Are You Ready For Aruba Red?
How is 2008 going for you so far? You’re probably weighing up this year with the last and considering how they compare. I was thinking mine was going quite well – some stunning sample sale bargains in my wardrobe; a few more shops near me that sell giant caperberries; a couple of letters to Mr Brown regarding the lack of involvement in Darfur and the extent of involvement elsewhere and only a couple of non-Easyjet flights under my carbon-belt seemed pretty good going. But then I wasn’t responsible for rocking the audiences of Glastonbury, Abbey Road Studios and The Royal Festival Hall in 2007. My second installment of Brina’s Big Ups showcases someone who was…
Natascha Eleonore presented her persistently socio-politically aware lyrics with an edgy voice to these often hard-to-please audiences and got a reaction that some rock royalty could only humbly hope to achieve. With 2008 promising even bigger and better things for this astoundingly talented young lady, she has changed her singing name to Aruba Red (‘I wanted to get as far away as possible from any stereotypes people have about being female, a band, a solo artist – from my name I could be anything’) but hasn’t altered the pace of her sprint to the top.
After an evening of entertainment at EAR Presents – which was enthused with tucked-away talent so good my ears felt like they had been on tour with Apollo, I cornered this ballsy beauty and pried into the life of a UK superstar-in-waiting.
Such hard-hitting lyrics as Aruba Red’s (‘Mr Blair can you feel the fiiire’ being one such example, along with songs entitled ‘Rebel Soldier’, ‘Emancipated’ and ‘More Fire’) don’t prepare you for the sweet, unassuming manner of North London’s Natascha. So what, if anything, prepared her for the musical world she will so very surely conquer?
‘My family’s very musical. My dad, Jack Bruce, was the bass guitarist and vocalist in the 1960s rock band Cream (with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker), meaning music was always so much a part of my life. But it wasn’t something I necessarily thought of doing as a career. I went to uni and studied Philosophy, worked for Westminster Council and started singing at 21 – which is relatively late.’
Aaah, a Philosophy student. Perhaps that goes some way in explaining Aruba Red’s consistent emphasis on the ways and woes of the world in her songs – something that is admirable in the days of so much mindless machine-made ‘star’ material. I wanted to know what her hot topic was at the moment.
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Filed under: Big Smoke Soirees
I like this lady’s style - where can I get her music from? It is little like a soulful Lilly Allen with more important things to say!
Don’t think she has anything out yet but I heard her debut album is being released mid June… can’t wait!
If there was more talent in the world like this we would be living in a much better place!
Can’t wait for the album.
Go on Natascha!
So pleased that good, decent music and musicians continue to make their mark, broaching ‘taboos’ and ‘controversy’ and forcing real debate.
Great interview, great article, great review….do you reckon the male dominated industry will still be ‘male dominated’ when it is half-full of women? (i.e. male/female as attitude, not gender-specific? Women can have male attitudes as much as men can have female attitudes.) - There’s a white elephant for you!
LOL… I agree - many of the ‘men’ in the industry seem to be more feminine in their attitude (and mostly their clothing!) at the moment. Also agree that singers like aruba red are necessary for music in the uk to continue to be something to be proud of. We need people to be mentioning these things and how good it is that natascha can do it in such an interesting way. Well done aruba red and well done chic today for leading the way with this. x
wow. conscious, catchy, and cool.
where do i sign up?
Well done Natashca,
It’s about time people realised your talents and musically content. I loved your stuff the first time I heard it at SouthWestFest and had to call you back for more.
Keep up the great work and if you happen to be in Pimlico, with not much to do around June then pop up on the stage. There will always be room for you!
Anne-Marie (DreamArts and SouthWstFest stage programme manager)
Trust me when i say her music is astonishing. After one live gig you go home with a stronger love for music, a lust for life and a more positive moral attitute you carry with you to the next day, and the day after and the day after that….etc
I cant wait till i can buy what i heard! People dont know what there missing.. the world needs to hear aruba red!
Its good to see a UK artist representing the UK instead of acting all americanized. Natascha doesn’t need to hide behind a ‘common’ english accent or sing about relationships & sex (which seems to be the subject on most artists lips nowdays) but rather brings some important subjects to light. Music with real soul almost always derives from a subject that the artist feels passionate about and Aruba Red definitely has soul; and is superbad!
[...] to join the Emerging Artists in Residence (EAR) at the Royal Festival Hall, along with Aruba Red (previously featured on Brina’s Big Ups) and urban heavyweights such as Riz [...]