Natty
American-born/British-bred reggae singer Natty is known for his soulful blend of pop, roots reggae, and R&B, which he has dubbed future roots. He first broke through with singles like "Badman," "Cold Town," and "July," which helped propel his debut album, Man Like I, into the U.K. Albums Chart. He has continued to explore his reggae fusion style, as on 2012's Out of Fire, 2016's Release the Fear, and singles like 2024's "Ascension."
Born Alexander Akiloe Philip Modiano in 1963 in San Francisco, California, Natty moved with his family to North London at a very young age. There, he grew up with David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Joy Division records in the house along with LPs from Bob Marley, Lee Perry, Sizzla, and other reggae artists who represented his family's Jamaican roots. His teen years brought an appreciation of hip-hop acts like Public Enemy and Slum Village, and when the time came for him to think about a career, music seemed the best choice. He began by working in a recording studio, where he would make tea, run errands, and absorb as much as he could. Natty learned how to mix and engineer thanks to the studio, but on his own he had begun to write songs and was working on his guitar playing and voice. When he began playing open-mike nights around London, his easygoing sound and socially conscious lyrics drew comparisons to Ben Harper and Tarrus Riley, while his genre-blending crossover potential reminded the U.K. press of Finley Quaye and Eagle-Eye Cherry. He soon helped form the Vibes & Pressure posse, a loose collection of singers, players, DJs, and artists (including the popular Trojan Sound System). In 2007 Vibes & Pressure spawned a label of the same name and released Natty's debut double-A-sided single "Badmind"/"Camden Rox." One more track, "Cold Town," would appear on the imprint before major-label Atlantic came calling with a record deal. His next U.K. single, "July," would become the perfect choice for summer 2008, propelled up the charts by an appearance on the television program Later with Jools Holland. His debut album, Man I Like, appeared in July in his homeland, with a U.S. release following a month later. It peaked at 21 on the U.K. Albums chart.
In 2011, Natty opened for Ziggy Marley on his North American tour. A mini-album, Out of Fire, arrived in 2012. In February 2016, he delivered his sophomore full-length, Release the Fear, which introduced his backing band the Rebelship. Included on the album was the previously released single "Change," featuring Alborosie and Busy Signal. Also included was the title track featuring George the Poet. In 2018, Natty marked the tenth anniversary of his debut with a special edition of Man Like I&I. The soulful and uplifting single "Ascencion" appeared in March 2024.
© Matt Collar & David Jeffries /TiVo
-
Seasons Change (Remix)
Reggae - Released by Vibes and Pressure on 8 Nov 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Release the Fear
Reggae - Released by Vibes and Pressure on 30 Nov 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cold Town
Alternative & Indie - Released by 14th Floor Records on 21 Apr 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
July
Alternative & Indie - Released by Atlantic Records UK on 18 Jul 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bedroom Eyes
Alternative & Indie - Released by Atlantic Records UK on 10 Jun 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Blow My Mind
World - Released by 2021 The Eighth Management on 6 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
The Natty Tapes
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by 6020821 Records DK on 21 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
-
-
Hot summer
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by 5586596 Records DK on 21 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
MIRAME (LA(IM)PERFECCIÓN LIVE VERSION)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by 3785718 Records DK2 on 15 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lean With It
Alternative & Indie - Released by GTA on 12 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo