Music network MTV made names like Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag instant celebrities when the reality show The Hills premiered in 2006. The show chronicled the lives of the two besties who moved to Los Angeles to start their careers in the ‘City of Angels’. While the two were trying to make a name for themselves in LA, someone who was also aiming for the same thing was Natasha Bedingfield.
The starlet, who was born in New Zealand and raised in the UK, had enjoyed huge success in Europe. Her goal now was to try and crack the US market and so when the opportunity arose for her song to be used as the official soundtrack for The Hills, her American dream turned from being Unwritten to written in the stars.
Fast track five years and Natasha Bedingfield returns with a new album called Strip Me Away. This album sees her working with OneRepublic’s front man Ryan Tedder as well her “secret weapon” Wayne Wilkins; whom she worked with on her previous albums NB, Unwritten and Pocketful of Sunshine.
I got the opportunity to chat to the star from her Malibu home for DStv.com, the star said this album is one for everyone. “It’s all about how wonderful I think we all are as human beings. It’s an album very much for other people. The basic theme is less is more.”
With the “less is more” sentiment in mind, the star has stripped down her live performances somewhat. On her recent US tour, the star was accompanied by a three-piece band. She says the simple, raw musicianship is what she was aiming for and it seems to have hit the right note with her fans.
“What I love about songwriting is that the song takes on a life of its own and you can’t really control what happens to it,” she said. “The online environment is great because you get instant feedback. Sometimes I’ll do a show and one of the songs I’m doing will land up on Youtube because my fans loved it and they want to share it.”
Hollywood also seems to love what she does. Her track Pocketful of Sunshine has been used in the soundtrack to Easy A, which was recently on DStv’s BoxOffice. She said she loves hearing her songs in a movie. “It’s always been a dream to have my songs in the movies.” In the beginning of the film, Emma Stone’s character dances around her room to the “annoying” song. Natasha giggled when the scene appeared on camera, “I was dancing around in my room, so I know the verse is a bit annoying, but it’s a true pop song. It sticks in your head. It becomes part of your life.”
Tracklisting for Strip Me Away:
