A few weeks ago I got to talk with author, artist, and percussionist Natalie Belin for the Holiday Cafe. Here’s a repost of that interview, where I wax about piano bar life, streaming, and what a music career means to me. KM
When did you realize you wanted to be a musician?
I was obsessed with music as a child. I started piano lessons at five years old, but I was always more interested in pop music than classical. I loved memorizing lyrics and trying to figure out songs by ear. I thought it was amazing that melody could make words hit harder emotionally, which is a big part of what drew me to songwriting. I started my first “band” when I was eight and ever since then, making music has been the only thing I’ve wanted to do.
Who are your earliest musical influences?
I’m grateful that my parents exposed me to many different music styles, from doo-wop and show tunes to pop-rock and glam metal. Madonna was my first idol, then Shania Twain and Jewel inspired me to write songs. Hearing Amy Lee’s voice in Evanescence led me to hard rock, and in high school, I discovered Iron Maiden. I’m also really lucky to have had excellent music teachers who taught me to stay curious and open to everything.
Tell us about landing the Howl at The Moon gig?
I first heard about Howl at the Moon from a Facebook ad that said “Rockstars Wanted!” I was living in LA at the time and applied online. I moved to Pittsburgh in a whirlwind and was stunned to see a new Howl under construction downtown. I encouraged a friend to apply, then got my chance to audition a few months later. I love being a Howl entertainer because of high-energy performances and musical challenges. When I was hired in 2015, I only played piano and had maybe a dozen cover songs in my repertoire. Getting paid to learn drums, bass, and hundreds of new songs was a dream come true. I also love the experiences I’ve had playing with different musicians. We often joke that we’re an “arranged band marriage” since we’re hired first as individual players, then we’re thrown together on stage. We’ve gone through a few lineup changes over the last five years, but it keeps the job interesting, and I’ve learned so much from everyone I’ve played with.
What are your future music plans/goals post-pandemic?
When everything shut down, I was only seven months into a new position as Entertainment Director at Howl Pittsburgh. The role is all about creating fun moments in the show and coaching new entertainers. We don’t yet know when the club will reopen, but I’m eager to get back to work as soon as it’s safe for our guests and staff. In the meantime, I’ve been finding a lot of joy in songwriting and performing online. I’m a partner on YouNow, a social live streaming platform. The show I play online is much more laid-back than Howl, with my original songs and stories mixed in with covers and requests. It’s been wonderful to find an audience and get feedback on my music from the comfort of my living room. So, I plan to keep streaming post-pandemic. Through YouNow I also joined an amazing project called WeCreateNow, where we do something creative every day based on a photo and prompt drawn from the community. We’ve on a streak of over 250 days full of songs, poetry, and art of all kinds. WeCreateNow has been a saving grace for me through the pandemic and I’m determined to help the project grow. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome at bit.ly/wecreatenow.
I’ve heard great things about your original music, are you planning on releasing it in near future?
After a rollercoaster of emotions from my last band breakup in 2016, I found myself writing a lot but hesitant to release anything. It’s easy for me to get excited about the music I made with friends, but I didn’t have the confidence or motivation to be a solo artist. That’s gradually starting to change, thanks to the audience I’ve found live streaming. I quietly released a single this past October, called Coffee. It’s the first thing I’ve made 100% on my own, and while it isn’t perfect, I’m proud of it. I’m learning to think of releasing music as a practice just like writing and performing. This year I’m planning to put out a few more songs that people have enjoyed on stream, to keep honing my skills as a producer.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to start a music career?
I believe that music is a service industry. There are a million different ways to have a career in music, but all of them involve being considerate of other people, whether those people are clients, collaborators, or fans. Learn to balance your ego with kindness, because kindness is a superpower. Think about how your skills and creative work can help others. And always remember, you get to choose your definition of success. Try to enjoy where you are today, even as you work towards your big dreams.
What is it like teaching vocal lessons? Any stories or experiences you’d like to share?
I kind of fell into voice teaching by accident. I loved singing but I wasn’t very good at it, and even though I was studying voice in college, I didn’t feel like the lessons were helping. My mom’s friend asked if I could coach her son, who landed a spot in his school’s musical, and I agreed half-heartedly. Preparing for that first lesson, I searched Wikipedia for how the human voice works. That sparked my curiosity, and over time, learning to teach made me a better student. I started to seek out different teachers and in 2011 I found a workshop in Estill Voice Training. EVT approaches singing as an athletic activity, where the anatomy and physiology inform how you practice. I got hooked on the exercises that target specific structures of the vocal tract, and for the first time, I felt and heard an actual improvement in my singing. Estill Voice International is headquartered in Pittsburgh and that was a big part of the reason I moved here. I finished my certification as an Estill Master Trainer in 2017, and today I’m thrilled to be sharing this knowledge with others. My favorite thing is working with singer-songwriters, because EVT allows them to create their unique sound, instead of imitating others. Unfortunately, my schedule doesn’t allow me to teach many one-to-one private lessons anymore, but classes and workshops have been a lot of fun. This past January I started a program called the Immortal Song Circle, for singer-songwriters who want to develop their voice, lyrics, and self-accompanying skills.