An evening with Natalie Holmes at Cafe No9

Event information

Known for her haunting yet uplifting alt-pop, Natalie Holmes is a songwriter whose music will resonate deeply with all identifying as a cerebral wanderer. Over the past decade, she’s carved a path as an independent artist who consistently pushes the boundaries of songwriting and self-production, constantly balancing on the edge of the box to establish a sound that’s evocative yet remains comforting; and questioning everything along the way.

Natalie’s journey began in 2010, when she uploaded grainy YouTube videos of her songs, quickly gaining a following for her raw, poetic lyricism and honey-toned vocals. She has since released numerous EPs, singles, and her debut album, Vitamin Be (2022), all of which reflect her unwavering commitment to honesty and vulnerability. Vitamin Be explored themes of mental health, self-reflection, and the profound effects of nature, with the album’s self-produced soundscape capturing the complex and contradictory nature of modern life. It received glowing praise from BBC Radio 2, BBC 6, Clash, and EARMILK, with Tom Robinson calling it “fresh, adventurous, really assured."

With her second full length record, Opposite Day, due for release later in 2025, Natalie expands on the experimental approach she began in Vitamin Be. The new album shifts between alt-pop dreamy soundscapes and analog wormholes, to convey the dizzying emotional highs and lows of today's world. Inspired by artists like Caroline Polachek, Bon Iver, The Japanese House and Aurora, Opposite Day is a kaleidoscopic journey that delves into the spaces between love and loss, focusing less on what’s good or bad and more on the search for silver linings in an ever-shifting, chaotic landscape. “I want Opposite Day to be both grounding and uprooting for people,” she says. “It’s about sometimes falling victim to the uncertainty, picking yourself back up again, and finding beauty in the madness of it all.”

Natalie’s creative trajectory is marked by her ability to innovate both as a producer and performer. After years of honing her production skills through self-released demos and her Patreon community, she produced Vitamin Be entirely on her own, blending live instruments with edgy synths, glitchy marimbas, and nature samples to create a dreamlike, immersive atmosphere. Her music has made its way onto platforms like Calm, where she composed sleep songs for children, and had her instrumental album ‘Piano Places’ licensed for sleep and meditation.

As a live performer, Natalie has toured extensively, headlining shows, playing festivals like Isle of Wight, Live at Leeds, Barn on the Farm and Between the Trees, and supporting artists such as Gabrielle Aplin, Ásgeir, and Sam Brookes. In 2016, she joined Above & Beyond on their Acoustic World Tour as one of their lead vocalists, performing at iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl and Royal Albert Hall. Her voice has also graced the world of electronic music, with collaborations like “Zero” with Oliver Smith on Anjunabeats, which reached #1 on the iTunes Dance charts in over 15 countries, and “Doubt You,” a melodic future bass anthem that has garnered nearly 5 million streams.

Natalie’s path is one of constant growth and discovery, both personally and artistically. As an independent artist, she’s proven that the DIY route is more than just possible—it’s a thriving, dynamic journey. With Opposite Day on the horizon and a relentless drive to evolve, Natalie Holmes continues to inspire listeners to reflect, question, and embrace the challenges of life with grace, humour, and curiosity.

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Please note this ticket price DOES include a BYOB fee should you wish to bring alcohol to the venue.

All additional purchases of drinks and sweet treats from the cafe counter are always very much appreciated.