By Jessica Godart
After a three-week Spring tour promoting her newest album, ‘Promises,’ Vienna-native Natalie York returns to her hometown on Saturday, Aug. 2 to rock Jammin’ Java.
The venue is a bit of a change of pace to the New York artist who finished her tour after visiting cities such as Philadelphia, Arlington, Waynesboro, Norfolk, Durham, Knoxville, Nashville, Indianapolis and Chicago. Even after her first tour, though, York is still excited to play in Vienna.
“Not everywhere I get to play is full of people who have known me my whole life and that’s more special,” says York.
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter looks forward to showcasing some new covers at the concert also, saying that the songs will be well-known, but with her own sound to them.
“I always try to put my own spin [on covers],” she says. “It’s always nice after a break to get back in.” ‘Promises’ was released earlier this year in January.
York’s summer break has been anything but, though. She has spent the past several months working as a teacher for high school students attending the University of Virginia (UVA) Young Writers Workshop summer program held at the Sweet Briar College campus.
“It was such a treat to come back to that program from the other side and get to teach some really amazing young writers,” York says.
York’s sessions focused on songwriting, the same class she participated in for the four summers she attended the workshop, stating that it’s “where [she] became a songwriter,” she also explained that she attended the workshop “not really even knowing [she] was a songwriter.”
Jammin’ Java attendees will be able to experience York’s songwriting skills on Saturday during her performance. York writes all of her own songs and will be featuring some from her “Promises” album. She describes the sound of the CD as “a fun hybrid.”
York explains that, along with her four other band mates, the album focuses on the Americana genre of music, blending others as well such as “rock and roll…old country and we slip in a little bit of R&B.”
Coming soon York hints there might be a music video and working on focusing on recording some new songs. “I definitely want to get some stuff recorded.”
York advises aspiring songwriters to “write every day and set parameters for yourself. Some of the best stuff comes not just when you’re purely inspired…but to write all the time sometimes you have to give yourself assignments” to complete and to be “constantly working on something.”
On Saturday, York will be joined by her opener, Karen Jonas, a current resident of Fredericksburg known for her array of personal and energetic songs.
Natalie York at Jammin’ Java
August 2, 7 p.m.
227 Maple Ave E Vienna
Advanced VIP tickets $20 / Bar $12 / Premier $12 / GA $12
Day Of VIP tickets $20 / Bar $15 / Premier $15 / GA $15
