Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Christian music artist Natalie Layne was constantly surrounded by music. Her family instilled in her a love of music from a young age as she watched her mom sing and lead worship, and her dad play bass and trombone. They knew from the beginning that Natalie had “a song in her heart.” Natalie began leading worship at the age of 12 and spent much of her time at church. She learned to lead worship and write her own songs from several worship pastors, including Cory Asbury, Jon Egan, and Jared Anderson.
Currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, Natalie continues to write, produce, and release her own music. She leads worship at Ethos Church and is completing her degree in Commercial Music. She describes her sound as “CCM with a hint of R&B.” After releasing several singles, Natalie began creating her full length album, Be Human, that released on July 3rd, 2020.
Artist Name:
Natalie Layne
Age:
22
Genres:
Christian, Gospel, Worship
Hometown:
Colorado Springs, CO
Label:
Rixon Entertainment Group
Hobbies/Interests Apart from Music:
I love to read—Karl Barth and C.S. Lewis are some of my favorites. And baking has always been one of my favorite hobbies! I’m about ready to bake all things pumpkin, so it’s a very exciting time of the year!
Last Netflix/Streaming Binge:
This one isn’t on Netflix, but every time I’m with my mom we binge This Is Us. I still need to get caught up on this season!
Musical Influences:
John Mayer, Sara Bareilles, and Lauren Daigle.
Very First Musical Purchase:
I remember going with my parents to pick out a real upright piano when I was about 12. It was one of the most exciting days EVER.
CCM: Do you have a favorite song from the new album? Why?
I think ‘Castles’ is my favorite. It encapsulates everything I want to be as an artist! It’s got that R&B/gospel groove and I genuinely love singing it. The lyrics always remind me of the incredible blessing of the Spirit inside each of us—and how we can see that in one another too.
CCM: Do you remember that moment when you realized you wanted to make an actual career out of music?
I do—it was super early on, as a kid. I was probably 3 or 4 years old and I remember my grandma nonchalantly asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I paused for a minute and said “well, I want to write songs and lead worship.” I also remember thinking my backup plan was to become an astronaut!
CCM: If you could potentially tour with any other artist or band (that you haven’t already), who would you choose and why?
I would love to tour with Tauren Wells someday. I think our music would make sense together and his live show is SO fun. I was a dancer growing up and I think it’s so cool that he incorporates choreography into his shows! He’s got that R&B/gospel flare that I love, and it would be so fun to collaborate with him. Another big dream was opening for We the Kingdom, and I got to do that this summer!
CCM: What was the last song you listened to on your playlist or stereo?
I think it was ‘Shackles’ by Mary Mary. I grew up on that song and recently rediscovered it. So good!
CCM: What was the songwriting process like on this record?
The songwriting process for Castles was a blast. I’ve got a great team of writers that came in to finish the project—Phoebe Scott, Jay Speight, Cooper Bascom, and Ross King. They rock. I’m super grateful to have a team that’s as invested in the songs as I am. We spent countless days in the studio making these songs right. It feels so good to finally have our work out in the world!
CCM: How important is your faith or spirituality within your music?
It’s the most important thing. Especially during the writing process, if I’m not tuned into the Holy Spirit, I’m missing the whole point. We have such an amazing opportunity to bring life and hope to the world through our music. I don’t want to miss it because I’m not listening.
CCM: What message do you hope listeners will take away from your music, regardless of what they believe?
I pray that listeners would be inspired through this music, even in little ways. My whole team—including songwriters, producers, and everyone else who’s worked on it—wants people to find little bits of hope through the songs. Our world really needs that right now and I am so grateful to be a little part of reminding people what matters most
Watch the YouTube Lyric Video for ‘Castles’:
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