Natalie Prass

Natalie Prass |Photo Courtesy Spacebomb Records

Sounds Like: An indie-rock Dusty In Memphis

For Fans of: Fifties Brill Building, Sixties Tropicália and Seventies Laurel Canyon songcraft

Why You Should Pay Attention: A singer/songwriter who had recently been making custom dog sweaters to pay rent, Prass abandoned her longtime Nashville homebase, joined Jenny Lewis’ touring band and recorded her debut LP with indie-pop up-and-comer Matthew E. White in Richmond, Virginia, where she now lives. Prass’ concise, self-titled set is full of lush orchestrations, mellow brass and an apiary of sparkly, fluttering, close-miked vocals that echo Laura Nyro and early Kate Bush. Early reports indicate her music has wowed plenty of critics ”” among them Ryan Adams, who invited her to open his European tour.

She Says: “My dad gave me the Introducing Dionne Warwick album when I was like 14,” Prass says, explaining why she thanked the veteran soul-pop singer in her liner notes. “It was the first time I’d heard Burt Bacharach’s songwriting and her voice, and it rocked my world. She’s such a great singer, and communicator. It really helped me shape my own style”¦.I’m really into the “classic” thing ”” the craft of writing something that will last, that won’t die by next year.”

Hear for Yourself: The lead track of her LP, “My Baby Don’t Understand Me,” is a crumbled relationship ballad with the bruised, cinematic majesty of a post-war Robert E. Lee retreating home. By Will Hermes

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