Forget all the patronising nonsense that brings club culture closer to 1960s values. Djette? Djane? No need. DJ is the only prefix required here: DJ Natalie.
Having achieved more in a mite over half a decade than many peers will in a career, taking on the lads at their own game in the process, whatever gender-based cliches you might want to throw at her – equal parts stylus and stylish; beauty and the beats – be prepared to eat those words.
Taking influence from artists as diverse as Massive Attack and David Bowie, initially half-inching her brother’s ‘kiddy decks’as a youngster, Natalie refined her artistic craft on her native Manchester club scene. Playing alongside A-lister, it’s a city where Natalie has since returned to play the main room at the legendary Sankeys.
After quitting her day job in 2009 and jetting to Ibiza for a season that included shows at Eden and Es Paradis, she was soon on the move again, zooming across the globe to land in modern Middle Eastern party paradise Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Beginning with a residency at the five-star Fairmont resort, a spot at Dubai’s Alpha club followed, as did notable press from OK magazine, Time Out and Infusion. DJ Magazine in the Middle East agreed with the snowballing acclaim, voting her 37th best DJ after a mere month in the region.
Natalie’s feet have barely touched the ground since. December 2010 saw her land a dream gig at Creamfields Abu Dhabi, claiming a main stage billing before megastars David Guetta and Afrojack, on a line-up that also featured James Zabiela and Sasha. A nomination in the 2011 Time Out Dubai Nightlife Awards for Dubai’s best local DJ followed. International recognition was also on the agenda, gracing events in Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar.
You want more? Not a problem.Try Formula 1 yacht parties with Danny Rampling. Residencies at Abu Dhabi’s luxurious Monte Carlo Beach Club, Headlining Abu Dhabi’s best pool parties, overseas jaunts to India and Egypt, plus return trips to Bahrain and Dubai.
A monthly nightlife column in the UAE’s best-selling entertainment magazine What’s On Abu Dhabi. An official Emirates ambassador role with Stoli vodka.
We’re not done, either. 2011 and 2012 saw two further Creamfields Abu Dhabi mainstage slots – and opening for the world’s number 1 DJ David Guetta in March 2012 at Abu Dhabi’s Du Arena in front of 15,000 people. Press in Rolling Stone Middle East (a two-page spread, no less), becoming the Middle East’s first hologram DJ and, in 2012, a personal invitation to return to Manchester Midi School, where she learnt the basics herself, to inspire present-day students with a video diary of her progress.
2012 ended with winning the ‘best DJ’award at the What’s On Awards Abu Dhabi.
If the past year hadn’t already been Natalie’s most successful year to date, NYE 2012 was the cherry on top…. Landing in Bangalore India and being driven past a huge billboard advertising the event she was about to play including her photo, to say was a massive achievement would be an understatement.
2013 held no less than 5 residencies around Abu Dhabi and Dubai including a new Dubai residency, Dek on 8 Media One hotel where Natalie would host and play every Wednesday. Another 2 nominations in the Ahlan and Whats On best in Abu Dhabi awards followed.
2014 Natalie was awarded Ahlan! magazine HOT 100 people of Dubai and the prestigious What’s On Abu Dhabi award for favourite DJ a second year, and asked to represent the Middle East for number 1 headphone brand ‘Sennheiser’as an ambassador.
2015 saw another invite to open up for David Guetta, this time at Atlantis Dubai, Holi dance festival Abu Dhabi and the launch of her own brand ‘Shipwrecked’yacht parties.
2017 was the start of a yearly residency at the best beach club in Dubai, Zero Gravity as the first (and only) female resident DJ in a team of 11 DJS.
Opening up for Mark Knight, Hannah Wants and being on the same lineup as MK, EZ and Youngr to name a few. A nomination in the Shortlist awards for best DJ and a brand new residency at Lucky voice hosting and headlining a weekly house night ended the year on a high.
In 2018 Natalie was nominated in the Whats On Dubai Nightlife awards for Best DJ and given the warm up set at Zero Gravity’s One Big Friday events with KUNGS.
Ditch the divides, get rid of gender politics, can the cliches.
Season 2018-19 has been the best year yet, warming up for heavy weight DJS Marc Kinchen (MK) Purple Disco Machine and her dream come true sharing a lineup with Erick Morillo.
All that remains is one of the Middle East’s scene-leading spinners: DJ Natalie
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