Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – All The Time

May 3, 2024May 5, 2024 / James Fenney

I think in the wrong hands ‘All The Time’ might have been very different. This fangirl anthem, detailing an intensely passionate celebrity crush, could easily have veered into more obsessive and parasocial territory. But in the capable hands of Belwood favourite Natalie Shay (who at this point has rattled off more big effervescent bops than I’ve had hot dinners!) this spirited new single instead feels like the sweetest daydream. An unrequited love for some artist oblivious to your existence, but whose music seems to know you better that you know yourself. It plays like some glorious fusion of Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong With Me’ and Phoebe Bridger’s ‘Punisher’ – equal parts confidence in the connection, and perceived compatibility, that you’ve built up in your mind, and terror at the thought of meeting them, being lost for words, and watching the dream shatter before your eyes. With the way this story of longing interweaves with Natalie’s uncanny knack for crafting infectious indie pop melodies, you can’t help but root for her pipe dream coming true.

Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – Figure of 8

October 26, 2023 / James Fenney

Indie pop powerhouse Natalie Shay sure has remarkable knack for turning drama into euphoria. I don’t know how she does it; taking all of her anger, pain and frustration and using it to fuel some of the most upbeat and effervescent bops around. Her latest display of emotional alchemy, ‘Figure of 8’, details the vicious circle of being stuck in an addictive toxic relationship. How no matter how many times they hurt you and let you down, they keep finding a way to reel you back in. Each time they try and convince you that things will change, that this time will be different, some part of you believes them despite all evidence to the contrary. ‘Figure of 8’s relentless energy turns that downward spiral into a rollercoaster; that stomach drop moment may be inevitable, but may as well enjoy the adrenaline rush while it lasts. The cathartic singalong chorus compels you to channel all your hurt into it and let it all get lost in the joyous whirlwind. Replace that lead weight holding you down for something shimmering and golden.

Top Ten EPs of 2022

December 29, 2022 / James Fenney

Time now for what always proves to be our most hotly contested list each year. EPs are such an important creative tool for new artists especially, and there’s such a wealth of them out there that we barely scratch the surface of them with the few that fit in our Spotlight! series. In a way this feels like the most important list of the season as it gives us chance to shine a light on releases that we don’t otherwise get the opportunity to talk about. Great things often come in small packages, and here are our picks for the EPs that left the biggest impressions in 2022. Continue reading →

Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – Heaven

October 13, 2022 / James Fenney

I think most people, when asked what they’d wish for if they had one wish, would tend to fall back on the same few answers: wealth, love, fame etc. In close contention however, is the option of a second chance. Seemingly more so now than ever, we all find ourselves longing to be able to share with our younger selves all that we’ve come to know and learn. The answers to the questions we struggled with, the lessons that we learned through hardship, the mistakes we now look back on older and wiser. To be able to know those things you stress about won’t matter in the end, to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you’re in a dark place, to be able to see yourself reaching heights you thought you’d never reach or carrying a weight you thought you could never bear. That’s priceless. With ‘Heaven’ Belwood favourite Natalie Shay shares with her younger self all the growth and self-discovery that recent years have brought. Taken from her new EP MILK, her words share the personal journey of how she’s grown as a person, and in the exemplary pop songwriting all can hear plain as day just how much she’s grown as an artist these past few years.

Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – New Wave

September 8, 2021 / James Fenney

I remember once reading a great quote that said that we fall in love the same way we fall asleep – slowly, and then all at once. Both offer a tantalising tingle of what’s to come as they gradually wear down your defences, but at some point, without you even realising it, the dam breaks and it all just washes over you and sweeps you away. Belwood favourite Natalie Shay returns to capture the feeling of the moment when butterflies become a tidal wave with her euphoric new single. ‘New Wave’ describes the sensation of those bubbling emotions that you’ve been questioning so long suddenly all making sense, and the excitement of starting a new chapter. When you put your doubts and fears aside and open your heart to someone new, and open you mind to imagine what this new love has in store. Fittingly this latest single is perhaps her most vibrant and effervescent offering yet, with Natalie having refined and perfected her uplifting 80s aesthetic. The synths shimmer brighter than ever, the captivating chorus is one of her most infectious yet, and its joyous groove will have you jumping up to dance in no time flat. This dazzling single skips the slow part of falling in love, and instead you’re caught in the rush right from the first listen.

Top Ten EPs of 2020

December 29, 2020December 19, 2020 / James Fenney

The medium of choice for rising stars, an invaluable tool for up and coming artists, EPs are the oft overlooked lifeblood of the music industry. It’s always been our most hotly contested list as the wealth of great EPs often represents the very best and brightest new acts on the scene. In a music industry decimated by Covid-19 however, these artists are amongst those hardest hit. So as we reel off our favourite EPs from our least favourite year, if you stumble across a release that resonates with you, we ask that you do your bit to support the artists in whatever way you can. Continue reading →

Spotlight!: Natalie Shay

April 30, 2020 / James Fenney

It seems odd to think that we’re only now writing about Natalie Shay’s debut EP. Ever since we covered her stunning single ‘This Feeling’ back in 2018 she’s been part of the furniture here on the blog, an unquestioned Belwood favourite right from the off. With just a handful of singles to her name she’s not only won us over, but has also become one of the UK’s most sensational rising stars. With each new release she has generated major buzz in the indie pop world, added to her ever growing legion of fans, and has also grown ever more assured as a songwriter and performer. Her previous releases have seen her sound grow and change, only to finally bloom on Naked as a glorious fusion of nostalgic day-glo 80s vibes and effervescent indie pop energy.

Shimmering synths, bright melodies and irresistibly danceable grooves are the order of the day here, and the infectious carefree spirit that pervades the record knows no bounds. ‘Not The Girl’ and ‘People Like Me’ boast manic wailing guitar solos, the title track ‘Naked’ has a delightful dash of retro sax, and the new stripped back version of ‘Yesterday’ adds so much depth to the track. Beneath the buoyant enthusiasm of the music however lies lyricism that details how messy and uncertain relationships can be; all the fear, temptation and conflict. The end result is a bittersweet record that feels, in more ways than one, like a John Hughes film – defiantly fun and uplifting in the face of unresolved struggles and emptiness. For most artists a debut EP is a shaky first step into the wider world, but for Natalie Shay it feels like a culmination of everything she’s worked hard to build, and a promise that this is still only the beginning.

Fans of Fickle Friends, Clean Cut Kid and 80s pop should check out Natalie’s Naked EP

Top Tracks: Natalie Shay – People Like Me

August 1, 2019August 9, 2019 / James Fenney

Eighties revivalism has seemingly skyrocketed in recent years. There’s just something about that style that keeps artists coming back for inspiration, and keeps audiences coming back to bask in its charm. Indie pop in particular seems to have a penchant for embracing all things retro, but I can think of few examples that do it quite so well as ‘People Like Me’. With its vibrant synths, energetic rhythm, infectious hooks, and one of the most quirky guitar solos I’ve heard in a while, it’s an endearing track that wins you over right from the first listen. The most uplifting and engaging single yet from Belwood favourite Natalie Shay, it feels like it has been plucked directly from the soundtrack of a John Hughes film. Dealing with the realities of life as an artist, rather than the rose-tinted view we see on social media, it’s easy to imagine it playing over a playful montage of someone trying to find their way in the world. Though it doesn’t shy away from the realities of life, the unrelentingly joyful tone of the song gives you all the positive energy you could ask for to persevere.

Interview: Natalie Shay

January 24, 2019 / James Fenney

Photo by Max Giorgeschi

We don’t throw around the term Belwood favourite lightly, and rising star Natalie Shay more than deserves the title. This indie pop singer/songwriter released two brilliant singles last year, and her 2019 is already off to a flying start with her brand new single ‘Yesterday’. Proving a real on-to-watch, we though it was high time we have a chat with her for our first interview of the year. Continue reading →