From the prairies to the west coast of Canada. Here’s an interview with Natalia Pardalis.

where were you born Natalia?

I was born in Regina Saskatchewan.

I grew up up in East Vancouver

don’t really remember the streets I lived on but I was a nerdy kid who rather put on old records and sing and dance to them than to play in the street. I was homeschooled from Grade 1–12. For university, I studied at Trinity Western University

and Capilano University.

Can you remember the first song you wrote?

Not really … I was also experimenting with song writing since elementary school but my dad maintains that I wrote my first song when I was about a year old. The lyrics were, “bye bye from your baby” I would sing it to my dad every time he would leave for work. the melody was going back and forth on minor 3rd.

What was the meaning behind the song?

not sure lol

What artist inspired you growing up to pursue your dreams?

OOoo lol it’s quite the list ….

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Nina Simone.

Michael Jackson, Madonna, Maria Callas

Anna Vissi, and Xristos Hadzis.

Which male artist would you love to collaborate with?

I would love to do a song with Michael Bublé

Which female artist would you love to collaborate with?

hmmm hard one .. prob Kristin Chenoweth

What’s a funny moment in the studio you always think of?

haha hmmmm not any exact moment just overall in my last album. I was literally the only female in the studio (except when I brought in my guest singers) and I felt like the mother hen. So the guys would forget to put the seat down lol to “forgetting” to make fresh coffee cause I made the best coffee, to making sure everyone ate.

What would you say to a young aspiring artist who is just starting out?

Don’t let anyone stop you …. There will be a lot people who really do care, who will think they’re helping you by telling you to give up, they will tell you to go find that 9–5. Remember you spend more time at work than anything else, so if you’re unhappy at work it will affect your life. So find something that makes you happy and learn your craft and learn the business side of the industry and then you can be successful.

What would you say is your genre?

As I get older, I realize that genre stops music from progress. But I was recently told that I’m indie pop/classical.

What type of venues would you or have you played at?

I’ve played huge theatres to little holes in the wall.

What’s your favourite restaurant in your city?

hard one …. there’s so many good restaurants in Vancouver – Havana on Commercial

to Chill Winston in Gastown.

What would you like to see change in the music industry in Canada?

More women in the business side , I will often go into meetings where my business partner/manager and I are literally the only women in the room. I would like to see more Canadian artists to come back and give back to Canada after finding success south of the boarder.

I agree with that answer 💯

Any shout outs?

My family and friends who are with me every step..

Can you tell us of any upcoming projects?

Yes, I have an EP called “I”m in love with Fairytales” coming out in the fall. It is a little different from a traditional EP as I have composed it in a classical format so the songs are Song Cycle (a group of songs connected by a common theme). Each song is loosely inspired by a different fairytale and deal with a modern women’s exploration….. Of Romance haha.

What’s your favourite quote?

Socrates: “I can’t teach anyone anything, I can only make them think”