Natalie Jean – The What For (2024)

Igniting a passion for music at a young age, singer-songwriter Natalie Jean would sing with her father Guy R. Jean as a child. Her love for arts was stoked when she began writing poetry, and the rest, as they say, is history. Building a roaring flame from her little passionate fire, Natalie Jean has released several critically acclaimed albums and EPs over the past decade (well, if you add her debut album Obsession, then it’s 11 years). With a strong stage performance, she garners a loyal following from her enigmatic shows at notable venues like Twins Jazz, Tree House Lounge and the Cherry Blossom Festival. Her musical prowess is also turning heads beyond the gigs receiving international coverage on publications and radio stations; as well as earning her multiple award nominations and wins, such as winning Best Dance Song in the American Songwriting Awards and being placed on a Grammy ballot (these are just two of many, many awards).

With a penchant for skipping across various genres, taking blips of each and reaching across the spectrum dipping her toe in styles like rap, blues, pop, jazz, country and even heavy metal, award-winning and chart-topping Jean is not to be pigeon-holed. Following her well-received French track ‘Je Me Demande’, Jean shifts from a folk-pop ballad to a bold alternative rock meets Americana tune.

Co-produced with Alexi Von Guggenberg, Jean slivers into your ears to rattle about your brain with ‘The What For’. Pounding drums match scorching guitars with hard-hitting force; however, it is Jean’s gruff vocals that bring a rough, raw edginess to the single. Like ripping a band-aid off a wound and then rubbing salt into it, ‘The What For’ is attention-grabbing with a bit of sting. Yet, the interspersed keyboards soothe the bite with a lighter glint of care.

Penned with award-winning artist Nicki Kris, ‘The What For’ showcases the duo’s “talent for crafting authentic music” and, in this case, with a massive bang. Filled with rage, ferocity and a bit of a bad-ass rebuking, ‘The What For’ is harsh and abrupt but with a toe-tapping easiness. When asked about the inspiration for ‘The What For’, Jean explains:

“We were at a mutual friend’s party, and someone mentioned “the what for”, and we didn’t know what that was. After some thought, we got a clue and thought it would be a great song.”

Find out more about Natalie Jean on her official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator

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