Natalie Goodman
Feed the Band
Our interview with
Natalie Goodman
Patrick L.
Wow! I would tell you that my journey with Natalie Goodman would be impossible to describe, but that would make for a pretty bad interview. So I am going to lay it all out there and let Natalie do the same. So let’s get to it!
Natalie and I had a chance meeting on social media a few months ago. She was about to release her very first single “Just a Friend” and had posted a short clip. Her talent was recognizable instantly. So I reached out and sent her a short message about doing an Interview for Feed the Band. She responded back with enthusiasm and wanted to schedule a call. We soon were on the phone and I recognized an intensity and drive that was not overpowering like you might think, but it was infectious. It was an instant connection. Something that I truly never have believed in before. We spoke for about 30 minutes and we decided to do a brief live interview on Instagram. It was the first time ever for the both of us. Beating down my own insecurities, I spent a week reassuring Natalie that it was going to be great. It ended up being just that and it reinforced our connection. Fast forward to today and Natalie Goodman released her single “Just a Friend” and is working on her upcoming EP coming in 2019.
“We get it, she is your friend, but why so much fan fair?” you may ask. I have interviewed a number of artists and each of them have their own special qualities that make their music work. Natalie Goodman has a multitude of qualities that just makes her shine. However, Natalie being a new artist and one that did not come up in the music world in a more traditional way, she can seem like a diamond in the rough at first glance. This may seem like a negative thing, but it allows you to pull back the layers and reveal the beauty that is Natalie Goodman .
One important thing that draws me to Natalie in life and her music is that she looks at life in a real unfiltered way. She is not telling you a story about what she thinks you want to hear , but rather the raw truth. This can bend and stretch you to the point you feel you are going to break, but you connect with the message more because of the honesty. If I had to choose one word that reflected Natalie Goodman’s music it would be “honest”. It is there in her single “Just a Friend” and will be in every song after. This is something that extends beyond her music and is a cornerstone of her personal life. That is how our friendship started and continues today.
I could talk forever about each layer of what makes Natalie Goodman an exceptional artist and person. However, I did ask her some pretty tough questions. That’s one of the benefits of real friendship; you know each other’s buttons. So we went deep. I hope this will allow all of you to see the imperfectly, perfect diamond I see in Natalie Goodman.
“Just a Friend” is a well written song. Tell us how it came to be.
Well, I was kind of going through a tough time when I wrote it. My first love had broken my heart and I was trying really hard to get back out there and meet new people. I was finally trying to date again but all of the dates I was going on were really just a distraction from the fact that I wasn’t over him yet. Then I thought, “wow that would be a great idea for a song… I bet other people have felt the same way trying to get over a love” so I kind of just sat down and let my feelings do the work and it was on paper in about 30 minutes!
If we interviewed your best friend from high school, what would they say about you?
Oh gosh, this is a tough one… He would probably say that I’m shy but very hard working and loyal. Also that I’m a very passionate person. I care a LOT about everything and everyone in my life and put my all into everything I do.
Who are your top 3 influences in music and how have they influenced you?
As far as songwriting goes, I really love Old Dominion. I think their lyrics are amazing and I look forward to listening to all of the word play in their songs. Vocally, I am a huge fan of Carly Pearce and Alison Krauss. They are very different artists but both have pure and effortless voices that are just so soothing to listen to. I always hope that my voice can have the same calming effect on people.
What inspires you and how do you use it in your everyday life?
There are so many things that inspire me every day. My family, my friends, my dogs, people I meet on the street or through my job, love, loss, really any and everything can inspire, good and bad. I want to be a doctor someday so most of my inspiration comes from people. I love people, I love to make people happy. My goal is to make everyone I meet feel cared about even if we are only in each other’s lives for a certain amount of time. I am inspired by the desire to make others happy and I try to use that to help people every day. It doesn’t always work that way, but I try.
What is your biggest fear?
I am afraid of heights and the ocean.
We are always developing recipes here at Southern Fellow. When writing music what recipe do you use?
Honestly it depends on where I am or what comes to me at the time. Usually I will write the lyrics first, starting with the chorus and then moving on to some verses. Most of the time when I start a song I have a little bit of a tune or a hook in my head at least but sometimes I write lyrics and comeback later with a tune. Sometimes I’ll think of a good song title and then just go from there. It really changes almost every time.
If Santa could grant you one wish, what would it be and why is it important to you?
I would have to say guaranteed acceptance into Medical School. That would definitely take some stress off and allow me to focus on spending time with my family and working on my music.
What is your first fond memory of food?
My parents were kind of health freaks growing up (well we all were and still are) but when I was 4 years old, we went to New York City where we were celebrating a family member’s birthday and the restaurant brought out some gourmet chocolate dessert and I wrapped my arms around it to keep anyone else from getting to it. My family still makes fun of me for it to this day.
If you wrote a song about food, what would it be about?
Probably queso and/or macaroni and cheese.
Try this inspired recipe
Our Family Gumbo
What does the next year look like for you?
I have high expectations for the coming year. I’ll be starting work as an EMT, taking the MCAT, applying to Medical School, and releasing an EP as a singer songwriter. It’s going to be a lot of work, but hopefully very worth it.
Playing college soccer at the level you did had to be pretty intense. Are there any skills you developed as an athlete that have transferred to your music career?
If soccer taught me anything it’s that no matter where I am and how much I practice, there is always someone out there who is equally if not more talented and working as hard if not harder than I am. You get out of life what you put into it. It taught me to believe in myself, to not be afraid of judgement, never to give up and to put my all into everything because it is a big world out there with many talented people.
If you started a charity what purpose would it serve and why is that issue important to you?
This is a hard question for me because there are so many deserving people and animals out there. I am passionate about a lot of things but I LOVE animals. I have 3 dogs, two of which are rescues, and if I could save every rescue animal and just have them all live on a big farm with me, I would be the happiest girl in the world. If I had to start a charity, it would have to do with placing homeless animals in loving homes.
If Merriam-Webster was to define your music, what do you think that definition would say?
“Heavy”- I want to become a more diverse songwriter and maybe not write about such deep and emotional material all the time. But unfortunately, I have had some emotionally tough times this year and experienced some loss. As a young songwriter, I find it easiest and most truthful to write about what I know. I keep hoping that in helping myself get through the tough times by writing about them, I’m helping others heal as well.
Is there anything else you want your fans at Southern Fellow to know?
I just want to thank you all so much for following my music and most importantly for believing in me. As a new artist, it is really difficult to find people who are kind enough and patient enough to stand behind you. This field of work is competitive, frustrating, and heartbreaking. But even with all of the frustration and heartbreak, it can be incredibly rewarding. I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing people through music who I never would have met otherwise. I firmly believe the Southern Fellow Family is the best group out there and I am so honored to be a part of it!
That is Natalie Goodman. It is an honor to call her a friend and a member of the Southern Fellow family. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I wrote this interview. I could go on for days about this wonderful women. However, Natalie’s honesty speaks for itself.
Please check out her awesome new single “Just a Friend” available everywhere. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube. Also click below for our giveaway. We are giving away an autographed shirt from Natalie Goodman. Also please try out our recipe for gumbo. It is Natalie Goodman approved. Thank you for tuning in here at Feed the Band. Stay tuned for more music and recipes coming soon!
