Natalie Sandtorv drops last name for her new NATALIE project, unveils the fantastic pop gem "FEARS"

We've been fans of Sandtorv since stumbling across her Freedom Nation album - a mix of jazz, pop and psych - and her absolutely stunning, noisy free-jazz show at Bergen's Vill Vill Vest festival last year. Well, "FEARS" is something completely new as NATALIE, but no less wonderful.

Essentially a pop song you could file alongside the best of Highasakite, "FEARS" is a mix of Sandtorv's incredible, booming and soulful voice, huge drums and chiming/crunching guitar. It's a thrilling new chapter, and we can't wait to hear more from NATALIE.

We spoke to Sandtorv to find out more about the new project.

BEST FIT: So you’re releasing this single as NATALIE - why did you make that choice?

NATALIE: “It’s to mark a change. I knew that this new music and direction I am taking needed to have a different name and feel to it. It is also to make the line between my jazz project and my new pop project clearer.

I'm trying to show more of myself though this new music via the lyrics and sounds. Where my Freedom Nation project is more political, and conceptual, NATALIE is more about touching base with my personal life, and I'm for the first time allowing myself to use my voice in a way I used to be afraid of. It might sound crazy but it feels like I have been running away from using the soul of my voice. And now Im allowing all the things I thought cheesy to just come out, and I really love it!”

There seems to be three Natalies now - the one on record, the Natalie Sandtorv who surprised me so much with that heavy set at VVV and now NATALIE.....are you restless? Do you like to keep people guessing??

“I feel like there is only one Natalie, but she likes to express herself in different ways. This is also why I need to have different project names. But I am a very restless person. I don't even know where I want to live, I change my mind every week. And I also have some commitment issues with musicians. But that’s mostly because I love to work with new people, because they always add something new to the music, I hope…But the energy and power we performed with at Vill Vill Vest last year, will still be a big part of the live show going forward, I think that’s the goal with everything I do, to make it big, and a bit spectral!”

Can you tell me a little bit about your background, your history in music?

“Growing up I listened to a lot of soul, gospel and R&B, and around 14 I got into jazz. I sang in a choir for many years, until I was 12, and then started having private singing lessons. I did a bachelor in jazz performance in Norway, and then I moved to Berlin to get away from Norway, and to see what was out there. I really love the scene in Berlin, it’s crazy, energetic, and always changing. You can catch a show any day, and play every night If you wish.

After freelancing for a couple of years I realized that it’s not so important to label yourself within genres, and I saw myself more of an artist with a lot of different influences, instead of limiting myself as a jazz musician, I find that it doesn't paint the whole picture. I have listened a lot to Lauren Hill, Ornette Coleman, Lykke Li, and Alice Coltrane. I really love the spiritual jazz-vibes from the 60s, but I’m also really into hip hop, and the last couple of years I have mostly listened to Kanye West, Little Dragon and Frank Ocean.”

What’s the story behind the new single?

“‘FEARS’ is about being afraid of the fact that we can't live forever, and that we are all in a hurry to fall in love. But also about making some wrong choices, and trust. The atmosphere in the song reminds me of when I was living in Bergen, and walking home late at night from a party, it was raining as always, and I didn't feel connected to the people or my friends there, and I really just wanted to escape to some other place, and fall in love…”

What or who has influenced you the most in your career?

“I have been surrounded by many amazing musicians, and artists moving around so much. And meeting so many different people really makes me see music and art from so many different angles. I think this makes me do things a little bit different, and I like to mix a lot of different expressions. Also watching a lot of movies and tv-shows has inspired me and made me able to tap into different moods and atmospheres. I’m a huge David Lynch fan, and I’m also very inspired by Nic Pizzolatto, David Simon, and I just fell in love with the Duffer brothers, Stranger Things. So a lot of sci-fi and mystery inspire me!”

What can we expect next from you?

“You can expect more Natalie in the monitor! My plan now is to finish a couple of new songs this summer, so I can present NATALIE in all her glory at Jugendfest in August! ‘Fears’ is this quiet but nice starter, and then I will move on to a louder main course with the next song. I´m very happy and excited to be working with Lars Hustoft of Starbox Music on these releases, its so nice to work with someone who pushes you to really go for it, and to help me realize my visions!”