Ultra Naté Goes Tropical
It’s not often you get to meet a legend, and the amazing recording artist Ultra Naté is just that. Named one of Billboard Magazine’s ‘Greatest Dance Artists Of All Time’, and with a career spanning three decades and spawning massive crowd stompers such as Twisted, Automatic, Party Girl, New Kind Of Medicine, Found A Cure, How Long (Ultra Flava), If You Could Read My Mind, and the seminal, evergreen anthem Free; US singer, songwriter, DJ and producer Ultra Naté continues to be an integral force within the life blood of global House Music.
As one of the first house music artists to sign a major label deal when she inked paper with Warner Music UK, Ultra Naté’s sound has continually embraced a variety of genres including House, Soul, Disco, Electro-Pop, R&B, HipHop and Rock. Her catalogue is one steeped in timeless classics, impressive accolades and creative highlights with everyone from The Basement Boys, Nellee Hooper, D-Influence, Mood II Swing, Nona Hendryx, Lenny Kravitz and Frankie Knuckles, to N’Dea Davenport, NERVO, Tod Terry, Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), 4 Hero, Deee-lite, Masters At Work, Roger Sanchez and more.
Ultra’s #1 single Free shows no sign of letting up, 25 years after its original release.
Ultra is a widely noted ally of the international LBGTQIA+ community and Free was universally named one of the Top Pride anthems of all time during 2019’s unprecedented global World Pride celebrations.
Bears who get along to Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week next month are in for an amazing treat as she will be performing on the Main Stage during Bear Village on April 12.
I had the great honor to chat with Ultra Naté last week and ask her about her career, what brings her joy, and of course what will be happening on stage for the bears, take a look at what she had to say:
Richard Jones: Hi Ultra Naté thanks for your time, we are thrilled you are going to be entertaining us at Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week. Thanks for some great music – of course I love Free and I don’t believe it’s 27 years old! It was only a few years ago I was dancing to that awesome track! Wasn’t it?
Ultra Naté: Ha!! It boggles my mind just as much as yours! I don’t know where the years went so quickly. It’s pretty phenomenal how the song has resonated through the generations. And as the global landscape becomes more difficult to navigate, it becomes more and more important to have those reminders of standing in your truth, uniting in love and empowering ourselves along with our communities.
RJ: How does it feel to be so relevant and able to release music after 30 years in the business? The Happy Feeling (Cevin Fisher remix) is amazing!!
UN: Thank you, that’s also one of my favorite remixes of Happy Feeling too! I never gave it a thought in terms of continuing to create. At the foundation of anything, whether it’s your journey on a major label, independent label or creating your own label, the experience is uniquely yours. And that doesn’t end until you decide. My only goal is staying true to myself, while making it make sense in an ever changing marketplace. I really can’t imagine what would fulfil me in the same way if I did not create. Going completely independent 20 years ago has allowed me to make that transition, and have that full ownership of my career.
RJ: Your 2022 remix of Free just feels so amazing and special. It makes it feel like it’s not 25 years old at all… how do you do that?
UN: I think it’s because I don’t approach it from the thought process of where I was in 1997. I approach it as a current creation, I’m not living in the space of the 90s. I loved them and I wish I could step into a time machine and go back and enjoy them again for a bit, but I am firmly grounded in contemporary music and art forms. My team and I approach things from fresh perspectives looking at the landscape of where music is and where it’s going. It was the same years ago when those classic records were created, and they have stood the test of time.
RJ: You are about to have thousands of bears dancing with you at Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week! What can they expect in the set?
UN: Well, that is a fun thought! The Bears definitely know how to party! My set always spans different eras of my career. Sometimes it’s a little difficult because my catalogue is extensive, and people have various favorites, but I try to put a show together that is comprehensive and going to make you dance!
I’m always trying to strike the balance between that person in the crowd who has followed me since Blue Notes in the Basement, with that kid out there who is just finding himself, and may have never heard of me before. How do I make an impact for both of them?
RJ: I think at the minute we all need to have as much joy as possible – you have a great track called Joy – I love it so much. What track do you just HAVE to put in your set to give you a great burst of joy or get you into the feeling to perform?
UN: For me personally, there’s no rhyme or reason because I love dance music culture, and I love to perform live. It’s just that raw energy of making people feel good that brings me joy. Stepping out on stage and bringing any one of my songs to life in that moment is the best feeling!
RJ: What helps you have joy when you’re away from home, or need a boost for the day?
UN: Extra sleep, a good workout, the beach, a spa, shopping or dinner hangs with friends are all lovely. And if I’m in a situation where I can’t get any of that, then the basics, listening to good music helps a lot. It’s easy for me to “go inside myself” and live in that space. I can get lost in music very easily.
RJ: If we cant get to see you in Fort Lauderdale – where else can we see you?
UN: I’ll be spinning my birthday celebration on March 20th in Miami at Jolene, making my way over to the UK to perform for the Hacienda on May 24th, Bristol Pride on July 12th and I will be in Barcelona at Sonar Festival on June 14th. Many other dates on the itinerary so best to check out my website at ultranate.com and all my socials to get dates for places like Ibiza, Puerto Vallarta and Malta!
RJ: Thanks so much for your time, it’s been an honor, have a great Tropical Bear Week in Lauderdale!
UN: Thank you, and I cannot wait!
Listen to Ultra Naté’s latest singles – a re-release of a cover of Bee Gees How Deep Is Your Love and Wrecking Crew with Lovequest, and don’t miss a thing by checking out her LinkTree too.
Don’t miss Ultra Naté and the amazing line up of parties & events for Lauderdale Tropical Bear Week – get all the info at lauderdaletropicalbear.com
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