Natalie Long

2:54pm Wed 3rd Sep 08:: written by Claire Moulson

LISTEN TO AUDIO (1 available - click to expand)

Singer: Natalie Long

Band Members:
Rob Thom - Guitarist, vocals, from Windsor
Luke Ward - Bassist, vocals, from Slough
Lee Alloway - Drummer, from Bracknell

Style: Retro, pop, rock and ska.

Website: www.natalielong.co.uk

The 27-year-old from Taplow is a music and drama teacher at Slough Grammar and counts her pupils as her biggest fans.
She has performed with her session musicians for two years since signing a production and publishing deal in 2006, and says her influences are Blondie, Suzi Quatro, The Primitives, and singer-songwriters Alanis Morrisette, Carole King and Carly Simon.

So what has her career involved so far? She said: "I was in Pimblico from 1996 to 1999. We were a britpop, punk band and we were all St Bernard's Convent kids.
"Then I joined Chiquita, an all girl pop rock band at Southampton University from 2000 to 2002 before I went solo, mainly doing acoustic gigs.
"I had a stint abroad as a hotels cover singer from 2003 to 2005 but it made me realise that covers were not the way to go so I returned to release some original songs. I got the band together and that was it."

Her favourite track is called Way of Life and her favourite gig was the Clapham Grand, which was a first experience of playing on such a big stage and she felt 'elevated'. The band's bigger plan is to get signed to a label and to be creating music full-time.

LISTEN: Click above to hear Natalie's 'Way of Life'.