Natalie Gauci – Fame

By starrymag | March 5, 2024

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is a little but country, and a little bit pop on my new up coming album. However, I am very versatile when it comes to being able to sing different genres, which leads me to write in many different styles as well. I can say my Spotify playlists of my own music ranges from jazz to soul, to Big Band, reggae and I love writing a good ballad. But since I’m maturing more and playing guitar more, my songs definitely have a country cross over now and I can’t go back.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Nina Simone was my biggest influence when it came to songwriting. I was listening to her sing “Strange Fruit” and an emotion stirred inside of me and it prompted me to sit at the piano and just start jamming chords to a poem I’d written. My mum came in and asked me what the song was and when I told her I made it up, she didn’t believe me. It made me think that maybe I was actually good at writing. So, I kept writing about my experiences and feelings while listening to a lot of Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald. I’d then go through phases of wanting to be like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Dolly Parton is a great inspiration to me; I love her gifts especially when it comes to her story telling. Commercial music was also around by default and so was my Italian grandma’s radio.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Fame.”

A) The story goes back to when I was living in London. I didn’t know who I was, and I was searching for the truth. I was trying to figure out what happened after I won “Australian Idol” and why I decided to disappear and not continue with my fame. When I left Australia and all my fans, I couldn’t accept who Natalie Gauci had become. I wasn’t myself. I wrote “Fame” to try and make sense of what fame really means. What does it mean to be famous? I knew I wanted to make a difference in the world, and if that made me well known then that’s ok. But if there is no love, what is the point to being heard? What is the message? The purpose? I learnt that love was what I really wanted, not fame. Love can bring fame, love can bring hope and it’s the best message because don’t we all want love? Fame alone doesn’t bring happiness. That’s what I learnt.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) In conversations I’ve had it seems that fans connect to the aspect of wanting to be famous. With social media we all get our fifteen minutes of fame, but at what expense? I believe fans also connect to the truth and to honesty. In this song I’m really open and honest about my feelings about my experience with Fame and I feel fans are really empathising with me.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The video accentuates my initial message that love and the simple things was what I really needed. There are clips of me and my son at home, spending quality time together, moments where I’m looking in the mirror and losing my mind not being able to out my make up on properly. One is portraying love, whilst the other is a chaotic mind. It wasn’t until I got famous, that I became much more “in my head” rather than in my heart. Chasing something that wasn’t real. The fame was outside of me an external thing, but my music isn’t, that part is in my heart. That’s the part I wanted people to see.

Q) You also have the song “When I Want Your Love” out now. What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) My usual writing process is extremely spontaneous and unplanned but always seems to have similar approach. It’s late, I’m tired and about to go sleep and then all of a sudden, I’ll get a spark inside if me that gets me to my piano. I start writing lyrics at piano of whatever wants to come out of me, like a whole bunch of words and phrases, as if I’m speaking to someone. Then, I’ll start playing the piano as if the song is already written. Then, I sing the words I’ve written into the song and edit the lyrics to make sense and to flow with the music. The expression and the emotion are what drives the song. God is in my heart in this song and it’s the first time ever that I was speaking to him, I found a sense of peace in my writing and performance process.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I have a big hand in the production of my music. For many before “Fame” and my new up coming album, I produced all my own music. I got to a point where I realised, I can’t do everything on my own and I would love to collaborate and hand over the reigns. It has been the best decision ever. Andrew Beck from Damien Gerard Studios in Gosford NSW, who is originally from Seattle, has been such an incredible producer for my new music. I feel very blessed.

Q) With new songs out now, will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) Absolutely! My new album is called Brand New Day and will be released 5^th July 2024.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I loved performing at Ronnie Scott’s in London, it’s a very iconic jazz bar. I loved it because the crowd were so responsive, it was an intimate setting and the sound was always amazing. I also really love singing at stadiums. I performed before an LA Galaxy game for a hundred thousand people and that was so exhilarating, I’d love to do that again! The crowd and the atmosphere were so uplifting I felt like I was flo.

Q) We loved you on “The Voice Australia.” What is a piece of advice that were you given while on the series that you have carried with you and who was it from? 

A) Thank you! “The Voice” coach Guy Sebastian gave me some really sound advice. He spoke about how my vulnerability is my strength and to keep that in my performance because it is so powerful. I’ve definitely kept that piece of advice as I’ve moved forward with my new album.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) MORGEN WALLEN – love his voice and his song writing.

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Now with Spotify we have the opportunity to create playlists with many different artists, and I’ve been drawn into this approach to listening to music, especially because I have a four-year-old son. I don’t really get to choose what we listen to, so I sneak in a few my own favourites in between his. A few artists I’ve been loving lately are Teddy Swims, Morgen Wallen, Sia, Joe Nichols, Jill Scott and John Mayer.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I’d like to say a huge thank you to my fans and supporters of my work. After winning “Australian Idol,” it’s taken me over ten years to really find the love in my heart to allow God to make a way for me and my music again. This time around, I have the wisdom and confidence to share my story of the past ten years through my new music and album and so grateful because without you, there’d be no purpose to putting it out there to be heard and shared. Music needs an audience which means my fans and supporters are my greatest gifts! Thank you.