17-year-old rockstar-ette Natasha Sebastian talks to Times Square about being discovered in NYC, her exciting debut album Hear Lies, and setting her sights on the big time.

TS: Tell me about New York.

We met a bunch of people. We went to Warner Brothers, and I remember walking in those big doors, and thinking, I’m actually at Warner Brothers studio! It was crazy.

We also went to LA, and that’s when we met [a representative] from Virgin, and [they said] come and see us in New York. I seriously believe that New York is the city of dreams, whether it’s [for] acting, music, or dance. It’s absolutely amazing!

TS: You’ve got quite a busy life – what with balancing school, and a music career. What would you say is a typical Natasha Sebastian day?

OK, well let’s say Friday – that incorporates everything. On Fridays, I have training. My trainer comes to my house; we do an hour [of] training. Then I’ll go to the gym - I have a gym/studio/living room in my house. I’ll practice. Then, get on my computer, work on all my social media. Answer my fans’ questions. Get all that done. Hopefully create something new to put out. If I have plans during the evening, like say, a movie, or occasionally [going] out, I’ll get ready for that and I’ll go.

TS: I imagine you have to be pretty disciplined.

Yeah - you have to have a good head on your shoulders!

TS: So, Hear Lies - that’s a very interesting album title. Why Hear Lies?

I just liked the idea of Hear Lies, because I wanted to incorporate that double meaning that I have heard lies. Some of my songs, like “Remember This”, talk about me being hurt, and I’ve been lied to many times.

TS: You’ve been defined as a “rock star”, but are you open to your sound evolving? Madonna, for instance, has experimented with different sounds, styles and looks.

I think that’s why Madonna is so huge – but you can also look at bands like Bon Jovi, who haven’t experimented as much, and are still just as big. So…I don’t really know! If people really like the sound for the way it is, I think we’re just gonna keep it that way.

It depends on how I grow, because I’m still a kid - I’m only 17! For now I’m really into the dark stuff, but I might grow out of it… but I don’t think so, ‘cause I really like it.

TS: Speaking of your sound - where do you draw inspiration for your music?

I used to be very bubble gum pop. My idol, to this day, is still Hilary Duff. But my sister introduced me to the darker music - Billy Talent, Our Lady Peace, Evanescence. So I started listening to it, and when I went through that really dark phase in my life, it really comforted me, it was there for me. Bubble gum pop, about boyfriends and stuff - I wasn’t going through that! I was going through something else, so it was really comforting for me to have music that spoke to me; and to this day, there are songs and artists that I keep finding and I just love. Now it’s Shakespeare’s Sister’s “Stay”.

TS: This has been quite a year for you – especially with the release of your debut album. What were some of the most exciting moments for you this year?

The whole thing is exciting, but the most exciting [moment] probably has to be the show [at the Just Laughs Studio in November]. The first five seconds before getting on the stage, my bodyguard was there, and I was like, “Oh, God, oh my God”, and he’s like, “Calm down… you’ll do fine, you warmed up seven times, you’ll do fine!” When we were playing with the band backstage, my opening act was warming up the crowd, and all we heard was, “Natasha, Natasha!” And I was [thinking] oh God, oh God, this is gonna be crazy! When the band was ready for me, I was like - this is it! It was the first time I was showcasing myself - ‘cause its not doing covers anymore, its not doing any other songs, it’s singing my own songs. Literally, it’s like being bare on stage.

And - you can see everyone! I had asked to be able to see the people, because I know [there will be] people who will feed back the words and there are people that don’t know the music, and I know how to get the crowds going. I could see all the way in the back, and I was OK. It wasn’t too much… I wasn’t scared. The second I got off that stage, I felt in my element.

I want to do more shows!

TS: That sounds awesome! So - are there any artists or industry members that you would like to collaborate with in the future?

I seriously think that anyone who has established themselves in a proper way in the industry is worth working with, worth collaborating with, worth singing with, worth performing with. But there are some favorites - I think I’d just faint if I ever collaborated with or just meet Jon Bon Jovi!

I would love to work with Paramore. I literally swore by their album last year. And then, there are Canadian bands like Billy Talent.

For song writing, I would really want to work with Drake.

TS: Do you foresee yourself becoming a solo songwriter?

I pretty much have enough material to make another album on my own – but I don’t think it’s perfect. That’s why I trust the songwriters I work with. It’s gonna change, probably, because I’m still an amateur songwriter. I just started. Like I said, I’m only 17…I’m really young! That’s why for the debut album, it was good to have professionals hook me up and support me.

TS: Your label is Ridiculous to Sublime. That label is based in Montreal?

It’s our own label. Right now I’m the only artist signed to it. We’re hoping to keep that label for a while.

We named it Ridiculous to Sublime because it started as a childish idea of, “Daddy, I want to be an actress”, to I’m actually being a singer. In the beginning, my Dad was like, you know, go have fun…and then it became serious…like, it’s actually happening. Nobody would have ever thought, but it’s getting there.

TS: What are some things about you that are not rock star-esque - some things about you that your fans don’t know?

Like pretty much everyone else, I sing in the shower. I go to school. I like watching movies.

I’m normal! 
 

Read more about Natasha Sebastian at www.natashasebastian.com

Natasha’s debut album, Hear Lies, is available through iTunes

Photo:Fay Sckoropad