Interview
Interview
Natalie Duncan unveiled her new album Black Moon at an exclusive intimate concert at Soul Mama
Soul star Natalie Duncan chats through Black Moon before wowing the London crowd
It was a full house at Soul Mama, the room charged with anticipation as the audience prepared for the rare privilege of hearing Black Moon in an intimate setting before its official release. From the very first notes, singer-songwriter and pianist Natalie Duncan opened a doorway into her own sonic universe: an alchemy of soul, sound, and artistry. In that moment, one truth crystallised: we were witnessing a true musical genius at work. At her side, her long-time band and backbone who know her sound best: Alan Mian (bass), Dave Browning (drums) and Charlie Allen (guitar), each a master of their craft performing with instinctive brilliance and effortless precision. With her breathtaking voice, mind-blowing piano work and captivating storytelling, Duncan transformed the stage into both sanctuary and soundscape. In the front row, her Incognito family – Bluey, Tony Monrelle and Cleo Reign Stewart – absorbed every note and every lyric. Duncan embodied a quiet force of authenticity, delivering music meticulously crafted and profoundly human.
Before the show, Natalie Duncan spent some time with us backstage for an exclusive interview:
You’ve carved a formidable path as an artist, take us through your journey so far. What has shaped the artist that you are today?
It started from the womb, as my mother says! I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where both my parents were deeply knowledgeable about music, so there was always something playing. I was nurtured from the very start. I began playing the keyboard at three years old and, as I grew, I naturally gravitated towards playing by ear. Music quickly became my outlet, my form of therapy. I started entering (and winning) school competitions, and by 18 I released my debut EP Natalie Alexis Duncan. A major turning point came in 2011 when I appeared on the BBC programme Goldie’s Band by Royal Appointment. Had I not met Goldie [the drum-and-bass pioneer] I genuinely don’t think I’d be where I am today. He’s the reason why I have been signed as he put me in front of labels. We’ve now been writing and working together for 15 years. It’s been such a growing experience.
I eventually signed with Decca Records and released my first album, Devil In Me, in 2012. That same year, I performed on Later… with Jools Holland which opened doors to touring in Japan and supporting Muse – a formative experience, especially being 21 and performing my debut record on my keyboard to rooms full of devoted Muse fans. In 2020, I released my second album, Free on the Fallen Tree 1Hundred label. After Free I released five more singles over 2022/2023 with the same label. Then I started my independent artist journey in 2024, with ‘Fortune Favours’ and ‘In The Reverie’ with two tracks that will be on my 11-track new album, Black Moon.
In addition to your solo career, you’re currently touring with Incognito as one of the lead singers, can you tell us more about that?
I joined Incognito three years ago, and now I’m touring all over the world which is extremely exciting! It’s such an honour to be part of Incognito family. To this day, every time I step on stage, I still pinch myself and can’t believe it’s happening. The music is mind-blowing and singing alongside phenomenal vocalists like Joy Rose, Tony Monrelle, and Cleo Reign Stewart is an amazing feeling. Our voices and skills are all so different this is what makes it beautiful. Incognito will be releasing a new album on Christmas day, and we’ll be touring this brand-new music soon. I co-wrote five of the tracks on their album Into You and feature as a keys player on two of them, which is massive for me.
There is so much excitement for this pre-launch concert, what does performing Black Moon mean to you?
This new album is truly a labour of love for me and my band. I feel so impatient to finally share it live and see the audience’s reaction. I will also be performing a few tracks from my album ‘Free’, some covers, and, as I am really in my jazzy vibe at the moment, some jazz standards. I love playing with the brilliant Charlie Allen on guitar. This album was entirely produced in my home studio – right in my front room. Fun fact: I recorded the vocals in my wardrobe, using my clothes as soundproofing! It goes to show that you don’t need fancy gear to make music, whatever get the job done. One day, it will be at Abbey Road, like many of my friends. I am playing it live as part of London Jazz Festival before releasing because why not, I like to do things the other way around!
Your last album launch was very atypical since it was performed during Covid at legendary jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, as a live stream. As an artist known for creating a deeply emotional connection with your audience, I presume it must have felt so strange for you?
Indeed, it was a very strange experience – this time was kind of a time capsule of bizarreness. It was my first solo gig, and the experience felt surreal: I am performing, I am kind of speaking to the room… but also not speaking to the room. I’d finish songs in silence, hoping that somewhere, someone at home was clapping along. But in spite of, or maybe because of, that strangeness, it was a time that sparked a lot of inspiration. There was so much free time, and I wrote a lot during Covid including ‘Hearts in a cage’.
People often compare you with Alicia Keys, Nina Simone and Lianne La Havas, how do you feel about that?
People have been comparing me to Alicia Keys and Nina Simone since I was very young – probably because, at 16, I won my school competition performing ‘If I Ain’t Got You’. I loved Songs in A Minor. As I grow as an artist, I feel that my artistry has evolved into something very different; the main similarity is simply that we both sing and play piano! Nina Simone is my one of my heroes. I am a huge fan of Lianne La Havas, she is amazing. We move in similar circles but have never actually met. I think people naturally make comparisons because they want to be able to make connections, a way to relate.
Let’s deep dive into your creative process, can you tell us more about your approach and how it has evolved over time?
Free is an album that simply fell out of me. It was very much a cathartic purging, a storyline of my life during a difficult time, which is why it moved from breakup songs to happy songs about finding new love. When I wrote Free I was 27, leaving an old life behind and wanted to start again. Black Moon, however, was approached from a musical perspective, digging into rich melodies on piano and synthesiser, experimenting with chords, and exploring harmony very deeply, as I started going down that rabbit hole of where harmony could take me. This album is a celebration of piano and synth. As for the lyrics on the album, a lot of it come from experiences heard that inspired me to write. I’ m always at my most creative during autumn, I tend to hibernate and write. For me music is an outlet, it’s like keeping a diary on the piano.
Your voice, the piano and the pen are an inspiration to so many artists and songwriters, how do your songs come alive?
I always start at the piano, usually with chords, but I am rarely like “I am going to start a song now”, it always finds me first. A lot of the time, something draws me to the piano, I might hear something that inspires me, it could be a film soundtrack that puts me in a place emotionally and I have to rush upstairs and play. Writing music is all I know so it’s often a very quick process, and the piano is such a natural instrument for writing. When I start an idea, I can usually tell which one to abandon as it won’t go anywhere and which one has the potential to develop quickly. Writing a song is like a puzzle, the process takes time between the lyrics, the bridge, chords to transition, key changes etc… I enjoy the struggle as when it is finished it feels so magical. I make primitive demos for the band to learn their parts and then transform with their own voices on their instruments.
Do you ever get writers block?
Yes, and I look at it as part of being a writer. I understand that it is there for a reason. It’s natural. It’s the brain saying, “it’s not your time to write it’s your time to live right now and to experience things”. I accept it and don’t worry about it, I trust my energy and brain. Sting said his biggest fear is to say “what if this is the last thing I ever wrote”.
If you had to describe this next era of your music in one word, what would it be and why?
Cosmic. Black Moon has an astrological theme in the sonics of it. It’s about reaching something bigger than us, chasing heaven, escaping to reach something higher through music. It’s like a spiritual experience, the idea of us being very small in the universe.
Your music has such a distinctive honesty, an ability to deeply touch. Not many artists achieve that nowadays. What kind of imprint do you want your music to leave on listeners?
I still see myself as a student of music. For me music is so personal, a way to express my demons so if anyone else relates and it resonates with them, that’s amazing. I want people to feel like they can freely express their emotions as well through music or any art form. That’s what is important when people watch my concerts, I want them to feel something and feel empowered to be able to express that feeling; that’s what music is for: the freedom to escape and allow emotional expression.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
Stevie Wonder! I know this is everyone’s answer but who else? It has to be Stevie Wonder! He is a huge influence in my music and my writing; I am so obsessed I could even be in a Stevie Wonder tribute band! But if I met him, I would probably be so starstruck that it would be difficult to keep it together so a collaboration might not be possible, that’s the problem!
What have you been up to most recently and what’s next for you after this concert?
I recently featured as a music guest talking about London Jazz Festival on Radio 4’s Loose Ends With Clive Anderson.
My new single ‘Breakaway’ is out now, then Black Moon will be released in February 2026, so many concerts in the pipeline. And of course, I will also be touring with Incognito playing the new album. Next year can’t come soon enough!
