Natalie Prass’ self-titled record is a strong contender for 2015’s best debut albums, but the singer-songwriter has been nothing if not prepared for the year she’s had so far.
Years of writing, recording and touring have given the 29-year-old some serious chops, and the time spent working to release her debut has instilled in Prass a resilience without seeming to affect her positive, enthusiastic personality.
After months of touring around the globe in support of the album, Prass and her ensemble will perform at the Frequency on July 18. The Richmond, Va.-based musician spoke with Isthmus while on the road in Montreal.
What last brought you to Madison?
I was playing guitar as part of Rayland Baxter, and we were opening for Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, which is how I met the guy who’s playing bass for me now. Crazy!
How have things been for you on this year’s tours? It really has been almost half a year. Is it tiring, or do you feel like you belong out on the road?
It’s been incredible. We just did our first headlining tour. Pretty much every show sold out, and everyone had a really great time. Berlin was the highlight for me. Everyone was so excited and singing along to a lot of the words out loud — really loudly. It was a party. We all just had so much fun.
There’s nothing that I love more than performing and singing and playing and being creative and playing a new set every night. That’s the joy of playing with such amazing musicians. We’re very open and locked in with each other.
How does headlining compare to touring with an ensemble, as you did as a member of Jenny Lewis’ live band, or as an opener, as you did for Ryan Adams?
All three of those were very different experiences. Playing for Jenny, of course, I learned so much. I’m a huge fan of her and her vision, but I’m a songwriter and a player, and there’s only so much that I can get into doing something like that. But I really believe in being a well-rounded artist and person.
We started doing this opening tour [with Ryan Adams], which was amazing, because you’re learning a lot about how someone else’s tour functions and works. You’re in their machine and on their schedule. You have to learn how to go with the flow and work on the fly when you’re opening. You sound check quickly, if you get one, and then you have to eat dinner in a half hour, and then you’re on stage. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s not your show.
Now we’re doing these headlining shows, and we’re nailing it. We’re really connected to each other. Now we’re playing easily every night, and we have no problem playing an hour and a half on a nine-song record.
People talk about the influence of Dionne Warwick and others on your sound. How do you feel you fit in the national scene right now? Who do you view as your contemporaries?
We did a tour with Hiss Golden Messenger, and that was perfect. We just met all the War on Drugs guys, and it was a joy to meet all of them and to hang with them. I’m a huge fan of Caitlin Rose and that kind of stuff. Even Jenny Lewis could maybe work. I don’t know — I’m just in my own world. If it clicks, it clicks.
With us and Ryan Adams, that was unbelievably perfect. I had a record of his in high school, but that was it — that was all I knew. When I saw them again, I was completely blown away. They have it dialed in. The dynamics, they all know how to play together so well. And then, when Ryan asked us to open for them in Europe, I was so honored to do that. They’re pros.
Your debut album finally came out in January. It feels too early to talk about a follow-up, but since you wrote those songs so long ago, have you been thinking about your next directions?
Now that there’s a label, and I have the opportunity to work with some people I didn’t have the opportunity to work with — or work with the same people, but now I can pay them what they’re worth — I want to make this the best I can. All of us have grown so much. I’ve been writing a lot, as much as I can on the road. My goal is to have it finished by this time next year. Not out, but at least recorded and mastered and ready to go.
