vintage Life Magazine Oct'11 issue

'Get surrey.com' - Surrey Advertiser - In What's On section of newspaper - July 13, 2011

Natalie Ross brings a touch of harmony

WITH the brand new vintage fayre coming to GuilFest, singer Natalie Ross will be providing entertainment as she plays all three days.
The musician, who describes her music as a take on 40s barbershop, will be playing on Friday from 4.30pm until 5pm and on Sunday from 6pm to 6.30pm while taking to the Acoustic Stage on Saturday.
She said she usually performed just with a loop station but that Saturday’s gig would be her debut with a band.
She said: “The loop station loops vocal barbershop harmonies to accompany my song and usually I’m a one-woman band. But recently I’ve got together with a group of musicians, a double bass player, guitarist and a drummer and we’ve put together the full shebang using the loop station as well because I’m known for that.
“It’s different with a band because it makes people want to dance a bit more. People wanted to dance before, but when you’re solo sometimes they just want to listen.”
Natalie, who lives in Guildford, said she loved playing at GuilFest and had performed there for the last three years.
“It’s really fun and it’s a nice local family thing. There are all different ages and different types of people. Because I’m local it means I get to see my friends too and all the people I haven’t seen for ages in one place. I’m really excited.”
For more information visit www.natalieross.co.uk.

Tom Robinson - On my ipod -
Natalie Ross – At Least I Know Where My Shoes Are (Studio version)
Natalie Ross channels the harmonies of artists like The Andrews Sisters through 21st century pop sensibilities. I love her stark, vulnerable songs like this one best.
www.natalieross.co.uk

Thursday, 3 February 2011 - All that Glitters-Amanda O's (make up artist) blog
‘You’ve Got That Feeling’ Music Video by Natalie Ross

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I posted a Making Of video documenting the production of the new music video that I worked on in September, by singer and songwriter Natalie Ross for her latest single ‘You’ve Got That Feeling’. Well the music video premiered at Guildford’s very own live music venue The Boileroom on Saturday 22nd January and has now been released for all to see and hear!

‘One-woman band’ Natalie Ross is an artist with a barbershop style sound but with a modern twist. Not only does she write her own material but she co-produces and arranges it all as well! As Natalie phrases it in Burning Wick’s Behind the Scenes, the music video for ‘You’ve Got That Feeling’ is a ‘visual representation’ of the song – a story of meeting the right person at the right moment and everything else falling into place!

Directed and filmed by Colin Arnold of The Surgery Productions, the 1940's style music video was filmed in Caterham, Surrey where fantastic jive dancers and extras all gathered to take part in the 1940’s tea dance set-up. Everyone’s outfits were incredible, the dancers were amazing and if you'd have stumbled in on the shoot you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d really gone back in time!

It was a real pleasure to work with Natalie and everyone involved on the day. I hope you enjoy the video as much as we all enjoyed making it!

To hear more of Natalie’s songs, get your hands on the ‘You’ve Got That Feeling’ download single and see dates for future gigs get yourself over to www.natalieross.co.uk

You can see Natalie’s video on my website www.amanda-makeup.com or below (double-click for a full-screen view) – sit back and enjoy!

Quote by Tom Robinson BBC 6 music/ Introducing - February 2011.

"The splendidly eccentric Natalie Ross channels the 1940's/50's harmonies of artists like Doris Day and The Andrews Sisters through 21st Century pop sensibilities. Her bubbly dizzy-blonde stage persona belies a mastery of modern looping technology - and a grasp of the killer hook that sooner or later is bound to deliver a monster hit. In more vulnerable moments on record she's also written some of the most emotionally literate songs I've heard in the past five years."

Dita Von Tease about 'You've got that feeling' single

'I love it! It's a very catchy song, and you sound great live! Thank you for sending!
I wish you all the best in your endeavors, keep up the great work!!! Dita x'

Quote by Phil Jackson BBC Introducing 'The South'

"Wonderful polka-dot pop that would sound as good in your smart phone as it would playing from your Nan's Vintage transistor."

Live review at The Boileroom 22/01/11 By Daniel Watson

The venue was pretty much packed out now, and the atmosphere was incredible! Natalie Ross made her way to the stage, and kept the fun times rolling with her quirky vintage flavoured pop. Going by her songs and image her influences include the golden oldies, but I found the orchestration and vocal harmonies in her songs really reminded me of Bjork, which I doubt Natalie consciously aimed for, but it really worked and gave her music that little bit of something different.

Quote about Natalie's music by Alex Baker - KERRANG UNSIGNED FM

Imagine you're a woman and your locked up in an all female prison, life sucks, apart from the fact that each day in the jailyard there's this beautiful ice-blonde maiden in the corner tapping her foot and quietly singin'-a-toon...she sounds sad, but somehow life seems perfect again...put Natalie Ross's CD on and this is how you'll feel.
It's music that is blues laden, woeful, tender but somehow full of power. Excellent.
Alex Baker - KERRANG UNSIGNED FM

www.myspace.com/alexbakerman
www.kerrangradio.co.uk/unsigned

Tom Robinson’s “Five Standout Tracks” with At Least I Know Where My Shoes Are.
Tom Robinson at BBC 6 Introducing says:
“Proof that great songwriting and a convincing vocal are all you need for sledgehammer emotional impact. Humour, pathos and sparse understated production make this a killer track."

Tastyfanzine.org.uk

'You only need to glance at the be-sequinned, posing Ross on the cover of ‘Shock to the System’ to tell she is not afraid of creating a spectacle. And this quality comes through wonderfully in this single where she puts herself right on the line, crisply enunciating every word and expertly weaving the instrumentation together for maximum theatrical effect. Whereas vocally some of her earlier work sounded similar to Polly Harvey or Michelle Shocked, with ‘Shock to the System’ she seems to have comfortably found her own sound.'

http://www.tastyfanzine.org.uk/singles86may09.htm#NatalieRoss

Youlikewelike.com

'From her appearance it would be easy not to take Natalie Ross seriously; looking like a cross between Christina Aguilera (during her Candyman phase), all finger-waved hair, spangled frocks and false eyelashes. But don’t be fooled, for Ross has talents to back-up the superficial glamour.

Her first single, Me and Delilah (left), was a favourite of bbc6 music and now the one-woman band that is Ross has released her latest single, Shock to the System, which is a highly listenable and perilously addictive critique to all self-centred shallow folk in need of a good kick up the arse.

Here Ross’s unusual quirky, yet pleasant, vocals float across an unaffected blues beat, as she purrs out sweetly dark and comfortingly funny lyrics (she even gets away with the clichéd line “you change your friends like you change your clothes” ).

With a penchant for handing out her badges at each concert, and with catchy songs like Shock to the System, many should soon be wearing her pins with pride.

Watch out for the album.'

The Beat Surrender Review of Natalie Ross - Trains Go Cha Cha EP

Natalie Ross is a young, talented singer-songwriter from Guildford who has very kindly sent me her Trains Go Cha Cha EP to review.

On the EP are previous single Me And Delilah along with the current single Secret Lemonade Drinker. While both of these are clearly stand out tracks on here, there are other delights to be found in the form of Clean Cut with it’s emotional feel and the stripped back sound of At Least I Know Where My Shoes Are.

Shipwrecked and Will I Be The Same ?show the depth of her song writing without having the same impact, she’s at her best on the previously mentioned tracks that as a reference point come over as a chirpier PJ Harvey mixed with a downbeat-lo-fi KT Tunstall.

Review of Trains go Cha Cha by Andrew Reilly from Roomthirteen.com

 The music and vocals on ‘Me and Delilah’ don’t seem to fit at first but there is something that keeps you coming back for more. The music is more akin to gravely throated singers telling of times they were wrongly imprisoned or how they are going to avenge being wronged by a woman. It is therefore somewhat of a shock to be taken to a different and slightly kooky world by Natalie Ross.

‘At Least I Know Where My Shoes Are’ veers off in a different direction from the opening songs and showcases more depth from what appears to be the very talented Miss Ross. It’s a far more plaintive track with finger picking styles and shows a more vulnerable side to the singer. Then again, like most girls she remains a focus of what is important and emphasises the importance of footwear.

This appears to be a mini-collection of her work so far and it should serve as a useful introduction to the artist. The deeper you go into the collection the more you learn and more you learn to like about Natalie Ross. That said, ‘Secret Lemonade Drinker’ never impressed this writer, who is far more of a prominent alcohol drinker but that’s one just track and the rest were great. And lets face it, this track is going to appease many folk along the way.

It is a solid body of work and hints at more talent to come. The double tracked vocals works well throughout the collection and if some moments leave you puzzled, there will be something better along very shortly.

Unlike the trains which rarely go cha cha these days.

Track Listing
Trains Go Cha Cha EP
01 - Me And Delilah
02 - Shipwrecked
03 - At Least I Know Where My Shoes Are
04 - Clear Cut
05 - Secret Lemonade Drinker
06 - Will I Be The Same?

Natalie Ross - 3rd Download Single release review - Secret Lemonade Drinker
 
'Secret Lemonade Drinker' is one of them there newfangled download type things that seem to be all the rage nowadays. And, via that there electronic gadgetry and all them mousey clicky things, Natalie Ross is making this quirky track available for your consumption and edification. So, if you're that way inclined I suggest you go downloading and get it put in your computer or wherever it goes!

Did I just write 'quirky'? I think I did!! Quite right too! Natalie Ross actually sells herself as 'quirky alternative acoustic pop' and I have to say I can't disagree with her coz 'Secret Lemonade Drinker' is just sufficiently left of normal to be designated 'strangely strange but oddly normal'. Now that's just fine - in fact, I actually love it - it's nicely different, it's slightly challenging and it's charmingly adventurous! Ross actually reminds me of 4 Non Blondes with a hint of Alanis Morissette; there's a vibrant, dusky and slightly barmy element of the former sitting juxtaposed to the serious, poignant element of the latter - with an underlying hint of the blues the mix is gritty, elegant and seriously interesting!

Natalie Ross sounds like a real fun person; she sounds like someone who doesn't take herself too seriously but hopes that people take to her imaginative and creative style. Certainly Ross seems to be going down a somewhat tangential road with her music - she aint yer normal acoustic songstress - Ross is a bit of an urban poet and isn't afraid to say as she finds. Hence the humour or should I say quirky side to her poetic ramblings!

Natalie Ross has impressed me with her slightly off-kilter acoustic way. She writes extremely well, she plays with knowing sensitivity and she sings with a certain cute but ballsy attitude. 'Secret Lemonade Drinker' by Natalie Ross makes a pleasant change from all the self-important and often too deeply meaningful acoustic stuff out there. I bet Natalie Ross really communicates and 'clicks' with her audience and is a real hoot in the live scenario. I really hope she can take her light-hearted acoustic wares to the next level. Quirky works just fine for me - but seriously, Natalie Ross is bloody good and Natalie Ross deservers to be heard - and enjoyed!

Peter J Brown aka toxic pete (www.toxicpete.co.uk)

Natalie's debut download single 'Me and Delilah' was aired by Tom Robinson at BBC 6 music on the 28th October 2007.

'Me and Delilah was a real find for us really early on when we first launched the show. It's an extraordinary piece of music...' Tom Robinson (BBC 6 music.)

Trains Go Cha Cha EP.
'Inspiring, entrancing and well worth a fiver!' Ivan Chandler (Director of Musicalities Publishing.)