Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Natalie Layne was constantly surrounded by music. Her family instilled in her a love of music from a young age as she watched her mom sing and lead worship, and her dad plays bass and trombone. They knew from the beginning that Natalie had “a song in her heart.”
Currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, Natalie continues to write, produce, and release her own music. She continues to lead worship at Ethos Church and is completing her degree in Commercial Music. She describes her sound as “CCM, always with a hint of R&B.” Her EP, Where Soul Meets the Sound, combines several musical genres to create her unique musical style.
What first got you into music?
Music was the heartbeat of my house all growing up! Mom sings, Dad plays bass and trombone, and even my grandparents are musical. I started playing piano when I was about 3, and my grandma was my piano teacher for several years when I was a kid. I loved plunking around on the keys from the beginning – it gave me this creative outlet and allowed me to discover new things every day!
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
My music has a CCM/Christian & Gospel sound, but usually also has a hint of R&B/soul to it. I think we need more of that in Christian music! I’ve always loved artists like Sara Bareilles, John Mayer, and Tori Kelly.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
A few artists come to mind – I’d love to open for (or collaborate with) Tauren Wells! I got to open for We the Kingdom this summer and our music has some similar characteristics too. I think it could be really cool to tour with artists that have a similar gospel sound but are still in a little different space. Lauren Daigle is also one of my favorites of all time!
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Jesus changed my life when I was 13. I think the pandemic has actually made some people more open to faith, and it’s so cool to see how God can use anything for good and for His glory. So, I’d tell people that Jesus is the best thing that you could ever have – He makes life so full and wonderful every day!
What is your favorite song to perform?
My favorite song of MINE to perform is called “You.” It just feels like me and it’s so fun to play with my band. But my favorite cover of all time is “Gravity” by John Mayer. I do it as a piano version and I love that the audience knows it so well.
What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?
OH, I love this question. I think Christian music needs so much more musical diversity – we serve a vast God who is bigger than anything we could ever capture, so our music should be the most creative and diverse of all. He’s the God of everything, so we have access to so much creativity and style that could be part of our music! I love making music with an R&B/soul/gospel flare that we need more of.
What are your top two favorite albums of all time? Why those albums?
One of my favorite albums of all time is Blackout by Steffany Gretzinger. It’s so creative both lyrically and in its production. It also doesn’t get much better than John Mayer – I’m a huge fan of his live album Where the Light Is.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I think I’ve watched too many British movies, etc. – I love to do different accents and impressions, sometimes just for fun to see how people react. I’m especially good at Gru from Despicable Me.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
The first person I thought of was Jennifer Garner. I’m six feet tall, so it could be anyone especially tall with brown hair and awesome eyebrows (ha)!
Do you shout out the answers on the TV whilst watching quiz shows?
This is simply one of my favorite pastimes. My brother and I are really close, and we’ll stay up late to watch Family Feud and America Says.
What movie ending really frustrated you? And how would you change it?
La La Land was a great movie with a terrible ending. They basically give you the perfect love story plot and then rip it all away! I didn’t appreciate it.
If you were talking to a younger version of yourself, what advice would you give yourself?
Chill out, dude. God’s got you and is going to work it all out. You don’t have to do everything – just the things YOU are made to do.
Natalie announces the release of her long awaited EP “Castles” via Rixon Entertainment Group, available now on all streaming platforms, alongside the lyric video for the uptempo title track. The five song EP is a collaborative effort by co-writers Cooper Bascom, Ross King, Natalie Layne, Phoebe Scott, and Jay Speight, who also served as the project’s producer.
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