Interview: Natalie Carr

Hello. We enjoyed listening to your song “Scraped Knees”. What is the story behind the song and how did you create/write it? Also, what inspired the song title?
Hey! So ‘Scraped Knees’ is a song that essentially about changing who you are, and what you’re about, for a relationship that is bound to fail. It’s about the times I’ve tried to be more appealing to people by toning down who I am and deafening my emotions in efforts to get them to stay. The title refers to the hook, ‘scraped knees, jagged teeth, blood shot baby,” which describes the toll a bad relationship takes in ugly, not-so-cute terms. As a female, I’ve definitely felt like I’ve had to present myself a certain way in order to be palpable by society’s standards. This song is about ultimately rejecting that, and being as crass and brazen as you want to be! I wrote it over a serum sound (the wobble), and producers John ‘JMac’ McCall and Dillon Lawter then decided to open up the production in the hook to give it an anthem feel.

We understand that there is also a music video for the song. What inspired the video and what ideas went into making it? Is there a message that the video carries too?
So, I actually directed the video alongside my videographer (Michael Finster) and my fellow creator (Audrey Smoak). I had this idea of an opening scene wherein I’m a member of a dance group, but I keep showing up late/drunk and messing the whole thing up. The video begins with with that skit, and it worked out really beautifully. I then did a performance type video for the song itself, and I aimed to make it super distorted/shitty quality. I edited the video myself and had a really good time synthesizing pieces from the shoot. I was aiming to look scattered and unhinged, and I’m really happy with the finished product! I enjoy creating and editing videos myself, so it’s always a fun challenge to have this much say in the final product.

I would describe my sound as Alt-pop/Indie-pop meets R&B. My sound has developed overtime and definitely resides somewhere along those lines, but it took a minute to find my lane. I site influences from a ton of different genres, so it was always hard to figure out who I was, as a brand, and live there. Contemporary artists that influence me include Post Malone, SZA, BENEE, and Bea Miller (so, kind of all over the map). Some of my writing is more free-flow R&B, over guitars and what not, and other songs are more ‘pop.’

There have been so many amazing small wins in the last two years that I’ve been releasing music, it’s hard to say! When ‘Sad Little Rant’ came out, there was a group of dancers in Taiwan that found my song via the Fresh Finds playlist on Spotify, and they made a routine to it. I stumbled across it one day on YouTube while I was checking stats and what not, and it literally brought me to tears. It was the coolest thing ever to see something like that, unprompted, from all the way across the world. It was a huge honor. As far as my bucket list, I’d love to open for someone at Madison Square Garden one day. Being from the NY area, I grew up going to MSG all the time. It would feel really full-circle.

Hmmm, hard to say! There are SO many artists that I would love to support (so far as opening for them, or writing for them, etc). I’d probably have to say Miley Cyrus, since I’ve been a huge fan since her Hannah Montana days and onwards. I love that she is authentically herself at different stages in her life, and doesn’t shy away from being exactly who she is. I admire the work she does and nothing would make my life more, honestly. While playing at Madison Square Garden would be UNREAL, I’d love to play Coachella one day. Being around some of the most successful and inspiring artists in the world, in one place, would put me on Cloud 9.

I’ve been listening to Girl in Red, Gus Dapperton, Ruel, Cautious Clay, and H.E.R. a tonne recently. I’m sure we’ve all heard of these artists, and for good reason! I admire great songwriting and storytelling, and I’ve been in my ~feelings~ recently so I’ve been seeking out solace in great music. Some other artists that are 100% worth checking out include David Suarez, RILEY, and Alex Mali. Highly recommend!

Natalie Carr: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Twitter

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