By now you have heard dutch singer Natalie La Rose’s smash “Somebody” featuring Jeremih.
The infectious track is influenced by Whitney’s Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” chorus. We caught up with Natalie to speak about her musical roots, being signed to Flo Rida and more.
Can you speak about your musical roots? When did you start singing and dancing?
I started at a really, really young age. I actually started dancing and singing at the same time when I was a little girl. I started doing it more serious when I was ten years old at a dance academy in Amsterdam called Lucia Marthas. But basically I was always surrounded by music. My mom and dad listened to music a lot. My mom loved Chaka Kahn, Anita Bake. My dad loves modern jazz, so I always had musical influences around me.
Did you take some of those early influences and incorporate it into your music now?
Absolutely, always … Everything I do with my music and my dancing is inspiration that I’ve gotten throughout the years, since I was young.
Also congratulations on the success of “Somebody.” So, how does it feel to have a hit song?
It’s pretty overwhelming. I didn’t think it would go this fast. I mean I was dreaming about it, of course. It’s going way faster and it’s way bigger than I thought, actually. It’s picking up internationally, which is amazing. You know, in the US it’s number 13 on Billboard which is amazing. My hometown, Amsterdam, is supporting me, so it’s a great feeling.
Can you speak about how Whitney Houston has influenced you?
Well, as you know, my song has a reinterpretation of her song “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”. But definitely I grew up listening to a lot of Whitney Houston, “How Will I Know”, is also one of my favorites songs of her. The whole vibe and energy that Whitney had over her was very inspiring to me. So I definitely took that in what I’m doing. And definitely a lot of 80s music I listened to, like Stevie Wonder.
And also what was it was like working with Jeremih on your song?
Jeremih is a pro in what he does. He actually recorded the hook at our studio, at IMG, my label. And he did it so quick and so professionally, like I could really, really learn from that. And he was very excited about this song, and he sounds great.
And can you tell us about the “Somebody” video?
Yes, we shot the video in LA. It was a little bit in the hood, in a big white mansion. In a big house. And the director, Luke Gilford, he’s really amazing. He had a really beautiful vision, and wanted to have an old school vibe into the video as well. The choreography I worked on myself. You know, I had a lot of ideas for myself, too. So, it really came together as a collaboration with me and these creative people around it. And I’m very excited about the video. A lot of people love it too. So, yeah, I’m happy.
How long did it take you to get that choreography down?
Well, I actually worked on the choreography myself, too. We were working on it for two or three days with the choreographer, (Oththan). … We have this core movement, I have to drop down on my knees. And we had to do that over and over and over again. So, on the day of the shoot I was actually a little injured. My knee was hurting very bad, couldn’t really bend it. So I just some pain killers and danced through the pain.
And you’re also signed to Flo Rida, and had the opportunity to tour around the world with him. Can you speak about what that was like?
I toured with Flo for like two years, which is amazing. Flo is a superstar, and he has twelve hit records. So he’s really taken me around the world to places I would never imagine being like the Maldives Islands, Russia and Alaska of all places which was amazing. He actually prepared me for what’s to come for me, so I got a little bit of a taste of how crazy the road life can be. And he’s a pro in what he does. He’s very focused and very driven. And he works hard, so I learned that from him.
And what has Flo taught you about artistry?
He showed me, that’s the big part. I got a chance to really live his life as an artist a little bit because I’ve been around him so much. And even though he is such a huge superstar and had so many hits .. He will sit in a studio all nights long, until the morning to write a new song, even if it’s writing for one of his artists, or for me, for himself. He goes all the way. He gives 100%. When he’s on stage he gives more than 100%, that’s why people love seeing him perform so much, and what he’s really taught me is be focused and have patience.
Who are some other Hip Hop artists that you would want to collaborate with in the future?
There’s someone that I would really love to write with, and that’s Ne-Yo. I’m a huge fan of his music, and his writing style is so good and edgy. I would really love to do a song with him.
And what can fans expect from your debut album?
I’m working on an EP right now. It’s going to be four or five songs. It’s all very energetic. Some of them have an old school vibe to it … But it’s definitely, you know, positive, energetic and danceable.
And my last question is where would you want to see yourself, maybe, five years from now in your artistry?
I would love to do so much more than just in music. I’m building my brand. I’m looking forward to making many more songs, obviously. But I’d love to do movies, too. I’m looking forward to building a brand. I would love to have my own label in the future. So there’s definitely things I want to expand.
