Natalie Acciani
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"She's just 19 (turning 20 on Tuesday), plays acoustic guitar, and writes her own material, working in a pop-country vein. Comparisons to Taylor Swift will be inevitable, but Natalie Acciani of Cherry Hill has her own thing going on - and quite nicely. Recorded in Haddon Heights with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jim Heffernan, A Dangerous Thing is an insistently engaging collection of catchy, well-crafted songs that sound radio-ready without being glib either musically or emotionally. Acciani expresses youthful yearning ("Break Free"), but she also faces up to romantic disappointment ("I Need the Rain," "Killing Me") with lyrical sophistication and mature restraint, avoiding overwrought power balladry. Acciani can flash a little attitude ("The Last Time"), but she can also be sweet without being saccharine ("Ribbons & Curls"). All in all, this is a very impressive debut."
— Nick Cristiano, Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia Inquirer
Discography
EP - I Can Dream (To Be Released, May 2012)
LP - A Dangerous Thing (released May 2010)
Singles - One Day Closer (Proceeds benefit JDRF for Diabetes Research)
Photos
Bio
Natalie Acciani (Ach-yah-knee) was born and raised in southern New Jersey, just 20 miles East of Philadelphia. Writing her first song at age six, music became an important part of her life at an early age.
At 13 she began training vocally with world-renowned opera singer Badiene Magaziner who helped Natalie develop and strengthen her 4 octave range. She has been classically trained in opera, jazz, broadway, pop and country. Her vocal control and emotional delivery on stage continue to capture new listeners and has become an integral part of her identity as an artist and performer.
In high school Natalie participated in multiple award-winning choirs and auditioned small music groups, as well as several musicals. She taught herself to play guitar at age 17 and shortly after began performing her original songs at local open mics and coffeehouses. Songwriting and performing became a passion, and she began giving full-length shows of original material in the small venues in and around Philadelphia. With each performance her apprehension on stage began to fade, and soon a seasoned performer emerged.
In the past few years, in addition to growing as a performer, Natalie has continued to evolve as a songwriter. After spending a good deal of time in Nashville working with established songwriters, she came away with an indispensable education in the craft of songwriting, and has been able to combine that knowledge with the creative inspiration she gained being immersed in the independent Philadelphia music scene. This combination has shaped her songwriting style into a unique blend of independent artistry and commercial appeal.
She recorded her latest project, an EP entitled "I Can Dream", with Grammy-winning producer Glenn Barratt. The six songs represent six different sides of Natalie both vocally and creatively. "I Can Dream" signifies a coming of age for Natalie and serves as a firm representation of who she is and has become as an artist.
Her debut CD, “A Dangerous Thing” ( released in 2010), holds 11 of her original songs. Produced by Jimmy Heffernan and co-produced by Natalie, it has served as a wonderful introduction for Natalie in the music world has won her many incredible opportunities. A 2011 review in the Philadelphia Inquirer stated "A Dangerous Thing is an insistently engaging collection of catchy, well-crafted songs that sound radio-ready without being glib either musically or emotionally." "...this is a very impressive debut."
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