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It’s 98 degrees in Palm Springs. In the heavy, pre-Coachella heat, I’m stuck on a WhatsApp call natalie la rose. When we last spoke, she was embarking on a silent, tectonic shift of self-discovery that required abandoning mainstream labels and the rigid control they often impose on their artists. She was moving out of the shadow of the industrial machine and toward the light at the end of the independent tunnel.
It’s been a few years since our last interview. “Wait, Art,” she whispers over the line. “I’m sorry about the welcome. I’m in the Bahamas on work and will be braiding my hair for the next 16 hours.” What better way to spend time than a poolside interview, catching up like old friends sunbathing on opposite sides of the world. “I’m so excited for this single and the music video to come out,” she tells me, her excitement cutting through the digital static. “This includes my home country, Suriname. It is very important for me to stay closer to my roots than ever before. Over the past few years, I have found within myself what was once lost – my voice and my soul. Both metaphorically. Physically.”
A few years ago, Natalie was diagnosed with spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that causes the vocal cords to spasm involuntarily, resulting in a persistent trembling or “shaky” quality of the voice. In the medical world, he was told there was no cure; That his voice would probably never recover. “Today compared to four years ago? It’s a miracle I can speak,” she says. While doctors suggested her career might be over, Natalie fought the odds. She became independent, decided the diagnosis would not paralyze her, and used the handicap as a catalyst for deeper answers. During this transition period she turned inward.
“I’m diving more into self-discovery. It’s important to know where you come from – ancestral lineage, diving into the rhythms of my ancestors, tapping into the past and present,” explains Natalie. “I’m speaking my truth more. When I’m invited to panels, I talk openly about my story and my process. I believe my condition has something to do with the fact that I wasn’t living in my deepest truth. As I’ve learned who I am and started speaking out, my voice has slowly returned.” Through this recollection, he realized that most of the limitations are of mind rather than matter. She began her search for the “divine femininity” – the forgotten power and magic inherent in women. This change is the heartbeat of their new music. Their single, “Not Nice”, is a defiant anthem against people pleasing. “Sometimes choosing yourself means saying ‘no’; having strong boundaries,” she says firmly. “It’s not always supposed to be ‘good,’ but it’s about choosing to be yourself. No longer looking for validation through actions. It’s more important to be kind than to be nice. My kindness is graced with truth, and it all comes from a loving place.”
Natalie channeled her compassion into the “Rise and Shine” Foundation, where she worked with the First Lady of Suriname to teach choreography to 50 local students. That experience inspired him to launch his own foundation, CHIC. Recently, CHIC partnered with KIPP Scholar Academy in East Los Angeles for a seven-week mentorship program. Natalie personally trains middle school students alongside industry veterans like Aye Hollywood, as well as the choreographers and composers behind icons like Nicki Minaj and J.Lo. “It was about healing the child inside me,” she muses. “Not only was I helping others find their voice and creativity, but it helped me rediscover my own voice and creativity. Sometimes you have to throw yourself in the deep end and not pay attention to what could go wrong.” There are still required silent rest days where she will not take a single call. “Occasionally, my voice still gets a little harsh, but I’ve learned to accept it where it is. I no longer let fear dictate my decisions.”Sharing the struggle has sped up recovery. Their new single “Not Nice” is a masterclass in Caribbean soul; It’s the kind of track that makes you shake your hips, feeling the weight of its lyrics. “I made it three years ago. It was the beginning of peeling back the layers,” says Natalie. “The funny thing is, even though I started my foundation to help these kids, they were working on me, too. Dedicating my talents to others was healing me. I was forced to lead with my voice in the most vulnerable position I’ve ever been in. It was scary, but every small step makes it easier.”
In an industry that demands constant noise, Natalie La Rose has found strength in silence. If there’s any lesson to be taken from his journey, it’s to always bet on yourself. Having faith in your soul is the biggest gamble and sometimes, you have to roll the dice to get a lucky strike.
We’re catching you in the middle of nowhere in the Bahamas! What’s your “island survival” beauty kit? Are there any specific products or rituals to keep your skin and hair hydrated while sunbathing?
The most important part of my beauty routine is to drink water and stay hydrated. When I do this my skin starts glowing. But when I don’t do this, I feel dry and tired throughout the day. I have to remind myself every day! Sunblock is equally important, especially with zinc oxide as an active ingredient. This is the healthiest way to protect the skin, especially your face. I try to avoid any chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and parabens.
When you’re in the studio or on the set of a video like “Not Nice”, what’s one fashion item or accessory that makes you feel like your “artist”?
My big earrings, I never go anywhere without them. On the sets of ‘Not Nice’ I wore golden earrings that my late grandmother had handmade and given to me before she passed away.
Wearing them in the video was incredibly special and symbolic, as we shot it in the family’s home country of Suriname. She was with me at that moment.
“Not Nice” has that incredible Caribbean soul that makes you want to move. If you had to create a 3-song playlist to introduce someone to this “new” Natalie La Rose sound, which tracks would it contain?
I listen to a variety of old and new music for inspiration, really delving deep into the sounds and rhythms rooted in Africa. ‘Not Nice’ is the first song, but my real voice is still forming. This is a turning point, not a destination. What comes next will show you where I’m going, and over the next few months you’ll start to hear exactly what I have to say. I have new music coming, and each song will take you deeper into that journey. So stay tuned! Although there are a lot to choose from, here are three tracks that are inspiring me right now: ‘Isaka II’ by Siza (featuring Thames and Omah Lay)
‘By Your Side (Cottonbelly Fola Extended Mix)’ by Sade, Red Hot Org & Cottonbelly
‘A Gira’ by Trio TurnuraIf you could perform “Not Nice” anywhere in the world – a specific stage, a natural landmark, or a street corner in Suriname – where would it be and what would that environment look like?
I paint somewhere outside, in nature, with the viewer close to me. No obstacles. I would invite everyone to dance, and it would naturally turn into more of a dance party than a traditional performance. This is the energy that ‘Not Nice’ carries. It brings people together and motivates you to move forward. This is what I would like to feel.Going from a major label to an independent artist is a big change in “control.” What does creative freedom really look like to you now, and how has it changed your energy when you go into the recording booth?
carte blanche. there are no rules. I’m in a very experimental stage of self-discovery. Exploring the sounds and your message, rather than putting pressure on yourself to write a ‘hit’. That change in energy changes everything. When you create from a place of truth rather than expectation, something different happens.
That said, I don’t want to sugarcoat it. Being an independent artist is hard work. People don’t always understand how much goes into it. There’s an extra layer of pressure when you’re doing everything yourself with a small team. But it’s worth it, because I still get to meet so many people in this industry who are in it for the same reasons I am. At some point it just becomes about the money, and that’s not what motivates me.
So I’m holding the vision. I’m open to collaborating with like-minded creators, and I’m not closing my door to working with companies or people in the industry. But it has to be aligned. Same values, same intentions. That’s what I’m looking for right now, and I won’t settle for anything less.
You mentioned that as soon as you began to speak your “deeper truth,” your voice began to return. Was there a specific moment – perhaps a “no” you said or a boundary you set – that felt like a physical turning point for your healing?
It happened gradually. It started when I started loving myself more and it showed in so many ways. Be more mindful of who I surround myself with. Spend more time in peace. Giving myself more grace. Being in nature. Doing exercises that calm my nervous system and doing more things that really excite me and make me happy. When those things started changing, my voice changed too. And honestly, it’s still a journey, but a beautiful one.
Silence is a rare commodity in this industry. When you’re on “vocal rest,” what are you hearing or noticing about yourself that you usually miss when the world is noisy?
It’s okay to do nothing and not feel guilty about it. We live in a world that glorifies being busy, so silence can feel uncomfortable at first. But sometimes you need that peace to come back clearer and more refreshed than ever.
Healing the “inner child” is a major theme in your work with the CHIC Foundation. What would today’s Natalie say to the Natalie who first started in this industry, now that you are the one guiding the next generation?
I would say to really focus on knowing who you are. Not the version of you that society imposes on you, not the image that others expect, but your own truth. Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and bring positive energy into your life. Know yourself through peace, gratitude, and learning not to let the outside world define you.
Stay focused on finding your way, your voice, your voice, because no one knows you better than yourself. And the sooner you trust Him, the more free you will become.
