Today we’d like to introduce you to Naty Hernandez.
Naty, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am Natalia Hernandez, a singer-songwriter from Medellin, Colombia. Since I was little, I loved love songs and different musical instruments. I started writing songs when I was 8 years old, primarily motivated by the first time I fell in love. Later, I realized that songwriting was my favorite way to express my feelings. For instance, a song came to rescue me every time I felt broken-hearted. All my friends loved the songs that I wrote about different moments in my life. In fact, my friends helped me in processing my emotions and channeling them into songs.
I love pop music, but I also love traditional music from Colombia because it gives me a sense of nostalgia. I started participating in most of the important traditional music festivals in Colombia but I also studied jazz and classical music in, EAFIT, one of the most important universities in my hometown, Medellin.
In 2010 during college, I got the chance to become a music professor for children. I was hired by a music school and also by one of the most prestigious elementary schools in Medellin. The experience of teaching children of different ages for four years allowed me to grow not only professionally but also personally. This also made me understand the power of music in early education.
In 2015, one of my best friends who knew about my dream of going to Berklee College of Music, helped me to complete the application form. I was skeptical but hopeful. Six months later and after my most important interview and audition, I received my acceptance letter. My dream had come true.
Once I arrived in the United States the world of music production and music business took my focus. This is one of the reasons why I am working on the production of my first studio album. The process has been long but I keep pursuing this as releasing an album is one of my dreams.
The unique musical experiences in Colombia, together with the education that I have received at Berklee College of Music have shaped my professional identity as a songwriter. I have written more than 100 songs and truly believe that I have a gift that I am committed to sharing with the world.
Has it been a smooth road?
Although the road has not been smooth, I have always found support from different ends that have allowed me to reach different goals. I have always been able to find funds to pay for my education and the production of my music even though my family could not support me economically. For instance, I was awarded a state grant that allowed me to pay for tuition and personal expenses during college. Likewise, I was awarded with an 80% scholarship when I was accepted to Berklee. However, and even though this was a great accomplishment, it left me with a major struggle, finding a way to pay the other 20%. I had to work hard because my family could not afford to help me. I then started to find ways to raise funds, and due to this, I released two albums (“Canciones Esenciales” and “Canciones para Amar y Despedir”) with the help of two friends. I needed to sell as many albums as possible. In addition, I looked for any opportunity to perform while telling everyone about my dream. I performed at different cities and even created Naty Hernandez-themed mugs with my sister’s drawings and the lyrics of my songs on them!
At the end, I could not raise enough funds, but I was committed to fulfilling my dream, so I traveled to Boston anyway. I set up a meeting with the scholarships director at Berklee and told him my whole story and brought him a full portfolio as proof of everything I had tried to do to raise the funds; I was committed to convincing him. He could not believe I had traveled to Boston without having all the funds to pay and he told me that he was going to look into my case but did not promise anything. The uncertainty during those days was horrible; I was not sure what I was going to do if I was not able to start at Berklee. Then the very last day tuition was due, I received the award letter for the remaining 20%!
Although I was extremely happy, the first semester at Berklee was tough. I was just beginning to learn English, was away from my family, and my monthly food budget was very low. Let me tell you a funny story. One day I was angry that I could even afford an ice cream and decided to go with a friend and buy one even if that meant going out of my budget by $5. The funny and sad part is that after purchasing the ice cream it fell on the floor, I could not stop crying. As usual, my friends got me, my friend came to my house the next day… with a delicious ice cream.
My mom always reminded me that one day I was going to be rewarded for all my sacrifices. I think I have been rewarded in many ways already. Her support and that of my friends helped me move forward and maintain my faith.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Naty Hernandez story.
My music represents the encounter of pop music with Latin-American rhythms. My music is also a journey to the essence of my being, writing songs and exploring my roots helps me discover who I am and who I want to be. Most of my audience expresses that the collection of songs creates an atmosphere in which they feel nice and relaxed.
Although I’m a songwriter at heart, I enjoy performance greatly. I have performed in different cities such as Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Albany, Panama City, Mexico City, Lima, Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, among others. Currently, I am recording my album, but I am also performing at summer concerts, jazz clubs, community events, college concerts, and social events. My focus in the upcoming months will be to raise the necessary funds to finalize my first studio album through a crowdfunding campaign at www.natyhernandez.com
I enjoy writing songs, and even though I love singing my own work, my final goal is to share it with the world by also allowing others to sing my lyrics.
One of my main ideals lies in my passion for raising awareness and encouraging younger generations to take elements of their culture and bring them to today’s music.
What were you like growing up? Personality wise, interest wise, etc.
Since I was little, music was always my friend. My grandmother used to bring me to my great-grandmother’s farm 8 hours away. I remember singing all the way. It was like doodling songs. Music makes me spontaneous, outgoing, and creative.
By performing in any family reunion, singing on the phone for my aunts and then performing at school, I found in performance a part of my personality. I loved the feeling of being on stage or in the spotlight. I enjoyed being at my school theater more than anywhere else in the world, and I dreamed of being there singing or talking or dancing or anything, as long as I was there. That is why I decided to be a singer-songwriter.
I’m always interested in meeting new audiences. Connecting through music is something unique because music has no boundaries. People can be connected through feelings and intentions even if they do not speak the same language. If I think that if I can make a positive difference in the world, it will be through music. That is why I need to keep writing and singing.
Contact Info:
- Address: 51 Hemenway St, Boston, MA 02115
- Website: www.natyhernandez.com
- Phone: 8572946444
- Email: natyhernandezoficial@gmail.com
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