Natalie McCool has proved herself as a captivating frontwoman with a gift for innovative pop songwriting. After airplay at Radio 1, 6 Music and BBC Introducing and praise from The Line of Best Fit, Sunday Times, Clash and Wonderland, Natalie has now reached a new artistic height with the release of her new album ‘Good For The Soul’ on September 9th, which is previewed by lead single ‘Coming Of Age’ out now, featuring Trans Voices.
‘Good For The Soul’ is a different animal altogether from her previous record, 2021’s ‘Memory Girl’. It’s a boundary- breaking, genre-bending record in a lot of ways, but at the root is her never-changing, unique flavour of alternative pop. It’s a diverse journey, which moves confidently from playful pop and into darker, trippier, moodier soundscapes.
The album is drawn from two pivotal influences. First was being commissioned to co-curate and perform ‘Welcome To Eurotopia’, a 90-minute live show that kicked off Liverpool’s 2023 Eurovision Festival.. A collaboration with Stealing Sheep, the show featured guest vocalists including The Lathums and Andy McCluskey (OMD), as well as a ten-piece all-female band, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and a marching brass section. And second was the growing realisation that she didn’t have to restrict herself to any genre: she was free to do anything she wanted.
Natalie says, “The album is called ‘Good For The Soul’ because it explores the hope, joy and exhilaration of adulthood, and the way every experience makes you who you are – even the bad ones. There’s something for everyone on this album. It really is good for the soul!”
The album’s first single ‘Coming of Age’ is sheer alt-pop exuberance – a joyous anthem of self-empowerment and newly discovered confidences with the most uplifting chorus Natalie has written to date. Her driving vocal is backed by the powerful harmonies of Trans Voices, the London-based collective who blend meditative soundscapes, choral tradition, emerging technology, and bold vocal experimentation to reclaim spaces where trans perspectives are rarely heard.
Natalie recently performed with Trans Voices when Imogen Heap invited them to perform all harmonies and backing vocals at her recent show at London’s Roundhouse.
She adds, “I’ve known ilā, co-founder of Trans Voices, for a number of years, working with her a number of times for various projects – and she inspires me so much. ‘Coming of Age’ is about finding yourself, and the sheer exhilaration and joy of that journey and what it can mean. I knew the sentiment would really resonate with her, and Trans Voices as a community – and it did!”
Natalie co-wrote ‘Coming of Age’ with Dan Haggis of The Wombats, who she supported live as part of their campaign for their previous album ‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’. It was produced by Danio Forni (twst, Superorganism, Kari Faux), who she had already admired via his work with his band Husky Loops.
That collaborative streak extends to the rest of the album, bringing a colourful flair and a touch of the unpredictable to the set. Further collaborators include She Drew The Gun, Dilettante, Renee Stormz and strings from the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. The album includes one previously released track, last year’s ‘I Fantasise’, which features Ellysse Mason.
Originally from Widnes, Natalie is now based in Liverpool and loves the strength of its creative community. She started playing guitar at the age of six, and went onto study music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where she had the opportunity to have a one to one masterclass with Paul McCartney. Her first breakthrough came when she won a songwriting contest judged by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, leading to acclaim across her albums so far: her self-titled debut, ‘The Great Unknown’ and ‘Memory Girl’. She’s always eager to extend her skills, most recently learning how to produce and mix, which led to her recording and producing most of the tracks on ‘Good For The Soul’.
Natalie McCool will play two album launch shows at Liverpool’s Kazimier Stockroom (October 9th) and London’s Sebright Arms(October 10th) – tickets for both are now available . She is also confirmed for the Henley Festival on July 11th and DevaFest on August 9th.