Natania Lalwani Talks About Signing to Roc Nation’s Publishing Roster

Earlier this month, Mumbai-raised, Los Angeles-based artist Natania Lalwani was signed to the Jay-Z-owned entertainment agency, Roc Nation. Joining their music publishing roster, Lalwani says it certainly makes things more streamlined, which can help when you’re among the rising Indian-origin songwriters making in-roads in the global pop realm.

The singer-songwriter, who has released songs like “Mess Me Up” and Pick It Up EP, written music for the soundtrack to the series Four More Shots Please! and worked with the likes of Armaan Malik, Bella Poarch, Akasa, Avanti Nagral and others, recently wrote for Nick Jonas and hip-hop/pop artist KING on “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife).”

There’s more material that Lalwani has worked on as a songwriter for both, KING and Jonas, for upcoming projects. She joins a big list of composers, songwriters and producers who are managed by Roc Nation’s music publishing business. That includes Ludwig Goransson, Dorothy, BOOTS and others.

Roc Nation’s executive vice president of music publishing Andrew Gould said in a statement, “Natania is a music publisher’s dream. She possesses some of the strongest pop sensibilities I have seen and marries these with her own flavor of South Asian and global musicality. I am extremely excited for her and her long career.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone India, Lalwani talks about how she leans towards songwriting more, joining Roc Nation and what’s coming up next.

In the years that you’ve worked as a songwriter for different artists and also released your own material, at what point (if any) did you feel you had to prioritize one over the other, if at all you see it that way?

I think when I was first starting out I always felt like it had to be one or the other but I soon realized that it was all part of who I am and both lanes are me expressing myself in different ways.

I think for me, I prioritize songwriting naturally just because I love it so much and it feels like my purpose to be a part of other artists’ journeys but whenever I write something that just feels like I have to sing it, I’ll end up releasing it as an artist! Plus I think all songwriters are artists anyway, whether they choose it or not.

Songwriting is definitely a path less taken towards having a footing in the music industry, especially for Indians trying to make it global. How do you see it?

For sure, I think everyone has different goals and dreams. I would say it’s definitely the more uncommon route for Indians trying to make it global but that’s where the songwriter comes in, to help those artists with their vision and be a part of making it global! You got to be obsessed with it to do it, and to keep doing it! My love for songwriting runs so deep, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

You’ve worked with several labels and music publishing companies across the board, so what does this signing with Roc Nation mean in regards to your future work, say, across labels and artists? Does it make things more streamlined?

I’m so excited to join the Roc Nation family! It definitely makes things more streamlined. Signing a publishing deal doesn’t restrict me from working with companies across the board. In fact, it opens up so much.

They’re so hands-on creatively, putting together rooms of collaboration, pitching my songs out to artists. We truly align on our vision and goals and it feels so great to have such an expansive team for this new chapter.

You’re also one of the few artists who aren’t necessarily called on or expected just to fit in “Indian flavor” songwriting that some artists look for, since you’ve always balanced global pop sensibilities as well as Hindi songwriting.

I think I always just do what feels the most natural in the room I’m in. I have both sides of me and I love to be as creative as I can if I’m adding a flavor to something. I don’t like to overthink or force a sound into something cause when it happens on its own, that’s when it’s magical! Hindi songwriting is something I’ve gotten into more recently and I love it!! I’m excited to just keep experimenting with my creativity and see where it leads me.

What else is coming up through 2023 for you, in terms of songwriting as well as your own music?

There’s so much music coming that I’m so excited about! A few upcoming songwriting collaborations this year include Armaan Malik, King, Jay Sean, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Kah Lo, Shenseea and more.

I’m working on some new music as an artist right now as well that I can’t wait to share!