Natasha Kaminsky

Kaminsky draws from the Great American Songbook, French chanson and jazz influences to create her own brand of sensual music.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Natasha grew up with a diverse slate of musical influences.
“One of my fondest memories is of my father putting on a record and telling me ‘This is the Beatles’. At age 14, upon getting hired as a cashier at a local gourmet foods shop, Natasha discovered jazz via the store’s background music. “Ella, Billie, Sarah…They were like tasting ginger for the first time – pure magic!”

Despite a lifelong knack for words and a fervent love of music, it was only when a high school girlfriend asked for help writing lyrics that Kaminsky began to put the two together. “I was nineteen, in twelfth grade for the second time because I had flunked math and suddenly I discovered what I was supposed to do with my life.” Of course, with only a couple years of classical piano training (when she was nine and ten) and no performance experience, a life of music seemed an unlikely career choice. Nevertheless, Natasha answered the call, enlisting pianist Rick Boughton to help record her first demo.

Boughton and Kaminsky have worked together ever since, most notably on Natasha’s debut CD, ‘Essence’. Consisting exclusively of Boughton’s baby grand and Kaminsky’s voice, the album reads like a drawer full of love letters. Boughton’s masterful performance sets a colorful and dramatic backdrop to Kaminsky’s tender lyricism.

In collaborating with Boughton for her sophomore album, Kaminsky builds on their history together as well as Boughton’s talent as an arranger and producer. With a nod to the past and an eye on the future, Kaminsky’s new album consists of original compositions as well as a few well-chosen standards.

Kaminsky has consistently garnered awards for her songwriting, including the UCLA Lionel Richie Scholarship in Songwriting, as well as being named runner-up in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Most recently, her material was remixed by DJ MC Mario and released nationally on ‘MC Mario’s Mixdown 2008’.

In 2001 Kaminsky organized the “River City Christmas” compilation album that raised money for the Manitoba Children’s Hospital. Natasha’s connection to charitable organizations has deepened since herself being diagnosed and treated for Attention Deficit Disorder in 2006. She especially looks forward to performing at the ‘Date with a Star’ fundraiser for the Learning Disabilities Organization of Manitoba as they offer many wonderful resources for families affected by ADD.

Kaminsky recently took some time off to start a family. In addition to the usual lullabies, her son enjoys hearing his mom sing material from her new album. “On so many levels I feel ready to put together an amazing project” says Kaminsky “it’s taken a while for me to get here so I have a lot of great stories to tell!”

“Essence is an essential album for fans of Tori Amos and early Jewel”
“...a mesmorizing atmosphere...Essence flows seamlessly from beginning to end. Natasha's voice is as beautiful as her lyrics are meaningful.” *

*fan reviews from CD Baby.com