Natalie D-Napoleon - You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea (2022)

Sometimes in life and music you just have to say 'What-the-hell!' - Having spent 25 years playing music and a decade living and performing in California, Natalie D Napoleon decided to return to her native Western Australia - She had just been awarded a prestigious national poetry prize and was subsequently offered a scholarship to undertake a PhD in poetry - What long-suffering musician could say no to that?. After two decades of performing everywhere from grimy Australian pubs to commanding the stage of international music festivals, Natalie had all but given up on music. It didn't seem to love her quite as much as she loved it. But before she said goodbye to her American band, she decided to record her latest collection of songs.

The result is the 12-song album, You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea - captured live with a single microphone. When Natalie played the recording to friends, they told her she needed to release it. So she did - via Bandcamp. Radio in Australia started playing the first single, "Thunder Rumor" and enthusiastically added it to playlists Australia-wide. When the second single, "Wildflowers" was released the album climbed to the very top of Australia's AIR Independent Albums Chart. With rave reviews from critics and word to mouth support it seemed that the universe was responding in kind. Now, in 2022, with some much-needed help by a grant from the Western Australian government, the album is being released internationally for the first time.

You Wanted To Be The Shore But Instead You Were The Sea is Natalie D-Napoleon's surrender to music a place where it's okay to be vulnerable and courageous, fierce, and kind, and to stand your ground yet still be forgiving all at the same time.