Natalie Red shares insights into her artistic vision, the challenges of staying true to oneself in the music industry, and her aspirations for the future.

Natalie Red, an emerging force in the hyperpop and electronic music scenes, hails from the vibrant city of Tallinn, Estonia. With a unique blend of melancholic yet fast-paced sounds, Natalie has captivated audiences with her nostalgic yet futuristic music. In this exclusive Q&A, Natalie Red opens up about her journey from Estonia to Finland, her creative process, and the inspiration behind her upcoming EP, Silence Through These Walls.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make? 

My name is Natalie Red and I’m an artist and producer from Tallinn, Estonia. I moved to Finland when I was about 13 years old and from there, I started to travel back and forth between Estonia and Finland. Going to international schools and being exposed to so many different nationalities, cultures, and languages, shaped me to be the artist I am today. I would describe my music to be very fast-paced and melancholic. I like to think that my music sounds like a mixture of nostalgic elements with futuristic. I guess the genre I find myself engulfed in the most is hyperpop and electronic. 

Your latest single "Official" is receiving a lot of buzz. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the track and what it means to you? 

“Official” is a song I wrote about being in a situationship or a not so serious relationship. Essentially, it’s a very fun pop song that combines elements from different genres such as trap and hyperpop. I tend to hide sad lyrics behind a fun and hype beat. For this one in particular, I really wanted to play around with the harsh synth sounds that I hear a lot in rap music, especially Lil Uzi’s tracks. The visuals play a role as well because it definitely elevates the song. I had the idea to combine this song with a very dark, dystopian, and a matrix type visual. I like the dark and futuristic atmosphere. 

"Official" combines elements of alt-pop, rap, and hyperpop. How do you approach blending these genres, and what do you hope listeners take away from your music? 

I don’t think too much about it. I think it happens subconsciously as well because I just like to experiment a lot and to hear what sounds cool together. For this song, I started with the synth sound and the drums came after. The synth is more rap inspired and the drums are a mix between hyperpop and trap. I want listeners to be inspired, not be afraid to be themselves, and to think outside the box. 

Your upcoming EP, 'Silence Through These Walls,' explores themes of introspection and emotional exploration. Can you delve into the creative process behind this project and what listeners can expect? 

The creative process behind this EP is what it has always been. I usually make a demo from my home studio and then take the stems into the studio, and then a producer helps me bring it to the finish line. Eventually, I want to finish them myself but I do like collaboration and to see what another creative would change or add to my song and ideas. It’s always cool to see how another creative hears the song and what their process is like.

Listeners can expect various different sounds and lyrical contents from this EP. I feel like I learned a lot through this process, what music I want to make, and what message I want to spread. There are various different genres in this, some slower songs and some faster tracks as well. 

What drew you to merge genres like big synths, hyperpop percussion, and rap-inspired melodies in your production? 

Honestly, I just like experimenting and I’ve always been a person who thinks outside the box and also someone who doesn’t want to fit into a box. I always find myself doing the opposite of what people want from me. I guess it could be rebellion haha but I like a challenge. Also, artists and producers like Pharrell and Grimes really influenced me to have fun with production and music and not be afraid to try out new things. 

"U Been On My Mind" and "Official" seem to touch on themes of love, frustration, and self-discovery. How do personal experiences influence your songwriting? 

Personal experiences definitely inspire me to write music but sometimes I also write from someone’s else’s POV or I just make up a story. These songs were actually purely fictional because none of the song topics happened when I wrote them. They actually happened after which is funny. I guess I manifested it. 

Can you share any anecdotes or memorable moments from the making of your EP or recording process? 

Most memorable parts are just fun times in the studio, especially the deep talks that occur there. Before every studio session, I end up having deep conversations with the other creatives and producers. That’s what I love the most. Connecting and relating to other creatives because we all go through the same things in this industry. Also, the late nights in my bedroom just producing beats and freestyling melodies on top are really memorable. 

As a rising artist, how do you navigate the challenges of the music industry, particularly in terms of carving out your own lane and staying authentic to your artistic vision? 

I’m actually a bit of a people pleaser which I’m working on but I used to take other people’s opinions and direction in way too much. Nowadays, I try to block out the noise and just do my own thing because that’s all that matters really. Staying authentic and true to yourself. Otherwise, your music will just sound like everyone else’s. Also, it’s impossible to please everybody because everyone has different tastes in music. Of course, I want to make sure that the music has the potential to go big so there is always that pressure to make viral tik tok friendly music.

Your journey from studying music in London to now being recognised as a force to be reckoned with is impressive. What advice would you give to aspiring artists looking to follow in your footsteps? 

I’d say to just keep working on your craft, taking a step each day to improve your skills in songwriting, production, live shows, and etc. There is so much to do as an artist but as long as you keep up the consistency in releasing music, promoting it, and getting out there as much as possible, it will happen for you. Believing in your vision and music is important too because if you don’t believe in it, people can sense it and they won't believe it either. 

Could you shed some light on your collaboration process, whether it's with other musicians, producers, or songwriters? 

I love collaboration because two or more brains together is better than just one. I produce and write my music from home and then bring it to the studio and then I finish the music with another producer. I love seeing where they would take the music or what they would add to it. I usually write every song 100% myself but for this EP, I co-wrote the song “Silence Through These Walls” which was really fun. 

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your EP 'Silence Through These Walls' after listening to it in its entirety? 

I hope listeners feel inspired after listening to it. I want people to relate to the lyrics and know that they aren’t alone in whatever emotions or feelings they are experiencing. I also hope I can inspire future producers to take risks and just make art without thinking too much about it. Perfectionism is a curse! 

What do you love right now? 

I’ve been loving going to the arcade recently. And playing pool as well. This year, I promised myself that I’d try out new things and just live life to the fullest because we only have one. I’ve kind of tapped into my inner child lately and just done things that bring me joy or what used to bring me joy. Sometimes, as adults we want to have everything figured out and we can become too serious. It’s okay to have fun and to let loose. 

What do you hate right now? 

It might sound annoying but I don’t hate anything. I don’t even like the term “hate” just because it’s such a strong word. I’m grateful for where I am in my life and there’s nothing to complain about because I’m so blessed. Of course, there’s times I might get annoyed or stressed but it’s all about how we react to things!

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you? 

I like to listen to Ariana Grande’s full discography from time to time. She’s one of my biggest idols and I love her album Sweetener in particular because some of the songs on there have helped me so much. Whenever I’m feeling sad, I put on “Breathin” and I feel so much better. 

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future of your music career, and what can fans expect from you next? 

I want to keep making music, trying out new sounds and keep pushing my music. I’d love to collaborate with another artist or rapper, I feel like that would be really cool. Making some merch would be dope as well. But, the music comes first and I want to make sure I keep improving and making quality music.