Natalie Shay Interview: The Truth About Her Most Confessional Indie-Pop EP Yet

What nobody is telling you is that the most vibrant pop songs usually come from the messiest parts of real life. For North London’s Natalie Shay, music isn’t just a career—it’s a sonic diary used to bookend the chaotic chapters of her twenties. The BRIT School alum has already racked up over 20 million streams and shared stages with legends like Shania Twain, but her latest EP, ATMOSPHERE, dives deeper than ever before.

Written over two years of late-night sessions and intense self-reflection, ATMOSPHERE explores the razor-thin line between genuine love and the electric pull of trauma bonds. From the defiant frustration of “sorry for u” to the introspective title track, Shay captures the high-stakes emotional landscape of a “mid-twenties creative who feels everything deeply.”

Here’s the truth about the heartbreak, the evolution of her sound, and the raw honesty required to turn a diary entry into an indie-pop anthem. We caught up with Natalie to discuss the inspirations behind the new EP and how she stays authentic in a world of social media pressure.

Can you walk us through the inspiration behind your newest EP and how it reflects where you are personally and creatively right now?

My EP is basically everything I’ve been through or been thinking since my last EP champagne came out, I feel like all of my EP’s are just book ends to the chapters of my life and journey and the music I’ve been listening to and the way I feel like expressing myself

Your lyrics often blend introspection with vivid storytelling—what specific life moments or observations shaped the songs on this release?

I think I felt love for the first time in a long time and that inspired a lot of songs about chasing and all consuming romance and needing a change in your life and also just generally reaching new levels of self-awareness.

How has your sound evolved from your earlier work to this EP, and what musical influences guided that transition?

I think I’m always open to listening to new music and new artists and I get very into the music. I listen to and pay a lot of attention to the songwriting in the lyrics and the production so I think everything is just an evolution of what I’ve been absorbing.

Many of your fans resonate with the emotional honesty in your music—do you ever feel pressure to maintain that vulnerability, and how do you balance it with privacy?

I don’t feel pressured because I feel like songwriting for me is my diary or journal it’s where I get away to show the parts of me that aren’t always necessarily smiley or totally in control or put together. It’s my outlet to show myself but in terms of privacy, I don’t often go into specifics. I try to lead with points and relatable explanations ha ha ha.

Could you describe your typical writing process—do you start with melody, lyrics, or a concept, and how does collaboration factor in?

Every song is different but 98% of the time it’s starting with the Melody and then liking it shortly after but often they come at the same time very rarely is it lyrics first but it’s always always always started with a feeling or something I need to get out.

The music industry has shifted dramatically for emerging artists; what strategies have you found most effective for connecting with listeners today?

To be honest, I don’t really know. I feel like the things I was doing before I still working to some extent but I’m trying out new stuff too. I think life performance is still such a powerful thing and that’s always been my way of connecting and bringing a new fans it’s my favourite part of everything.

Looking ahead, are there any themes or genres you’re eager to experiment with that fans might not expect from you?

Not necessarily I think if I change the sort of music I’m listening to the music I create might follow. I wanna do a bit more honest emotional acoustic writing for my next body of work. I do that stuff anyway but it doesn’t always make it onto the EP because it’s not always the best thing to release as a single but I hope to get more of that out soon as it’s a big part of what I do.

What advice would you give to young musicians who are trying to find their authentic voice while navigating social media pressures?

I would say just write what you know don’t try to be somebody else take influence but don’t try to be like someone Else I think people can often tell when you’re not being authentic the people who are the most original do often rise to the top. Not always but it gives you a good shot.:)

Finally, if you could curate a one‑night live show featuring any three artists—past or present—who would they be and why?

Audrey Hobert, because she’s the best songwriter of this year, Taylor Swift because she’s the best songwriter of the generation Keith Urban because he’s super cool.

This April, Natalie Shay will perform her biggest headline to date at Oslo, London, as well as her first ever regional headline in Manchester. Ticket links below!

17th April – Manchester (Deaf Institute Lodge)

23rd April – London (Oslo)

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ALL PHOTOS: Liam Maxwell