Natsuma, a very talented 21-year-old musician who sings, writes songs, and produces music, is known in the indie music scene for her emotional, energetic sound. She has already drawn the attention of London. Natsuma already has more than 55,000 fans on TikTok, having recently completed a tour across the UK, EU, and US in support of the band Gretel. Natsuma has worked as a session guitarist and is well-known for her versatility and, along with the mellower side of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, draws inspiration from artists such as Wolf Alice. Her music represents that blend of strong stadium-type sound along with close, personal feel. Natsuma sacrifices even her emotional side in doing so to completely appreciate her art into what she calls “the most pure form of music” in refilling and reconnecting to herself. Natsuma tells how her latest music really boosts her confidence, as she claims to have found her true artistic self.
The latest single released by Natsuma, ‘Bit on Your Lip,’ came out on September 6, 2024, and talks about the first tastes of love with a great level of self-reflection and emotional detail. The song is produced by Natsuma herself, and it’s a demonstration of his growing talent as an artist, as it mixes the rawness of indie rock with storytelling intricacies. The song brings forth nostalgia, with a rosy-colored memory looking back at events as they happened, while unfolding the intensity of a first love which is unhealthy but euphoric. Natsuma mixes meaningful lyrics, smoldering vocals, and powerful instrumentation to emotionally capture the ebb-and-flow of love, along with the wisdom it brings with time and reflection.
With the consistent and rhythmic beats leading to a breathless atmosphere in the track, the audience is caught under trance until 23 seconds when Natsuma begins to sing. It is singing that is initiated so gently yet bearing a strong aura that intensifies as the verses progress. At exactly 51 seconds into the song, the ruins collapse into a more developed structure, the vocals become more emotional, and the entire band grows to a much grander and more daring sound. The musical accompaniment makes the transition more dramatic and adds to the exciting environment that reflects the deeply emotional journey of the words.
Double meanings not included, and the next “Bit On Your Lip” lyrical portrays vivid imagery of some of the ambivalence of first love. It is somewhere in between beauty and destruction: excitement and pain. Natsuma does not turn away from the negative sides of love, exploring how wonderful, hot moments of passion can become euphoria and chaos. The very title, “Bit On Your Lip,” signifies pause, slight act filled with meaning, quite a beautiful but doubting way of love. Small personal touches are what lift the songwriting of Natsuma to the exceptional. The lyrics speak of a yearning and self-contemplation as the speaker contemplates an intense relationship that could not last. This intimate point of view connects Natsuma to the real universal truth about love as it being captivating and dangerous when we submit ourselves to it.
The song’s production is also very admirable. In creating this project last summer in her home studio, Natsuma infused warmth and intensity into the music. This heat seems to bleed into the music itself, making it almost tangible. The track sounds rough and unfinished as though it is intentionally bout, as if Natsuma intends to give the audience a peek into her artistic process. This homemade styling, compounded with the refined elements of modern indie craftsmanship, produces an incredibly unique blend of familiarity and glamour. The track bursts with a homemade yet arena-ready sound, a testimony of Natsuma’s artistry in merging vulnerability and ambition.
It is “Bit On Your Lip” that succeeds above all else in a technical sense. There is a clear, consistent, repeated beat that gives the music its rigid backbone. Those guitars, synths, and percussion keep a continuously varying background; they add to the sound quite a lot. The original guitars works particularly well, and among these, certainly for me, Natsuma’s performance stands out most. His playing is not only accurate and tuneful, but it also captures a sense of significance within the song whilst delivering relief from it. Their instrumental playing with her singing possesses a dynamic interaction, which shows a back-and-forth in intensity in regard to the lyrics. This very elaborate, multi-layered composition deepens the song and prompts attention in a more intensive way.
Natsuma steals the show in a most belting performance in “Bit On Your Lip”. Every emotional aspect of the song is well complemented by her smoky voice, full of character. During the song, she dares and ventures to sing right up to the limit of her vocal abilities, resulting in powerful yet beautiful moments of impact and equally intense contained vulnerability. There is also a definite tension, pulled between the control of the performance and the emotion that is probably interpreted as very much related to the emotional nature of the song. This tension adds another layer of added richness to the emotional heart of the song. The beauty of the track is in its strength and afferent vocal talent of the artist in being able to tell the story of vulnerability to strength using her voice.
As much as “Bit On Your Lip” presents Natsuma’s brave self-confidence, it finally determines her as an artist. While earlier works were like an introspection into her voice, this new track appears to be the end of that phase. “Bit On Your Lip” is attention-grabbing enough in its opulent production, firm lyrics, and entrancing vocals. It is an individual contemplation on love and indeed a deep reflection on complicated human emotions. This one song not only displays Natsuma’s talent as a lyricist and producer but also underlines her emergence as one of the most exciting, fresh voices in indie music at the moment.
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Listen to “Bit On Your Lip” by Natsuma and many more in our Rock, Electric Guitar Based playlist.
