Natalie Gelman

Artist Information

Biography

This New York City native has no fear taking her performance from underground on a NYC subway platform to some of the worlds premier stages and arenas. Natalie has performed at Lincoln Center, Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas, Carnegie Hall, Nassau Coliseum and Shea Stadium among many other venues.

Featured on the front page of the New York Times, Natalie’s soulful voice carries over multiple trains in the underground subway and her intimate songs stop even the most hurried NYC commuters in their tracks. She has been praised by songwriting legends such as Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary who stopped to listen to her perform on the subway and introduce himself.

Admiring music from a young age, Natalie’s passion and persistence led to admission into the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts, the acclaimed FAME school. There, she received classical voice training from coaches of the Juilliard School and the NYC Opera. After securing her second solo at Carnegie Hall, Natalie began strumming her guitar and writing lyrics, pursuing what would soon become her vitality.

Upon releasing her debut album, Natalie kicked off a rollerblading tour from Miami, FL to NYC over 1500 miles raising money for charity in concerts along the way. She bladed anywhere from 20-80 miles a day depending on the terrain and schedule and played shows at night selling the CD and donating the profits to Children International.

Her passionate voice and music is a means to articulate her response to current affairs as well as reveal parts of her inner self with the world. Inspired by music greats like Carole King and Sheryl Crow Natalie often finds herself being compared to them. When you see a live show you will realize you're in the presence of a legend in the making. Whether she is singing to 7 or 17,000 she is sure to amaze you!

Natalie has opened for and performed with: Dave Mason of Traffic, Richard Cheese and Lounge against the Machine, Ellis Paul, Jonathan Coulton, Kal David, JD Souther, Jill Sobule, Lucy Kaplansky and Javier Colon.

FESTIVALS
Sundance Film Festival - UT
Comic Con - CA
Virgin Mobile Free Fest - MD
Women's Redrock Music Festival - UT
Sailfest - CT
Northwoods Music Festival - WI
Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival - VT
South Norwalk Arts Festival - CT
Cape May Singer Songwriter - NJ
Dewey Beach Music Festival - DE
Make Music New York - NYC
South Park Music Tour - CO
The Watermelon Festival - CA

CONFERENCE SHOWCASES
The NAMM Show - CA
TEDxOjai - CA
New Media Expo Conference - Vegas
Folk Alliance SERFA - AR
Folk Alliance SWRFA - TX
NACA – Nationals - MA
NACA – Northern Plains Showcase - MN
NACA - Northeast Showcase - CT
NACA - Mid-Atlantic Showcase - PA
NACA - Mid-America Showcase - KY
NACA - Central Showcase - TX
APCA - Central Showcase - TX
Indie Buzz Bootcamp - St. Louis
Podcamp NYC - NY
Podcamp Boston - MA

SHOWCASES
Songwriters Hall of Fame - NYC
Behind The Song Café - St. Louis
Acoustically Related - NYC
Under The Trees With Guitars - NYC
For the Love of Poetry - NYC
Just Plain Folks - NYC

CHARITY PERFORMANCES
Work Vessels for Veterans
Arthritis Foundation
Children International
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Epilepsy Coalition

COLLEGES PLAYED
CT: Central Connecticut State University * Eastern Connecticut State University * University of Connecticut - Waterbury * University of Connecticut (main campus) * University of Connecticut - Avery Point * Western Connecticut State University
CO: Johnson & Wales University
DE: University of Delaware * Wesley College
FL: University of Tampa * University of Miami
IA: Iowa State University * University of Northern Iowa * Clarke College * Loras College
IL: College of Lake County * Eastern Illinois University * Eureka College * Lewis and Clarke Community College * McKendree University * University of Illinois at Chicago * University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
KY: Eastern Kentucky University * Thomas More College
MA: Bridgewater State College * Bay Path College * Cape Cod Community College * Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
MI: University of Michigan - Flint
MN: University of Minnesota - Crookstown
NC: University of North Carolina - Charlotte * Western Carolina University
ND: Dickinson State University * North Dakota State University * Valley City State University
NE: Doane College
NH: Colby-Sawyer College * Southern New Hampshire University
NJ: Monmouth University * Rutgers University - Newark * Rowan University
NY: Binghamton University * College of Staten Island * Long Island University CW Post * Rochester Institute of Technology * St. Johns University * SUNY Plattsburgh * SUNY Rockland * Syracuse University * Adelphi University
OH: Ashland University * Walsh University * Wittenberg University
PA: Alvernia University * Arcadia University * Bucknell University * Bucks County Community College * Carnegie Mellon University * Chatham University * East Stroudsburg University * Misericordia University * Penn State University - Behrend * Penn State University - Schuylkill * Penn State University - York * Philadelphia University * St. Vincent College * Villanova University * Waynesburg University * Widener University
SC: Columbia College
TX: Lamar University * Texas A&M University - Kingsville* University of Texas-Permian Basin * University of Texas San Antonio
VA: Sweet Briar College * Virginia Commonwealth University
VT: Castleton State College * Landmark College * Southern Vermont College
WA: Central Washington University
WI: Fox Valley Technical College * University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
WV: Bethany College
And more added all the time!

Instrumentation

Natalie Gelman - Guitar and Vocals

Natalie's show is available with a full band, duo, trio or solo acoustic.

Discography

Self-Titled Debut Album: Natalie Gelman

Natalie is currently in the studio working on her next album with producers Charlie Midnight (Joni Mitchell, James Brown, Hillary Duff) and Mark Needham (Chris Isaak, Fleetwood Mac, The Killers).

Compilations:
Songwriters Hall of Fame Emerging Artists Volume 7 "Never Had You"
Tracks for Change - Benefiting Sweet Home New Orleans "Rest of the Way"
BluePopRock - Benefiting Battered Women "Forgive Me"
A Wish For Country - Benefiting the Make a Wish Foundation "Rest of the Way"

The singles Always Was, Never Had You and Sweet July have been featured on commercial radio as well as on podcasts around the world.

Official Website

http://www.NatalieGelman.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• YouTube
• Tumblr

Audio

• 01 One More Thing
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• 02 Long Stemmed Roses
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• 04 The Lion
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• 03 Most The While
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• 05 Streetlamp Musician
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• 06 Laugh So Hard You Cry
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• Sweet July
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• Never Had You
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Lyrics

• Sweet July
• Never Had You
• Streetlamp Musician
• The Lion

Video

Natalie Gelman - Promo Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Natalie in Billboard [+ Show ]
  

  Natalie was featured in Billboard magazine. Next to a photo of her performing it listed: Natalie Gel...Natalie was featured in Billboard magazine. Next to a photo of her performing it listed: Natalie Gelman - singer songwriter - New York, NY.
  
  See the feature here: http://nataliegelman.com/pressepk.cfm?mpf=frame&

• Seeking Fame Underground
  

  "Seeking a spot in musician's heaven... Natalie Gelman, a songwriter in full cry"

• Shot at Transit Glory - Buskers Audition for Subway Idol
  

  "Simply Terrific" "Description: Sheryl Crow plus Carole King"

• Rollerblading Lady Luck [+ Show ]
  

  This is the English translation. Read the article in Russian here: http://www.nrs.com/news/portret/u...This is the English translation. Read the article in Russian here: http://www.nrs.com/news/portret/usa/050907_174308_41848.html
  
  She gave up the violin and a piano, refused a career as an opera singer, started playing the guitar, rollerblading and arrived on rollerblades from Miami to New York. Get acquainted with Natalie Gelman – the young performer of her own songs.
  
  Natalie's father is a Russian violinist, and her mother is a German artist with two daughters from a previous marriage. "My dad taught my sisters to play the violin. Once my mother invited him to go with her to a concert... The history of love in which the woman takes the first step," tells the fun-loving girl with slanting and large features, long thin fingers and a juicy voice. I would never think, that this intelligent young lady with glasses is capable of bringing to life her crazy ideas.
  
  At home they speak in English, therefore Natalie can only say limited greetings in Russian: farewells and declarations of love. "When my dad names his sister on the phone 'Sofochka,' it sounds mysterious and romantic to me. I would like to speak in Russian," admits Natalie.
  
  In her childhood, Gregory, Natalie's father, taught her his native language a little. He taught her more of the language of music. In high-school she had a Russian boyfriend, dialogue with whom slightly enlarged her Russian vocabulary. And his mother taught Natalie how to cook compote. "How many times I tried to prepare it and it never was as good," Natalie makes a helpless gesture and continues a theme of astronomic traditions. "My dad always has salty fish in the refrigerator, it's part of the Russian menu. In my opinion it has an awful smell. As Germans love meat, it lays beside it on a shelf. To me as a vegetarian, both of them are my opposite."
  
  Natalie really enjoys the Russian tradition of large parties. With some jealousy, Natalie tells me of one of her Russian-speaking friends birthday parties at a Brighton beach restaurant: in a circle of numerous relatives and friends, with songs, dancing, performances by actors and tables bursting with abundance.
  
  "Even though we're told that in New York almost everyone can find a place where the culture of his nation is represented, I think that communities have lost their traditions. In Chinatown stalls sell fake goods as if this is everything that is famous China; in Little Italy with its continuous restaurants, it gives the impression that all Italians do is eat," discussing about assimilation, Natalie, who was born and raised in Greenwich Village. She admires the families that carefully store their cultural traditions. In her New York family this does not apply. However Natalie can precisely tell, that considering her character from her father and mother she considers love to music and diligence to be from her Russian heritage.
  
  Studying the violin for five years, and piano for twice as long, was torture for the girl. She liked neither, but she loved music and with pleasure sang at school. She managed to elicit vocal lessons from her parents. Over time her mother, feeling bad for the child, allowed Natalie to drop her violin lessons. At Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts she studied singing, composition and dance. Her vocal instructors were teachers from Juilliard and NYC Opera.
  
  "As I grew up in an environment of classical music, my knowledge of all known composers was that they were men: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, and they are all deceased, jokes Natalie… except for Madonna and Lisa Minelli, I did not listen to contemporary music till I was 15. As long as I can I remember, I always hummed something of my own. During my last year in high-school I picked up a guitar for the first time and started to write songs. Immediately I understood, this felt right," tells Natalie.
  
  Her father diligently hid disappointment in his daughter's choice to play guitar. It was expected that having been born with long fingers Natalie was predetermined to be a talented violinist. "They will be good to play the guitar also," Natalie told her father. Today he is the first to judge her writing. He does not avoid criticizing her. "The criticism is always helpful because he has a classical view point on music," thinks Natalie.
  
  Natalie's Russian relatives are very friendly and supportive of all her endeavors. "My daughter deserves to win the contest. I objectively judged and listen for yourself to the other participants," Gregory in edition with the request called to write about Natalie's participation in the musical competition at Famecast.com. Alien to modern technologies, he tried to do the utmost for her victory and hoped, that the talent of the young singer will be appreciated.
  
  The temptation to participate in the competition was big: the winner was promised a monetary prize of 10 thousand dollars. Because of this, Natalie who was up to her ears in debt from her education after her graduation from the University of Miami Natalie went to Austin. "I consider online-competition biased." Natalie confirmed this with her own experience: from 140 musicians she took third place. Today she considers the decision to study in Miami a mistake, which has planted her in a lot of debt. But, she needed to leave New York for a while, see more of the country so she would eventually understand how strongly she loves the city of her birth.
  
  "Among opera singers the competition is also intense, Natalie discredits my assumption that in the classical music field it would be easier to become successful. You need an agent, photos… they have to sell themselves like models, go to castings. Besides, they have to have a very expensive wardrobe and vocal lessons. I on the other hand can perform in jeans and a t-shirt. Opera singers don't receive too much for performing either. In both talent and luck are necessary."
  
  When she was a student in grade school Natalie was a soloist on the prestigious Carnegie-hall stage. Then she appeared on it again when she studied in high-school. Natalie's voice was heard at New York City Opera as well. For the schoolgirl, dreaming to sing in musicals, it was a dizzying success. "It forced me to reflect on the future: If I have risen so highly then what will be next, falling? I reconsidered my goals. Madison Square Garden, world touring and popularity – that's what I aspire today," says Natalie. "Studying opera at the University of Salzburg in Austria, I finally made sure, that it was not for me, I decided to drop out of college and to go on rollerblades all around the country. But my mother insisted that I returned to college." For two years Natalie worked tediously within the precincts of the university, having celebrated its termination by an embodiment of the mad idea.
  
  Natalie's LandRoller Tour lasted forty-eight days. She is the only who artist who made a charity-musical tour on roller blades, during which she covered more than 1500 miles. During stops Natalie performed in cafe and bars and sang in streets. On the first day of the tour a car knocked Natalie down: The driver of the van, pulling into a gas station, did not notice the girl. Natalie had fallen directly in a dirty pool. "What did you do?!" she cried. "This foreign driver did not speak English. I was covered in dirty auto-refueling water. It was a good lesson: to fall, rise and continue a way," she recollects.
  
  Natalie is not someone who gives in to difficulties. She conceived the idea for the tour with the unselfish objective to collect money for Children International. How could people not donate? At concerts the singer explained to listeners that by giving only 18 dollars a month, they can change the life of a child from a less fortunate family. She learned about this organization when she worked for them at 19 years old, which was also when she first started sponsoring a girl from Guatemala, which she continued to do for two years.
  
  "Recent college graduates have it tough. You leave college not only with your education, but also with a lot of debt. And 250 dollars a year becomes a significant amount of money so I ceased to make regular charitable payments and now give on an individual basis. Besides, like most American graduates, I did not have medical insurance. I played in the subway to collect money for the dentist. To my surprise, I earned a very decent amount of money and met many interesting people. Within two weeks of singing every day at the stations I had enough money for the dentist to treat a root canal." Natalie has figured, that if she performed daily for two hours per day in the subway it would be possible to earn 30 thousand dollars a year. On her worst days she received 10 dollars for an hour of singing, on her best $60. However, singing continuously for that long is harmful to a singers' health. But, the Land Rollering tour has left a big hole in the budget of the young singer.
  
  Natalie prepared for the tour in advance, she sent press releases to mass media. But very few people perceived its invention at all. Only in Georgia did TV reporters show interest. A story about the young singer who was rollerblading from Florida to New York, was shown on the news. To organize concerts during the tour Natalie's friend from college helped by becoming road-manager. She was supposed to follow Natalie in her car and if necessary come to her aid. But she did not follow through on her part and halfway through the tour betrayed her friend.
  
  "It was the worst moment of my tour. That day the wheel on my skates had broken, she did not meet me on the highway and had forgotten more of my things at the hotel." During the tour Natalie expected unforeseen obstacles, but there were moments when she was ready to give up. Bridges that were on her route often had to be crossed on all fours on her back because she couldn't blade across the grates. She rollerbladed eight hours without a stop in ninety-eight degree heat, she flew on level road and was slow on dirt roads. "In Florida there were roads which, apparently, had not been paved in many years. Even bigger wheels on my rollerblades did not help me. I did not rollerblade I walked," Natalie assessed the roads. The worst drivers and roads, in her opinion, were in New Jersey and Virginia, besides which there very few sidewalks or bicycle lines.
  
  In Southern Philadelphia, Natalie by chance had an escort: the captain of the local police precinct followed her closely in his car. "It was very helpful because so many people were offering me cocaine and other drugs," tells the young lover of adventure. On the roads of Georgia drivers were beeping at Natalie. "Drivers made me cry: everyone was beeping at me. I did not understand, why they were so angry: I was not on the road in their way, I was blading on the shoulder. I was so upset I got off the road and was walking in the grass with my blades on. But cars that were passing by continued beeping at me. I began to look in the windows of the cars and saw, that the drivers were smiling at me and waving hello. Finally, I realized that they had seen me on the news!" recollects Natalie.
  
  Natalie sometimes had a really tough time, she bladed under a tropical storm, avoided an attack from aggressive dogs and was twice hit and injured by absent-minded drivers. The second time a car ran into her the driver was an army officer in Virginia: having braked at a stop sign he continued to drive, looking at but not noticing Natalie crossing the road at the same time. "Girl, I hit you hard!" he said, then, he apologized seeing that Natalie has got off with only bruises. "Okay, drive more cautiously", answered Natalie: the driver indeed looked tired, and she needed to hurry up because she had a concert that night. She was shaken up, but the persistent girl continued a way. Fortunately, ahead was a steep bridge without any footpath or shoulder, and Griffin, Natalie's boyfriend, replaced irresponsible Stacey as the road-manager, and picked up the suffered girlfriend. Only later did she find out, that as a result of the incident her camera was broken.
  
  "There were a lot of disappointing events during the trip. Much could have been done better or more correctly. But I do not regret it, I learned so much from it. I have learned to ask for help and to forgive, I gained confidence, began to understand people better, have learned who my real friends were, and made many changes in myself. It was a fascinating and beautiful tour. It would seem, after four years of studying in Miami with the tropical scenery that nothing would surprise me, but the beauty of the Florida coast moved me: I saw pelicans, beautiful houses, I was roller skating on the coast, and the ocean was flirting with me the whole day. I wrote some songs about this piece of the trip," sums up Natalie. Natalie arrived in New York on July 17th, in time for her 21st birthday. Friends were surprised at how Natalie had grown thin and tan: two months on roller skates!
  
  Recently the singer has received her driving license. She plans to tour and perform with concerts in Pennsylvania, Road-Island and Ohio, but this time will she wont be traveling on roller skates she will be in a car. Natalie is promoting her CD and wishes to release a new album, having defined and slightly changed her style. Now it is melodious folk with elements of pop. Still, she dreams of making her performances entertaining shows with dances and acrobatic numbers. And for this purpose she has it all, a fine voice, a remembered appearance, and even successes in gymnastics. "I am very future oriented and always try to achieve my goals. I do not know, whether it is a Russian feature, but that it is a character trait of my father's, is precise," speaks Natalie.

• Spellemannsprøven [+ Show ]
  

  Partial Translation: Do you also want play in the subways of New York? Well, then first you must at...Partial Translation:
  Do you also want play in the subways of New York? Well, then first you must attend an audition and persuade 30 judges.
  
  At Penn Station, stop any further south's Natalie Gelman and plays guitar and sings. She sells CDs at ten dollars a piece. Maybe the right person will go by, and find her one day? In the meantime, she's merely up to play for New York's 4.5 million travelers; the world's best - or at least most diverse - the public. Once you're in through the audition, you have the permission for life.
  
  Full Article here:
  http://nataliegelman.com/longpress.cfm
  

• Rising Indie Star [+ Show ]
  

  Natalie Gelman sings with a voice filled with strength and enthusiasm. It’s hard to believe this is ...Natalie Gelman sings with a voice filled with strength and enthusiasm. It’s hard to believe this is her freshman project. There’s a promising future for this rising indie star.

• Upstream Radio [+ Show ]
  

  Natalie Gelman comes from the core of the Big Apple. You cannot help to fall in love with her grace....Natalie Gelman comes from the core of the Big Apple. You cannot help to fall in love with her grace. A musical charm that will sweep your spirit away into a blissful place not too far from your heart's home. This modern musical philosopher finds ways to touch your soul in places that you did not know existed. Her singles "Never Had You" and "Always Was" will help you remember if you just happen to ever forget.

• CT Commercial Radio
  

  There aren’t many CD’s I am waiting to receive! -Neil Hedley Guy in the Sky Morning Show

• Accident Hash Podcast
  

  Great, great musician!

• This album so happens to be a Jewel [+ Show ]
  

  Her passionate songs and voice have brought comparisons to Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell and Jewel. And...Her passionate songs and voice have brought comparisons to Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell and Jewel. And this album so happens to be a Jewel. I pride myself that I like all types of music. It doesn't have to rock out. Kicking off with 'Rest Of The Way', this track showcases the sort of path this record takes. Following with 'Sweet July', and this catchy little offering so happens to be one of my faves on this record. Other little favourites are 'Leave', 'Half Dead', 'Never Had You' and the rockier 'Forgive Me'. Get out there, light up your camp fires and get your accoustic guitars out. Listening to this in-fact brought back a memory of a certain lass I know playing her accoustic guitar at the top of Glastonbury Tor last Summer. This cd is cool stuff with cool lyrics by a cool lass who has been featured on the front page of the NY Times and in Billboard Magazine. 8/10

Setlist

Whether Solo, Duo or with a Full Band Natalie gives an incredible unforgettable show featuring original and cover songs across the Pop/Rock/Folk/Country/Soul and Alternative genres. She is engaging with stories from her life, the road and street performing adventures and has something to offer every venue and music fan.

Natalie is able to tailor her set list to fit the needs of the event/venue. The show is perfect for schools, parties,wineries, resorts, venues and clubs both big and small, house-parties, parks and coffeehouses.

Partial Song List…

Originals:
Sweet July (Award: Mike Pinder's Songwars)
Never Had You (Award: Songwriters Hall of Fame - Emerging Artists CD)
Wont Matter Anymore (Award: Facebook Idol)
Sundance In Your Eyes
Laugh So Hard You Cry
One More Thing
The Lion
Long Stemmed Roses
Most The While
Always Was
Just Someone
Forgive Me
Leave
Cross Your Heart
Rest of The Way
Half Dead
Take Me Home
Blues No. 2
Poison
Puppeteers
Battle
When Will I Be Loved?
Run Away
Man on the Moon
Streetlamp Musician
Summer Song
and more...

Covers:
Landslide
Strong Enough
Before He Cheats
One Fine Day
Both Sides Now
Nobody Does it Better
You Were Meant For Me
Traveling Soldier
Dream, Dream, Dream
Black is the Color
Torn
Hey There Delilah
Like We Never Loved At All
This Ones For the Girls
Breathe (2am)
One Headlight
Sex and Candy
Livin' on a Prayer
No One
Poor Mans House
Best I Ever Had
Closing Time
Two Princes
Your Love is my Drug
and many more...

If there's a specific song you would like to hear just let us know! Natalie also has a set of many favorite Holiday songs!

Basic Requirements

Calendar