Five Fun Facts with Natalie Layne
Natalie Layne
Spreading love and reminding us what it means to “Be Human.”
Rooted in the church and Christian music, Natalie Layne grew up surrounded by talented musicians, singers, and songwriters from a young age. Her mom singing and leading worship, her father played bass and trombone, and her grandmother took the reins as her first piano teacher when Natalie was just three. After spending much of her middle and high school years in the church and leading worship herself and traveling around the country to sing and teach, she relocated to Nashville for college and her recording career. With elements of R&B, soul, and country in her voice on songs like "Honest," "Be Human," and "You," Layne has some pop leanings with vocal elements of Sara Bareilles and Carrie Underwood and piano chops up there with Lady Gaga. Layne has the potential to veer off like artists before her, who started on songs of worship like Katy Perry and John Legend. Where singers Amy Grant and recent talent Lauren Daigle crossed over to pop in different but limited ways, Layne is undoubtedly poised to take the next step to explore other sounds and subject matter in her music.
Natalie Layne has given fans a taste of what's to come this summer. With a surge of attention on TikTok, with two unreleased songs, "Waking Up" and "More Love," each has taken a life of their own. Including a duet with a trumpet player and a little girl bopping around on the screen. On "Waking Up," she bravely tackles white privilege, and on "More Love," Layne continues the social conversation on acknowledging and loving one another. Natalie spoke with IndieWavves about touring during the pandemic, the origin, and the importance of her new songs.
She even spoiled us with an exclusive performance of the powerful "You."
My parents took me to my first piano class when I was three. I fell in love with it right away. Growing up, I played classical music and led worship at church, but didn't scratch jazz's surface until college at Belmont University in Nashville. I was thrown into the deep end of some really complex music in R&B and jazz styles. It was a big jump for me, but those styles have influenced my songwriting now, and I'm so glad I spent time learning them.
I started leading kids' worship when I was just a kid myself. I grew up at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and when their kids' ministry needed worship leaders, they didn't care that I was only twelve. It was a massive deal for me to be mentored by pastors at New Life that guided me as a worship leader and musician. I learned a lot about leading bands and making setlists, but it also instilled in me a love for people that I wouldn't have fully understood otherwise. People desperately need to feel God's presence through music, and that's what I've aimed to do ever since.
Touring this summer was amazing. We had no idea if pandemic guidelines would allow us to do any live shows, but we could have small, socially distanced shows outdoors. People were ecstatic to hear live music and said they were so encouraged by the songs' hopeful message. I did a few shows with my band and several with just me and the piano. Some things felt different, but the heart of it was the same. We were so thankful to be able to continue playing music despite the craziness going on.
When TikTok first got big, I was pretty unsure about whether I should spend time learning the algorithm and posting some videos. I was shocked when "Waking Up" surged to 2 million views! It's been incredible to hear how these songs speak to people and walk with them through tough times. Some people have even said my songs are helping them through months of depression. That's the whole reason I love to make music, and I am unbelievably thankful to be a part of people's lives through it.
I've always loved Sara Bareilles and John Mayer. Their styles have shaped mine in so many ways. I also love listening to Tori Kelly, Tauren Wells, and Lauren Daigle. They're each doing such incredible things in the industry and making music that I can't get enough of.
- Natalie Layne
Written by Michael Menachem