We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Natalie aka Nattie Jean Koistinen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Natalie aka Nattie Jean , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was younger, I used to watch my mother sing and perform in her band, Whiskey Creek. She would sing Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt and so on. My dad was also in the band. He played lead guitar. Watching them perform all throughout my childhood really made me fall in love with music. I loved going out to the garage where they would have band practice and just watch the band jam out. I really was raised around music. I knew that music was going to be a huge part of my life.

Natalie aka Nattie Jean , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started singing in my mid 20s. I dealt with a lot of anxiety with singing in front of people, so it took me awhile to break out of my shell! My dad helped me start a band and it actually had a lot of the original members from their band, Whiskey Creek, in it. After becoming more comfortable, I started writing more and released music under Nattie Jean. When I write songs, I like to write about topics that are relatable. Music has always been a huge part of my life and has always helped me get through things. Music is how I express my feelings. One thing about me is that I can’t stick to one genre. If a song comes to my mind, it really can be any genre. It is just how I am feeling at the time. I have been blessed to have been part of the opening acts for The Charlie Daniels Band, David Lee Murphy, Shenandoah, Jon Pardi, and others! When I perform, I always want the audience to feel the emotions of the song so they can really feel what the song is about. I am a very lyrical person and enjoy telling stories with my music. My main goal is for everyone to enjoy the music and forget about any worries they may have and just enjoy life in that moment.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had always dealt with anxiety and always had a hard time putting myself out there, because when you put yourself out there, anyone can say what they want and have an opinion on you. There was one time when someone commented negatively on my body, because I was plus size. I remember being so embarrassed and hurt. That was always one of my biggest fears when I’d perform, because I wasn’t fit or skinny. It really hurt me that a complete stranger could say something so mean and not know anything about me other than what I physically looked like. If that would have happened when I first started out, I probably would have quit before I even really got started, which would have been heartbreaking for me since music means so much to me. Over the years, I have gotten stronger and have realized that people are going to have their opinions and some people will pick you apart without even knowing you, but you can’t let that take away from your happiness and your goals. You are unique and there is only one you, so always follow your passion because it was instilled in you for a reason.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a singer-songwriter is when people relate to your music and attach it to a part of their life. It’s so neat when they relate it to a memory in their life and it could be a totally different situation than what I wrote about, but that’s how they related to the song. It’s just so amazing how music brings people together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nattiejean_music
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattieJeanmusic

Image Credits
Terry Williams, Ceirra The Gemini, and Mathew DeRiso