Even with Global Music Award & One Million Spotify Streams, Songwriter Jean Spoils for an Indie Music Revolution

Don’t. Ever. Give up.

Soulful singer/songwriter Natalie Jean, whose music has earned over 1 million streams on Spotify and who’s spearheading a music revolution for independent artists, recently had a similar dream to what singing legend Natalie Cole had. For Jean, that was to one day use technology to sing a duet with her recently departed, beloved father and famous Haitian artist, Guy Robert Jean.

For example, through the wonders of digital technology, songstress Natalie Cole did a virtual duet and performance in 1992 with her own deceased father, on the timeless tune “Unforgettable,” which Nat King Cole originally recorded in 1951.

Well, Natalie Jean realized her own dream, and through the magic of modern technology, she was able to create a duet with one of her father Guy’s songs called “Je Me Demande”—in fact, the duet earned a Global Music Award Bronze Medal for Duo. Jean says, “My father passed away earlier this year, of cancer. One of his wishes was to do a duet with me. Thank God for technology. And, then just recently another ‘duet’ I did with my father, ‘Smoking Ke Fan’ was nominated in the World category of the Hollywood Independent Music Awards.”

Indeed, this indie artist was born into a music-oriented family. Her songwriting father Guy Robert recorded over 10 albums, doing mostly ballads, and singing in Creole, French, Spanish, and English. Her aunt Sandra Jean started the first all-female band called “Riske” in Haiti, and her cousin Moses Jean was a well-known music producer.

And, for Natalie it all started back in her home in Washington, DC with her explaining, “My father used to sing to me all the time when I was little. He would sing the Haitian anthem to get me out of bed, so I could get ready to go to school. He would often sing some of the songs he wrote to me. Little did I know at the time that I would one day cover those songs on my album. One song I covered in French, ‘C’est Toi et Moi,’ earned me a Best Dance/European award,” Natalie jokes, “So, I guess it does run in the family, and explains my passion for my art and music.”

Bust. In. The doors.

Indeed, that passion fuels this indie artist’s drive to knock down doors to decision-makers and onto radio airplay lists. Raising what seems like a battle cry, she proclaims, “We independent artists need to start a revolution—we got to bust our way in. We got to stand up for our authenticity. Our music has to be seen and heard for what it is—we can’t just be doing crazy stuff on Social Media just to be taken notice of.”

Indeed, peeps are taking notice of Natalie including her recent and defiant song, “Blocked” with its hip social media message including lyrics that warn—“I hope you’re not shocked but you just got blocked”—which has already earned 1,000,000 views on Instagram.

Additionally, Natalje Jean, who released her first CD “Obsession” in 2013, is now spearheading her aforementioned indie artist revolution by offering insights and advice picked up from the frontlines of the music business.

•Do love your own music — don't let anyone ever change you

•Do sing from your soul — the energy that you put in, is what you will get back.

•Do be fearless — the music biz is tough

•Do make sure you’re on major social platforms — create original, unique but authentic content

•Do sing about social issues — it’s okay to be real and to sing about issues like trolls and then blocking them on Social Media

•Do be authentic — yes indeed, to thine own self be true, as Shakespeare wrote

Additionally, Natalie makes an observation about the industry, suggesting, “It's a lot harder to be in the entertainment business. Nowadays, a lot of labels look at your social media presence, before they will listen to your music. You have people becoming artists, not even having the ability to write, perform, or sing. But because they have the numbers, people will look at them first and this is just sad. So, for the true and authentic artist, I think that persistence is the key. When they don't want to see you, you have to make them see you. So, don’t ever give up. Follow your dreams until the very end.”

Check out her music on Natalie Jean’s website, and on her Facebook page.