Natasha Bedingfield at Islington Assembly Hall

Forming part of the fabric of early 2000’s pop, Natasha Bedingfield stands out for creating catchy and melodic music with meaningful lyrics.

Ahead of the release of her upcoming fourth album Roll With Me, her first in almost nine years, Bedingfield brought her upbeat, soulful sounds to Islington Assembly Hall and reminded us of the impressively versatile vocal talents that have earned her over ten million record sales.

It’s easy for the casual listener to forget just how many hits the artist has had. These Words got the crowd jumping. Single was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, executed perfectly, whilst I Bruise Easily showcased the singer’s impressive vocal range. New material might not have generated sing-along responses from the crowd but songs from her upcoming album stayed exciting for committed fans whilst proving intriguing to outsiders.

Bedingfield has an undeniably versatile voice. She also writes most of her own work. On top of this, she knows how to deliver a performance with a confident yet inviting stage presence. She does tick all the boxes.

Working with esteemed songwriter Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes (responsible for Pink and Christina Aguilera’s arguably most successful albums), the singer showcased the soulful sounds of her new album with an aura of assurance. She knows who she is and is comfortable within her skin. Kick It was a notable highlight. A cover of Prince’s Purple Rain is daring for any artist, but Bedingfield justified this vocally.

Closing with Unwritten seemed somewhat poignant in emphasising the artist’s promising future. In London for one night only, Bedingfield is to embark on a tour of the USA with her new album landing on Friday 30^th. Do not sleep on it. This is an artist who, although already established, is more than deserving of a renaissance.

Jonathan Marshall
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events visit Natasha Bedingfield’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: