In Conversation with: Ultra Naté
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Queen of the scene and all-round legend, Ultra Naté, has worn many hats over a long, fruitful career.
In 1989, the Maryland-native, singer, songwriter, DJ, producer, label owner and promoter, signed her first UK deal with Warners as one of the label’s first dance music artists.
By 1997, she signed – to Strictly Rhythm – what went on to become one of the most iconic house tracks of all time, ‘Free’.
Across 10 studio albums released between 1990 and 2022, she’s forged a distinct style, collaborating with icons from Boy George to Todd Terry, and cementing her place among Billboard’s Greatest of All Time Top Dance Artists.
To see Ultra Naté perform live is like being in the presence of house music royalty. She’ll be taking to the main stage at Love to be… Festival this weekend in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, which looks to be an all-out celebration of house with Armand Van Helden, Marshall Jefferson, The Shapeshifters, K-Klass, Jon Pleased Wimmin, Alison Limerick, Carly Wilford, that bloke off the tele Gok Wan, and more.
As she was getting ready to travel to the UK, Ultra Naté gave up some of her precious time to have a chat. Read on to find out how she almost ended up in the medical industry, why UK crowds are the best, and what’s left on her career bucket list.
We’re thrilled to have you here at DT. How are you? What are you up to lately?
I’m great! I’ve been touring quite heavily this year, now taking a breather for five minutes and then back at it for the fall/winter season! Somewhere in between I am in recording sessions working on new tunes as always.
Any exciting projects coming up that you can share?
I’m collaborating with some really great people, but I can’t name names until those tracks are in the can and ready to come out. But it’s been very fulfilling on that front.
I’m also quite happy to be enjoying the 22nd anniversary of my party brand “Deep Sugar” in the fall. The party has been growing domestically, as well as abroad, with an upcoming event at ADE in October.
You’re performing at Love to be Festival – what’s your favourite thing about performing for a UK crowd?
The UK crowd is the best because we’ve had such a long, beautiful love affair since 1989! It’s been great to see my music stand the test of time and grow with the generations. The UK crowd is always up for a great party and celebration. They love hearing the classics when I’m live, but they’re also receptive and excited when I present new music in my sets. There’s just a lot of love and mutual respect.
How does it feel for your track Free to still be HUGE almost 30 years later?
It’s the most epic thing that could have ever happened. It’s amazingly gratifying to have a song of that magnitude in your catalogue. You just never know when you are creating what is going to resonate with people, so you just get on with writing from your heart.
I create from my soul, not so focused on what charts are doing at any given time, so it’s a different level of gratification because it’s not contrived. It was just art doing what it’s supposed to do.
On that note, you don’t look like you’ve aged a day since… Flawless! What are your secrets?
Thank you! This is a very difficult industry, with a lot of wear and tear. I think I recognised very early in my career that I needed to be intentional about taking care of myself!
My fitness and wellness regimen is pretty intense. I study, I read, I pay attention, I research all kinds of modalities when it comes to taking care of the mind, body and soul. There are the obvious things like strength training, yoga, acupuncture, vitamins/mineral infusion therapy, the list is endless.
But it’s important to also take care of yourself in other ways – I actively spend time with friends; I listen to music that makes me happy and create music that makes me happy. I go out and dance, I try to eat clean (organic), and a super important piece is to have a really good functional medicine practitioner in your toolkit. Someone that looks at the total person. All of your systems and your lifestyle, tied together.
Who would be your dream person to work with?
Linda Perry, Stargate or Lenny Kravitz (again). That’s more than one, but who’s counting…
What is on your career bucket list?
Gigs with a full band (Arena venues a bonus), with gorgeous fully produced shows for a dedicated tour. And one of my songs (not necessarily “Free”), as the theme song for a “Matrix” level blockbuster film.
What job would you do if you weren’t a singer? Have you done any other jobs since finding fame?
I haven’t done any jobs other than music since the early 90’s. I’ve been an artist most of my adult life. If I wasn’t in music, I would be in functional medicine. Before I fell into this industry three decades ago, I was on the path to going into the medical industry. As my life has evolved, my interest would be more on the naturopath side now.
What would you say is the biggest hurdle you’ve had to face over the years?
Probably navigating this very turbulent landscape in music culture as an independent artist and label. The industry is like shifting sand, you have to really have courage to live in this space.
Do you have any big regrets you can share?
I can’t say that I do. There’s nothing I can think of that I outright “regret”. I believe I have made the choices I have made along the way based on the best set of tools and information I had at whatever point in time. Whatever mistakes I may have made along the way, I didn’t know what I didn’t know at the time, and for that I always try to give myself grace.
What would surprise fans the most about you?
I am a bit of a nerd and love to immerse myself in discovering new information and new worlds, through reading and research.
Ultra Naté performs at Love to be… Festival on Saturday 6th September at The Stray in Harrogate. Final tickets are now on sale – grab one from Skiddle before they’re gone!
