Image Courtesy of the artist.
A big hall. People, dancing with closed eyes. Hands in the air. Colorful lights that cut through the foggy darkness. The atmosphere at the Boiler Room Festival in Berlin is carefree and exciting, while Natalie Robinson is performing on the stage. Her jacket glows in a powerful red, creating the centre point of the crowd – surrounded by friends and fans, and with a big smile on her face, she lets herself dive completely into this unique moment.
Only a few years ago, Natalie used to play on small house parties. Back then, she had just moved to Berlin, with a lot of dreams and a life-changing passion for soulful and underground house music. Now, many performances later, she is a regular at the German capital’s most renowned club Berghain. Her style is a virtuous blend of house that explores her personal connection to Gospel, Funk, R&B, and traditional Ghanaian music.
SLEEK met the queer artist a few weeks after the Boiler Room Festival in Berlin.
Image Courtesy of the artist.
SLEEK: Hi Natalie, can you describe your music with one word?
Natalie: To describe the kind of music I play in just one word is not that easy. But one word that would stand for most of my sets is SOUL(FUL).
S: What feeling do you want to create for your audience?
N: Since I’m playing a lot of 90’s oldskool and underground house music I aim to evoke feelings of nostalgia and connection to the past. I want to make the audience smile, I want them to feel happy so that they can forget daily business. For me, it is important to create an intimacy that connects the people among the crowd but also the crowd with myself. I want to elevate the energy in the room.
S: How do you balance technical skills with emotional expression in your DJ sets?
N: I love to experiment with different mixing styles, and to connect with the crowd through eye contact and body language. While I’m playing I build and release tension, create peaks and valleys in my emotional journey. The most important is to stay true to my style. For example, at times when I feel more vulnerable, my track mixing might be smoother. At times, I feel energised and playful, transitions might be rougher and more sneaky.
S: How has the Berlin music scene influenced your growth and development as an artist?
N: The Berlin club scene had a huge impact on me. When I moved from Hanover to Berlin to study over 10 years ago, I mainly listened to dancehall, reggae, and R&B. When I experienced the nightlife in Berlin, especially in the Panorama Bar, a whole new world opened up for me – I discovered my passion for house music for the first time in my life. After that, I immediately knew what direction I wanted to take on my musical journey…
S: Do you remember the first act you ever played in Berlin? Where and how was it?
N: Paloma Bar in Berlin in 2019. I was still a beginner and played my first vinyl-only set ever in front of an audience. I was super nervous and excited.
S: Looking back, what would you tell your younger self today?
N: Relax. Good things take time!
S: Your performance at last year’s Boiler Room Festival in Berlin is generating a lot of anticipation – Can you tell us more about the preparation and emotions leading up to that performance?
N: When I found out that I was going to be part of the Boiler Room Festival, I was very excited. This was a big step in my career. It was a mix of joy, excitement but also fear, as I had never played in front of such a large audience before. I took some time to prepare because it was important for me to show what my heart beats for, who I am…it was important for me to emphasise my musical signature. I wanted to tell my story and that’s not that easy when you only have 60 minutes to do so. During the weeks before my performance, I listened to tracks that have shaped me, that define me and reflect my soul. It was a wonderful journey and when the time came, I was very excited. Playing in front of cameras is not really my thing. It wasn’t easy. But luckily, as with many other gigs, I had my friends, family and partner by my side, who had my back and made my debut something very special. It was an incredible experience that I’m really grateful for.
S: For aspiring DJs, especially those from diverse backgrounds, what advice would you give based on your experiences?
N: Stay true to yourself. Be patient. Ask yourself the question of why you are doing it. You should find out for yourself what answer to this question is the right one.
S: Being a DJ in a club means to create a safe space. In the span of your career, have you considered the DJ scene a safe space?
N: This question can’t be answered by a yes or a no. Simply because it is constantly on the move and not fix. I have experienced safe spaces as well as unsafe spaces. It has not always been clear as a black female DJ where I stand in the eyes of others. Meaning, that I had to learn to set my boundaries to behaviours I don’t agree with.
S: What are your goals for the future – both professional and personal?
N: My professional and personal goals are entangled and reflect each other. I would like to focus on the present. Right now there is already so much going on. So I am very busy with the present already. Nevertheless, I wish to continue developing within this musical journey. I want to gain more experience, a better understanding of interpersonal relations, and I want to stay open-minded – musically speaking as well as personally. Although I am super grateful for my career and for the chance to contribute to the music scene, I will always keep both feet on the ground.