With so many young people clamouring for major label redord deals, standing in line for hours at casting shows and doing just about anything to get noticed, Danish pop singer Natasha Thomas, just 18 years old has done what most teenagers would consider to be the unthinkable. She asked to be released from her worldwide recording contract with Sony Music and has started her own record company along with her management. This is a move most people in thier 30's would not have the guts to do, but for Natasha, "It just feels like the right things" She says without hesitation. Natasha has recently begun work on her second album, picking out producers, coreographers, writing her own songs, singing live and also picking the right partners around the world to promote and distribute her future records.
What does Natasha have to say about her experiences of the past 2 years? "I am gratefull for the experience and for my fans and i am looking forward to working hard to bring the fans something that is truly me. The record company had a plan for the last record, they had the concept already in place for the music and image. Nobody counted on me having a brain or an opinion, much less creative ideas. I know everyone needs a bit of coaching, but this was different. That may be fine for a lot of people that may just want to be famous, but it was never fine with me. I know everyone was just doing their jobs and that I am lucky to find out really young that is not for me. I want to have a say in the music that I do and I want to be honest. I feel like I owe myself and the fans that much."
Natasha adds, "While I am open for guidance, suggestions and know that I have a lot to learn, I want the final say on what has my name on it in the future. Creating my own company and finding people who really beleive in me was the only way I could imagine to insure that happening. I have so many ideas for videos, staging, lyrics production. I felt if I stayed where I was they would always see me a young girl who could not possibley have anything to offer other than looking good. I paid for half of my super expensive videos and had absolutely no creative say, not even in what I was wearing. While the videos were good, they were not what I would have chosen for myself. If I am paying €100.000 for a video from my record sales, I better love it! With all that said, I know it was a great start and for that I am grateful."
Speaking of her start, what a start it was! With her single "Save Your Kisses for Me", released at the beginning of June 2004, the then 17-year-old Dame Natasha Thomas scored a hit hat-trick with her first three releases. In the summer of 2003 the young singer's debut single "Why (Does Your Love Hurt So Much)" went straight into the top 40 of the German single charts (and airplay top 4), while her second single "It's Over Now" just missed breaking into the top ten, peaking at number twelve(!). The mid-tempo love song, which features the Tobagon reggae artist Sugar Daddy (who has already worked with Buju Banton, Sizzia and Capleton), also made it into the top twenty of the airplay charts.
And those who waited to see more of Natasha Thomas were in for a treat. Natasha was selected to represent one of the world's best-known and most important fashion label, Lacoste. As the new worldwide "Lacoste face" Natasha was seen from May 2004 onwards in a pan-European print and TV campaign alongside the French tennis ace Arnauld Clement (currently number 26 in the world rankings). The advert was directed by Bruno Aveillan (Nissan, Perrier, Nintendo and others), who in the course of his career has already filmed top stars such as Claudia Schiffer. Natasha was also seen worldwide in the "Touch of Pink" Lacoste perfume print and TV ads. "Touch of Pink" went on to win 2 prestigious FiFi Awards in Berlin in April 2005, including the public's choice award.
But let's go back to the beginning for a moment...
The very first public performance by Natasha, who halls from Copenhagen, took place over six years ago: "I was twelve years old," she reminisces, "and I sang 'Killing Me Softly'. I was very nervous because in the audience were a few kids from my class who were always making it hard for me at school. And I thought to myself: 'I'm not going to let them get me down; I'm going to show them'."
Six years later Natasha really did show: Her debut single "Why (Does Your Love Hurt So Much)" (originally performed by Carly Simon) was released to great reception in Europe. "Ever since I was a child I knew that I wanted to be a singer," She says. And she worked hard at realizing her dream. Her professional attitude, diligence and iron discipline meant that the young Dane did not always have an easy time of things: "I had to change schools once because a couple of kids had got it in for me. They wanted to make life hard for me because I was different." But Natasha wasn't to be discouraged: She looked for a new school and focused on her favourite subjects, music and theatre. Natasha took dancing and singing lessons, ans started writing her own lyrics and songs. "Writing is a form of therapy for me. It helps me to cope with my experiences in life." When she recorded her debut single "Why (Does Your Love Hurt So Much)" at the beginning of 2003 the then 16-year-old Natasha travelied to Germany for the first time ever.
Although Natasha is currently focused on her own music career, there are of course pop stars that she admires: "I love Christina Aguilera. She has a great coice and her album 'Stripped' is amazing. I also like Jennifer Lopez; she seems so confident and appears to have fun doing what she does. And I admire them both as performers."
Natasha's pop career has left her with very little time for other hobbies: "At school I liked theatre - this is something I would like to maybe do in a few years. Unfortually, I rarely get the change to do some reading; but when I have time I like to read the works of Michael Strunge, a Danish poet. I also love to watch television; best of all "Freinds", it puts me in a good mood. When it comes to the cinema I like Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock - and Sean Penn, he's incredibly talented and intense. My favourite films are "The Sith Sense" with Bruce Willis, I like the twist at the end. And "What Women Want" with Mel Gibson, because guys finally get to find out just how insensitive they can be at times."
For the future Natasha wants to be successful with music that she feels passionate about - and have a happy life for herself and her family. "My mother brought me up on her own and she always believed in me - I admire her for this and I am extremely grateful."
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