. I've putting up all of the highlights and then not posting any of the, you know, the boring stuff that goes on,
Rae Leigh: Yeah. The part where we're crying on the kitchen floor.
because no, one's
Natalie Pearson: exactly. You know, but
Rae Leigh: streams went down.
Natalie Pearson: yeah. See everybody else's successes and it's. Everybody's gotten their successes in a different way. So like, I've had this conversation with other, other independent artists as well. They're like, oh, but this artist is, you know, they first release, they've gotten the chat.
I'm like, yeah. Okay. But you know, they've got a great PR team because you know, they're in a different financial situation to what we're in. So they've, they've got that method. And then this other artist You know, they've done the hustle doing the touring cycle because they didn't have the funds to do the PR campaign.
So that's why that they've got access. And this, this artist is signed to a label. So they've got a marketing team behind them. So, you know, there's all these different ways that people have their successes. So we can't compare ourselves to that because that's not how that's not how we've gotten there.
Like that's that's. Yeah. And it's, it's very hard to stop comparing yourself to other people. When your, you feel like you're not achieving what, what other people are achieving, but they're at a different stage of their career, or they have different financial circumstance maybe, or they have a team behind them that you don't have or whatever it is, you know, you can't compare yourself to that because it's different.
Rae Leigh: And there's very little benefit out of Doing that really? Unless it's something that you're going to learn from that person, which often you don't, if you're just comparing. Yeah. I think I heard someone say once that if there is, you've got a problem, is there something you can do about it?
Don't worry about it. You've got a problem and there's nothing you can do about it. Why we Don't worry about it. Like worry. Never really helps anything. And there's, we actually put a lot of energy into that comparison. thing. So much energy. You think about If we just could take that energy and put it into actually working on what You want. And like, Sierra apparently has a tattoo that says, don't think on her wrist. And I'm like, I need to get that. because It's like stop thinking about that such wasted energy. When, you know, if you put that energy into something, that's actually constructive. Think about all the things you can do. And I'll tell you why, if people are having success and they're doing really, really well.
they're not thinking about anyone
Natalie Pearson: Well, they probably are, you know, like they're, they're probably going, comparing themselves to the next status that they're wrong, you know, they're going, oh, why aren't I getting that? You know, I think it's think it's something that everybody does go through and we're always comparing ourselves to someone more successful.
So, you know, we're never gonna, we're never gonna
feel. No, no, but like, you know, I think it, it helps to take a second and stop and go wherever I come from, I look where I was a year ago. Look how much I've achieved in that 12 months. Like that should be something that I should pat myself on the back about, because I'm, if I'm comparing myself to the people that are ahead of me, I'm never going to feel like I'm good enough.
But if I compare myself to who I was 12 months ago, then you know, that's something to feel good about.
Rae Leigh: be proud. Yeah. I love that. When I I think about like, just that it's like, be touring and have three gigs this weekend? But I think about Is there any, not even a year and a half ago, I did my very first open mic and that was the most successful moment in my career because it was the moment that I became my greatest fee, you know?
And it's like, I go from. No, not being able to sing in front of people to finally be able to do it and just doing it full time. And then I'd meet other people who've been doing it since they were a kid. And I'm like, okay. You know, I couldn't do that. Yeah. Self comparison and seeing how you go and just do what you can do.
But yeah, it's something that we all struggle with and knowing that is also very helpful. It's like, okay, it's not just me.
Natalie Pearson: Not everybody
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Please don't be a place to do that. Okay. So If you could give one piece of advice to say a kid or someone who is just starting out, they also have this passion and love for music, but they don't know where to start and they don't know what they should be doing.
Even if, actually, I'm thinking about a songwriter, like you said, at 15, who. It's like, oh, I can't do this. Or I don't have experience or inspiration to write anything. What would be your advice now, if you were to go back and speak to like
Natalie Pearson: if I could speak to my 15 year old self, I would say learn guitar,
Rae Leigh: learn an instrument.
Natalie Pearson: practice.
That's what I would say. I'm still, yeah. I think probably a lot of what, what happens in this industry is, is about the networking and it's I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing to say, but it is like, you can have all the talent, but , if you don't know the people that can make you progress, then you're going to kind of stay stuck there.
But then if you're still working on your talent and you know, the right people, they can introduce you to things that will make you improve. So I think. Networking and just making friends with people who are passionate about the same things as you and learn about different things that are also to do with the industry.
So like learn about marketing, learn about social media marketing, learn about songwriting, learn about how to write a press article, you know, like learn all the things that make you a business, able to do everything. Yourself or at least know how it works so that when you start to have a team, you know, what to expect of them and you know what you are going to delegate and what you're gonna do yourself.
So I would say, just get out there and meet people.
Rae Leigh: So what you're saying is like be a kind person.
Natalie Pearson: Absolutely.
Rae Leigh: It's funny that we had this word independent artist, but through everything you're saying, it's like actually as independent artists, we need more. Relationships around us and people who can support us other independent artists.
And there is a team of there's the PR people and the producers and our family and partners. and Support network that, and fans and people that just come to your gig. Like they're all a part of it. So we're not, It's not really independent other than the fact that independently
that's, like the only independent part of it. And it's it.
It's baffling and it's so confusing. Because I think there is this Australian tall poppy syndrome of like, you have to do everything on your own and if you get help, you're weak or something, some sort of weird pat is like connecting, build relationships
Natalie Pearson: And just learn, learn what you can
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Yeah.
And give as much as you get, you know, support each other
is very important. If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?
Natalie Pearson: I would love to be in a, in a writing room with Dolly Parton. Just she's just so good. So I would love to collaborate on a writing session with deli and vocally. reckon I'd probably love to sing with like carry onto it. Someone like,
Rae Leigh: yeah, Of Oregon's similar sort of power to and like Can you be like
Natalie Pearson: couple of it.
Rae Leigh: Carrie Underwood? Yeah. I think Dolly's music is so simple and that's something that I really like about her music that it it's like the same, like writing a simple song He's actually I think. The hardest thing that everyone I can relate to and everyone can sing along to, and everyone can also understand, but there's also deep truth behind it, like nine to five or Jolene, like they kind of really simple, basic pop songs.
But at the same time, it's such a a hard spine shivering truth behind them. as well.
Natalie Pearson: It's straight to the point,
Rae Leigh: straight to the point. There's no like metaphors really, even like. Yeah, it's,
Natalie Pearson: I think that the great thing about what like Dolly's writing is that it could literally be vocals and guitar and it would still sound amazing because it's the song that is great.
Not the production. That is great. Yeah,
Rae Leigh: Yeah. It's the lyrics. absolutely. All right. So what have you got coming up this year?
Natalie Pearson: This year? Basically last year, copied and pasted because I guess
Rae Leigh: Everything was
Natalie Pearson: everything was good. Sorry. So yeah, a strong man was meant to come out last year and I only just got to release it recently. So I've still got an acoustic version of that song to come out and an acoustic video.
And then I recorded a cover of a Fleetwood Mac song which I originally recorded with a a mashup. But then I didn't get like the publishing approval doing a mashup proved to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated. So I just have to revisit a little bit of that, but
Rae Leigh: to reproduce
Natalie Pearson: Just take out a section.
So yeah, it was really cool though, but, oh, well that's fine. So that that will be the next one, which is kind of like, I just wanna wanted to put out content, like, you know, put out something really frequently so that I'm always releasing and buying time. To, you know, work on the projects that do take more time and effort like the writing and, you know, getting an AP together and all that kind of thing.
And then the release after that will be a duet release with Brooke Chevelle. So we've got a ballad called our song that w we, we call it a Disney song.
Rae Leigh: I have one of those. Yeah.
Natalie Pearson: It's really cool. And then I've been writing a lot recently, so I'm working at the moment in studio. I'm producing an AP for next year. So that will come out with, I'm thinking about five to seven songs. So we've, we've worked on three of them so far. Yeah,
Rae Leigh: little song,
Natalie Pearson: yeah,
Rae Leigh: maybe. So what about, Are you independent?
Natalie Pearson: Yes.
Rae Leigh: So How do you fund and run everything?
And what's your, like, do you crowdfund or
Natalie Pearson: I pay for it all myself. So yeah, I, I have thought about the crowdfunding thing, but then I also, I don't know. I don't, I feel weird asking people to give me money. So, I
Rae Leigh: we put in so much don't
Natalie Pearson: yeah, and I, so I just work and I do the gigs and then that funds. Funds me putting it back into music.
Actually having a conversation about the funds with someone recently where I don't know where the fans realize how much goes into every single song and I, yeah. And I, no one's ever told them,
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Let's tell them now it's thousands of dollars.
Natalie Pearson: is thousands of
Rae Leigh: at least.
Natalie Pearson: You know, if they knew how much went into like, well the, the, the time that you put into writing a song, you know, that's not pain.
Rae Leigh: All the in kind, it's ridiculous.
Natalie Pearson: Then the, the studio time that you pay for the The mastering then a music video production then paying for a publicist, paying for radio submission. The time that you put into going in doing interviews at those radio stations that, you know, you're, you're giving them. Some things to put on there, you know, but you're taking, you're not getting paid for
Rae Leigh: yeah.
Like we're not getting paid to sit here and talk about it.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. So, you know, that's all that's all time and money that's going into it. And then, you know, what comes back in terms of royalties or even
Rae Leigh: a Dola 70 from Spotify. Thanks Spotify.
Natalie Pearson: thing. But you know, like if they, if they knew how much it. How much time goes into it. Cause sometimes they feel like you put out a song and then people like faith stream at once and go, oh yeah, cool.
I've heard it now. Or they watch the music video once I'm like, yeah, cool. I've heard an hour. And you're like, oh my God. And then they're like, then they're like, when's the next song coming out? And you're like, you know what, when I save enough money for the next one. So
Rae Leigh: when I get a rich benefactor,
Natalie Pearson: yeah. So I have thought about, I have thought about the crowd funding thing, but I also I feel a bit weird about it, but there's the Patrion is like a membership thing and I have, I have been, I've got one set up.
I haven't actually told anybody it's on my website yet. It's, it's set up ready for me to tell people about, but I,
Rae Leigh: that's another thing that you've also then got to add content too. And That's like, I I've done the same thing. Like I've set up a patriotic camp, but I haven't really done anything with it because.
I'm already putting all my content
Natalie Pearson: on Yeah. I feel the same. Although I've got a I've got a private Facebook group called the net pack, which when
Rae Leigh: that what
Natalie Pearson: net pack.
Rae Leigh: then that PAC P a C
Natalie Pearson: yeah yeah, So it's like, it's like a little
Rae Leigh: Pack of wolves.
Natalie Pearson: Yeah. Just like a group of people that are, I guess, the super fans, like the people that get everything that I put out and I they helped me with much designs and stuff, so they, they joined my group.
And on the way in there's a, you know, a page that gets there, ask for their email address. And that way I've got their email address to contact them. Let's say Facebook shuts down and then, you know, I've still got, yeah. I can still get in contact with the people that were really really into my stuff.
So I'm in that group. I have different content to what I put out into the public. So I. I will put my match designs up there and I will say like, you know, choose a design. And because they're putting that input into helping me choose the design and I choose the one that they all vote for. And then I get that made and because they've contributed to that, then they.
They want. Yeah, they're a part of it and they want that much. And then I know which ones are going to sell cause I've chosen it. So they helped me with that and you know, doing radio requests and adding it to their playlist and bringing their friends along to the show. And we have like, catch-ups it.
Music festivals and stuff, sales say, Hey, we're having your net pack catch up here. And we'll we'll have like, you know, I'll get them to bring their takeaway
coffee and
then we'll do some acoustic songs for them. And introduce everyone. Like I did it at a groundwater, like the last time it was on whenever that was.
two years hi, now
Rae Leigh: it was the last one.
Natalie Pearson: But yeah, I, I just got them to grab a takeaway coffee. They will sat in a circle. It was kind of like, it was a little bit like AA around the circle. It was like, all right, introduce yourself where you're from and how many festivals have you been to?
And. And everybody who was there who had come from all over and they didn't, they knew each other's names from the group, but they hadn't met each other face to face. And then they got to meet each other. And then I gave them like my wishlist of artists that I was going to go and see for the festivals.
So I was like, if you want to come with me, this is where I'll be at these times. And then they all paired off and they were all, cause I taught. Put my notes with me. So they'd bought much as well there. And then they were wearing my merge at a festival. I wasn't even playing
Rae Leigh: Oh, that's hilarious. I'll so you weren't
Natalie Pearson: I wasn't
flying at that
Rae Leigh: like, Hey guys, let's catch up and
Natalie Pearson: Exactly. So they were wearing, you know, Nat, Natalie Pearson at,
Rae Leigh: gold. I'm going to do that. So I'm going to give him muster. I'm not playing, but let's hang out and I'll play anyway.
Natalie Pearson: And so, you know, I, I do like, yeah, acoustic performance that they got to hear some songs that weren't released yet. And, you know, I just, I gave back to them because they give so much to me, you know, they helped me out.
They, they are really supportive, so I did something for them. And. That's what I have that grateful. So, I've just got to figure out a way to have something that is Patrion linked that doesn't take away from that.
So,
yeah, I don't know yet. I'm still trying to figure it out, but I also thought about letting people in the group know not letting them know how much it costs, but I thought about letting them know Yeah, when we get to this target amount.
So like, however, however many members we have in the Patrion account, like once we hit this number, I can put a song out. So whether that's you guys contributing more per person, or whether that's you getting more people into the, into the group, however way we want to do it, this is, this is the goal for the next song to be released.
So once we hit that target, there's your song. So it's kind of like you, you
Rae Leigh: really want another song.
This is how we're
Natalie Pearson: Exactly. So I'm thinking about setting it up like that, so that it's kind of, it does take that pressure off. You know, when are you gonna release a song and me being like, ah, I have to work a lot more hours so I can afford to do that.
So,
because you
Rae Leigh: got to take care of yourself, and not burn out as well. And
it's,
it's a health thing, but it's so nice to have other people saying, Hey, I can't wait for your next, like, that's I love that. Or like when you sing a song at a show, that's not necessarily release, like, when's it coming out, like. I mean, I wish I could release every song the day after I write it.
I think every creative person's like that. but Yeah. It's nice to talk about how much goes into it because maybe it makes other people aware, maybe appreciate the work and the arts that, that, yeah. it's the job is to make it seem seamless. Obviously. Like we want it to look easy and simple and relaxed because we want everyone to enjoy it. And if we make it look as stressful as this to make it, then it's not going to be
Natalie Pearson: enjoyable.
Rae Leigh: But it's also nice to actually have that conversation and be like, aware of yeah. this is a hard slog, but we were, we love it. We're passionate about it. That's why we do it. And we're so grateful. for any support, even someone listening to it, even if they listened to it. once I didn't care. Thank you. That's three minutes of your life. that you have, you know, Given to me. and that's beautiful, but it's it's a constant roller coaster. Isn't
Natalie Pearson: It is.
Rae Leigh: All right. Well, we've pretty much done. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Natalie Pearson: No, thank you for having me. I really appreciate you having me on the podcast and yeah.
Rae Leigh: I'll always Value people who want to come into the studio because it makes for a better
Natalie Pearson: Yeah It's nice to be face to face.
Rae Leigh: And the audio is better and everything. So, Yeah. Thank you. very much. And I will let You know, when it's ready to go, everything is going to be on the description of the podcast as well. So all your links, your socials, your nap pack. Maybe people want to get involved. We'll put all of that in the description of the podcast so people can follow you and get to know you and there'll be a blog on the website.
as well.
So yeah. Wishing you all the best
Natalie Pearson: Sweet. Thank you so much. You too.
