Let’s Get to Know Natalie Rushdie By Natasha Barbieri There will always be a market for beautiful music, sung well and this is one of the greatest appeals of the crossover genre. Natalie Rushdie (formerly known under her maiden name Coyle) was born in Falkirk, Scotland. Her pure voice, polished (but very personable) stage and social media presence is warmly received by fans around the world. A diligent student, Natalie graduated with a degree from Sheffield University and continued to study voice. She won a place with the Royal Choral Society and pursued a performance course from Associate Studios. “I have had many different teachers The experiences did not deter her in the over the years due to moving schools least, in fact, Natalie dreams to someday and going to university,” Natalie tells perform with Il Divo, Celine Dion, Idina us. “I started having lessons when I was Menzel “and if Julie Andrews toured 9 and I still have regular lessons now. It again that would be the dream!” is so important for a singer to have lessons as we don’t actually hear our Speaking of super fans, Natalie is in her voices directly. Sound comes out of our own words “obsessed” with Julie mouth then goes into our ear (as Andrews. “I love her voice, the clarity opposed to an audience member who with which she sings is truly beautiful. I just hears the sound directly). These would love to play all her roles to be days I have two teachers who work honest but my favorite was in The Sound together and who are both wonderful. of Music, that was the first musical I ever watched and it got me into singing. “As with many things in life, it is I even went to Salzburg & stayed in the important that your teacher suits you hotel where The Sound of Music was personally and professionally, all of my filmed - I would love to be Maria!” teachers have become my friends.” Natalie has been nicknamed ‘The Voice Natalie has performed in Don Giovanni of Wembley’ after being the first singer and Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert to sing there 5 times and she says Hall and she has also performed in candidly that “I do still get nervous.” concerts alongside crossover favorites With an estimated audience of 80,000 like Susan Boyle, Il Divo, Andrea people though who could blame her? Bocelli, and Katherine Jenkins. One of “This time it was probably more nervous her first touring experiences was with excitement than fear but either way I the band Blake. don’t think having nerves is a bad thing as it shows you still care. I don’t think I “I absolutely loved touring with Blake, could ever not get excited about singing the boys were wonderful and such at Wembley Stadium!” gentlemen! I learned so much from each of them as they are such seasoned The whole experience is “always an performers; they helped me find my own honor” but this last time Natalie’s style and presence on stage.” Natalie favorite moment came “on the last note also experienced the group’s super fans of ‘God Save the Queen’ as the crowds up-close. “One of the funniest concerts started cheering so loudly and I could was in Blythe where the audience went hear my voice echoing around the crazy for Blake! At one point I thought stadium… it was just the most incredible they were going to jump on stage and rip & exhilarating experience.” the boys’ clothes off! We also did Wembley Stadium together where my Natalie has also made an impact by shoes split open as it was raining, so I giving back to various charities. “I think walked on the pitch with my toes it’s important to be involved with popping out!” charities that you have a personal connection to. Through the Order of blew me away. I would love to go back; Malta Volunteers, I took disabled people they have such fantastic venues and by to the South of France for my Duke of coincidence, while there, I got to see my Edinburgh Award Scheme residential wonderful tenor friend Jesus Leon who week. I enjoyed it so much that I went a was performing at the Philharmonia.” If further 3 times, it was also the first time she had to pick a favorite place though it I saw the effect music can have when would be New York. “I’m very fortunate people had life-changing illnesses.” that I get to go fairly often and it always These days Natalie is most involved makes me super excited and happy. I just with Breath AHR a charity who “use can’t get enough of the fast pace and music in hospitals to help people vibe of New Yorkers. An ultimate dream recover, relieve stress, Dementia would be to perform in New York… alymexia etc. I am the Patron of the maybe at Radio City Music Hall or charity and regularly perform for them.” Madison Square Garden one day.” In 2016, Natalie married Zafar Rushdie Her mother recently booked Natalie a 6- in an elegant wedding weekend in New week cookery course at Leith’s School York. She would “definitely” of Cooking as a birthday gift. So is recommend destination weddings to cooking among Natalie’s favorite other brides. “We spread the wedding things? “I was actually terrible at festivities over 3 days, which made it feel cooking but I do enjoy it and I’d like to like a big happy holiday surrounded by think I am slowly improving.” people we love and care about. I am very lucky that I married someone who She describes herself as a “simple girl” is super organized, unlike me (I would who enjoys spending time with family forget my head if it wasn’t attached) so and her dog ‘Pickle’. that helped a lot.” In a recent interview with Hello! Magazine Natalie shared At the end of the day, Natalie remains how her father-in-law (novelist Salaman humble saying, “I feel like I am still Rushdie) was also a big help with her discovering my voice! In July I am preparations. making my debut at Live at Zedel and will be singing some of the great Diva After her marriage, Natalie changed her songs… not necessarily my more typical stage name which she describes as classical sound but I can’t wait. For me, “exciting and daunting at the same as a musician, the key is remaining true time.” to myself, sing songs I love and it’s as simple as that.” When she isn’t singing Natalie loves to travel. She recently shared photos from a Fans will be delighted to hear that the trip to Russia. “I love traveling and future will bring “more performances, Russia was incredible! It was a life-long more exciting music and yes, of course, dream to go there and I certainly wasn’t an album is in the future.” disappointed - the buildings and culture To follow Natalie’s adventures, visit her website on: natalierushdie.com Everything old is new again By Chantelle Constable Ashley Marie Slater and Luperci de period. This era represents an incredible Souza, founding members of classical period of music making in American crossover duo "Classique," may be history as well and contains so much shiny, chic, and modern, but their fantastic music. passion for the scintillating music of Hollywood from the 1920s to the 1950s I see in a recent Spotify playlist you proves that "everything old is new shared that there is a distinct again." Hollywood influence -- is this a clue to what songs we can expect in your Their first single, "Be My Love," was a upcoming album? breakout crossover hit for the great tenor Mario Lanza, while their second single, Yes! Both of our singles, “By My "Amado Mio," first enchanted audiences Love,” and “Amado Mio” are from as it was lip-synced by Rita Hayworth in Hollywood films of the 1940s and "Gilda." 1950s. Just as they do today, the studios had wonderful composers writing music In this interview, Classique takes us for the silver screen, and since singing through some of their early influences, actors were quite popular, there was and the reasons they are drawn to movie more of an emphasis on songwriting. music of the past: the source of classical We’ve given many of these songs our crossover as we know it today. own spin, as they may or may not have been written for a classical voice. For In the vast genre amalgam that is example, one of Ashley’s favorite films classical crossover, what drew you to is the 1946 film noir “Gilda” starring the songs of early "movie musical" Rita Hayworth. In one of Gilda’s most and operetta? famous scenes, she sings “Amado Mio” in a sultry nightclub. Inspired by Buenos We wanted to remain true to our Aires where the film takes place, our classical training and the songs we’ve duet version is a fiery tango with piano, chosen really allow us to do so. We solo cello and string quartet. All of the really love the beautiful classical voices songs on our album were written for or of the movie musical era, in particular, featured in Hollywood films from this Mario Lanza, and we’ve received a great era. audience response from songs of this Who are some of your favorite Mario Lanza, Kathryn Grayson, etc, classical and crossover voices in the etc, vs modern crossover artists? industry, past or present? What lessons could each learn from the other? How has the genre Ashley: One of the first female voices progressed, and what elements of the that I fell in love with and was greatly past should be (in your opinion) influenced by was that of Kathryn maintained? Grayson.