Why do you do it? From a very young age I have been interested in music purely as a fan. I never had a strong urge to play an instrument – I just enjoyed the simple act of listening and the ability to float freely amongst the songs I loved.
Music has always been a transportive experience for me that allowed me to make sense of the world. Many of my earliest memories are tied to music – I grew up listening to everything from Genesis to '90s country to cumbia with my parents and that variety was a real feast for a young imagination.
As I grew older, I found ways to get more involved in the music community and began booking and promoting local shows before eventually working in music full time. The opportunity to work alongside artists to achieve their goals and reach new audiences is deeply meaningful to me, because at my core I am still just a fan!
Kurt Vonnegut said: "All music is sacred," and that has been foundational to my outlook. I do this work to honour both the artist and the listener and the openness with which they meet.
What do you love about the city you live in? Austin is a genuinely incredible food city – there's an endless supply of restaurants, food trucks, and bars to explore. You could never get bored.
We recently stumbled across an authentic Peruvian food truck and had the best ceviche I've ever tasted. For everything Austin lacks in good weather, it makes up for in cuisine. Also, it helps that it's the live music capital of the world. ;)
Where did you go for your last holiday? Athens, GA to visit family. Travelling to Avila, Spain in September to visit the ancestors.
What's your favourite item of clothing? Unsurprisingly I have a lot of band merch that I am partial to. I have an Unwound t-shirt that I've owned for over 15 years and am rather fond of.
The more accurate, but less cool answer, would be the giant, extra soft and long t-shirt that I sleep in routinely. It's far from flattering, but it makes me feel like a '90s mum.
What was your favourite TV show when you were a kid? 'Mama's Family'.
If you could travel back in time for a day, where would you go? I like to think I'd be an excellent hunter-gatherer.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? Eggplant caponata.
What's the best lesson you've ever learned? "Go easy, stay free." Our work – as important and valuable as it is – is not life and death, so don't take it so bad. Tomorrow is another day.
Tell us one thing about yourself that nobody else knows. . . see above re: t-shirt nightgown.
Are you happy with your work/ life balance? I am more conscious of (and comfortable with) my boundaries now than I ever have been previously, but I still struggle with the inevitable blending of career and home life.
It's a privilege to work in music for a living and my personal life often crossovers with work considering music is integral to who I am and what I enjoy. There's always going to be room for improvement and striking a perfect (idealised) balance isn't realistic.
For me, it is about awareness and listening to myself when I'm feeling burnt out or over-extended and making the necessary pivots in real time.
How do you define success? Goals, as a concept, often come across nebulous and less actionable than I prefer. The key to success, in my opinion, hinges on practicality – pushing yourself, but doing so with intention and a willingness to regard struggles as an opportunity to learn.
I feel most accomplished when I am content. This is very different than the notion of settling; instead it is acceptance towards an ever-evolving state of flux and establishing a fluidity when it comes to adapting to any given circumstance.
We can greatly benefit from our so-called failures if we give ourselves (and others) the space to grow. Success revolves around trusting your own instincts and using your common sense to help you remember what you already know.
What's your spirit animal? My partner and I's dog is a scrappy little Jack Russell with a significant underbite. He's smart and also dumb. I can relate.
Natalie will be a speaker at 2023 Indie-Con Australia Conference that takes place at Mercury Cinema (Adelaide) 2-4 August. The 2023 event welcomes a host of industry brains, shedding light on a range of topics which cater to Australian independent labels, and the music industry at large across 16 sessions – a mix of panels and workshops featuring 70 speakers made up of label representatives, independent artists and journalists, and representatives from 40 companies.
