It’s a sweltering 98 degrees in Palm Springs. In the heavy, pre-Coachella heat, I’m huddled over a WhatsApp call with Natalie La Rose. When we last spoke, she was embarking on a silent, tectonic shift a journey of self-discovery that required shedding mainstream labels and the rigid control they often exert over their artists. She was stepping out of the shadows of the industry machine and toward the light at the end of the independent tunnel.
It’s been a few years since our last interview. “Hold on, Art,” she whispers over the line. “I’m sorry about the reception. I’m in the Bahamas for work, getting my hair braided for the next 16 hours.” What better way to pass the time than a poolside interview, catching up like old friends while sunbathing on opposite sides of the world. “I’m so excited for this single and music video to drop,” she tells me, her excitement cutting through the digital static. “It features my home country, Suriname. It’s so important for me to stay closer than ever to my roots. These last few years, what was once lost, I have found within—both my voice and my spirit. Metaphorically. Physically.”
A few years ago, Natalie was diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia, a neurological disorder that causes the vocal cords to spasm involuntarily, resulting in a persistent tremor or a “shaky” quality to the voice. In the medical world, she was told there was no cure; that her voice would likely never heal. “Four years ago compared to today? It’s a miracle that I can speak,” she says. While doctors suggested her career might be over, Natalie fought the odds. She went independent, decided the diagnosis wouldn’t paralyze her, and used the obstacle as a catalyst for deeper answers. In this transitional phase, she turned inward.
“I’m diving more into self-discovery. It’s vital to know where you come from—diving into ancestral lineage, the rhythms of my ancestors, tapping into the past and the current,” Natalie explains. “I’m speaking my truth more. When I’m invited to panels, I’m open about my story and my process. I believe my condition had something to do with the fact that I wasn’t living in my deepest truth. As I’ve learned who I am and started speaking up, my voice has slowly returned.” Through this reclamation, she realized that most limitations are mind over matter. She began exploring the “Divine Feminine”—the forgotten power and magic inherent in women. This shift is the heartbeat of her new music. Her single, “Not Nice,” is a defiant anthem against people-pleasing. “Sometimes choosing yourself means saying no; having stronger boundaries,” she says firmly. “It’s not always perceived as ‘nice,’ but it’s about choosing yourself. No more seeking validation through actions. It is more important to be kind than it is to be nice. My kindness is being graceful with the truth, and it all comes from a loving place.”
Natalie channeled her empathy into “Rise and Shine,” a foundation where she worked with the First Lady of Suriname to teach choreography to 50 local students. That experience inspired her to launch her own foundation, CHIC. Most recently, CHIC partnered with KIPP Scholar Academy in East Los Angeles for a seven-week mentorship program. Natalie personally coached middle schoolers alongside industry heavyweights like Ay Hollywood—the choreographer behind icons like Nicki Minaj and J.Lo—and interns from the Musicians Institute. “It was about healing my inner child,” she reflects. “Not only was I helping others find their voice and creativity, but it helped me find my own again. Sometimes you have to throw yourself into the deep end and not obsess over what could go wrong.” There are still days of necessary silence vocal rest where she won’t take a single call. “Every now and then, my voice is still a bit spastic, but I’ve learned to accept it where it’s at. I no longer let fear make my decisions.”Sharing the struggle has seemingly accelerated the recovery. Her new single “Not Nice” is a masterclass in Caribbean soul; it’s the kind of track that forces you to sway your hips while feeling the weight of her lyrics. “I made this single three years ago. It was the beginning of peeling back the layers,” Natalie says. “The funny thing is, even though I started my foundation to help these kids, they were also working on me. Dedicating my talents to others was healing me. I was forced to lead with my voice in the most vulnerable position I’ve ever been in. It was scary, but every small step makes it easier.”
In an industry that demands constant noise, Natalie La Rose has found the power in the quiet. If there is a lesson to be taken from her journey, it’s to always bet on yourself. Having faith in your own spirit is the ultimate gamble and sometimes, you have to be the one to roll the dice to earn your lucky strike.
We’re catching you mid-braid in the Bahamas! What is your go-to “island survival” beauty kit? Are there any specific products or rituals keeping your skin and hair hydrated while you’re sunbathing?
The most important part of my beauty routine is drinking water and staying hydrated. When I do, my skin is glowing . But when I don’t, i feel dry and feel fatigued all day. I have to remind myself every single day! Sunblock is equally important, specifically with zinc oxide as the active ingredient. It’s the healthiest way to protect the skin, especially on your face. I try to avoid any chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and parabens.
When you’re in the studio or on set for a video like “Not Nice,” what is the one fashion item or accessory that makes you feel most like your “performer” self?
My big earrings, I never go anywhere without them. On the set of ‘Not Nice’ I wore the golden earrings that my late grandmother had handmade and given to me before she passed away.
Wearing them in the video was incredibly special and symbolic, because we shot it in Suriname, the home country of family. She was with me in that moment.
“Not Nice” has that incredible Caribbean soul that makes you want to move. If you had to curate a 3-song playlist to introduce someone to this “new” Natalie La Rose sound, which tracks are on it?
I listen to a variety of old and new music for inspiration, really diving deep into sounds and rhythms rooted in Africa. ‘Not Nice’ is the first song, but my true sound is still forming. It’s a turning point, not a destination. Everything that comes after will show you where I’m heading, and over the next few months you’ll start to hear exactly what I mean. I have new music coming, and each song will take you deeper into that journey. So stay tuned! Even though there’s so much to choose from, here are three tracks inspiring me right now:‘Isaka II’ by Ciza (with Tems and Omah Lay)
‘By your side (Cottonbelly’s Fola extended mix)’ by Sade, Red Hot Org and Cottonbelly
‘A Gira’ by Trio TernuraIf you could perform “Not Nice” anywhere in the world—a specific stage, a natural landmark, or a street corner in Suriname—where would it be and what would that atmosphere look like?
I picture somewhere outside, in nature, with the audience close to me. No barriers. I would invite everyone to dance, and it would naturally turn into a dance party more than a traditional performance. That’s the energy ‘Not Nice’ carries. It brings people together and makes you move. That’s what would i want to feel.Moving from a major label to being an independent artist is a massive shift in “control.” What does creative freedom actually feel like to you now, and how has it changed your energy when you walk into the recording booth?
Complete freedom. There are no rules. I’m in a much more experimental phase of self-discovery. Exploring sounds and my message, rather than pressuring myself to write ‘a hit.’ That shift in energy changes everything. When you create from a place of truth instead of expectation, something different comes through.
That said, I don’t want to sugarcoat it. Being an independent artist is hard work. People don’t always understand how much goes into it. There’s an extra layer of pressure when you’re doing everything yourself with a small team. But it’s worth it, because I have yet to meet many people in this industry who are in it for the same reasons I am. At some point it just becomes about money, and that’s not what drives me.
So I’m holding the vision. I’m open to collaborating with like-minded creatives, and I’m not closing the door on working with companies or people in the industry. But it has to be aligned. Same values, same intention. That’s what I’m looking for now, and I won’t settle for less.
You’ve mentioned that your voice began to return as you started speaking your “deepest truth.” Was there a specific moment—perhaps a “no” you said or a boundary you set—that felt like the physical turning point for your healing?
It happened gradually. It started when I began loving myself more, and that showed up in many ways. Being more mindful of who I surround myself with. Spending more time in stillness. Giving myself more grace. Being in nature. Doing exercises that calm my nervous system and doing more things that genuinely excite me and make me happy. When those things started shifting, so did my voice. And honestly it’s still a journey, but a beautiful one.
Silence is such a rare commodity in this industry. When you are on “vocal rest,” what are you hearing or noticing about yourself that you usually miss when the world is noisy?
That it’s okay to do nothing and not feel guilty about it. We live in a world that glorifies being busy, so silence can feel uncomfortable at first. But sometimes you need that stillness to come back clearer and more recharged than ever.
Healing the “inner child” is a major theme in your work with the CHIC foundation. What would the Natalie of today say to the Natalie who first started in this industry, now that you’re the one mentoring the next generation?
I would say really focus on discovering who you are. Not the version of you that society projects onto you, not the image others expect, but your own truth. Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and bring positive energy into your life. Get to know yourself through stillness, gratitude, and learning not to let the external world define you.
Stay focused on finding your own path, your own sound, your own voice, because nobody knows you better than you. And the sooner you trust that, the freer you become.
