Biog

The third and youngest child of a Greek/Italian father and a Polish/Jewish mother, London born Natasha Panas attributes her initial love of music to having lived with legendary jazz pianist and film score composer, Roy Budd. “I was about 2 years old when he lived with us - he would sit me on his lap at the piano whilst he played these incredible jazzy renditions of Rachmaninov and Chopin. He wrote the score to ‘Sinbad and the eye of the tiger’ during the time he was living in our house. My mother says I would watch and listen to him avidly, which was perhaps the first sign that I had a true passion for music.”

Mostly self taught, it was discovered at an early age that she had perfect pitch and could play by ear. At the age of 9, Natasha attended the Purcell school where she learned how to read music, wrote her first compositions and discovered her singing ability.

After studying languages at Birmingham University where she had financed herself by playing and singing in bars, restaurants and clubs, she returned to London where she continued to entertain crowds at venues such as Café de Paris, Windows on the World and the Groucho club. Dubbed ‘London’s little voice’ by Elle magazine in 1999, she became sought after to perform at high profile parties and events both in the UK and overseas.

Natasha began to pursue more commercial avenues such as session work as both a keyboard player and backing vocalist. Landing a gig as Vanessa Mae’s backing vocalist, she experienced her first taste of touring. She went on to perform on shows such as Top of the Pops and CD-UK with artists such as Miss Dynamite, Toyah and Darius, with whom she toured for four months.

She began working alongside good friend and ex Queer eye for the straight guy UK, Peyton (they were the original Will and Graceless, she likes to think!) as his keyboard playing/singing side-kick during an 18 month stint of ‘Mondays at Kabaret’, a live music night at the infamous Soho club, hosting the likes of Tom Baxter, Nizlopi and Jem, to mention but a few. Becoming known as the ‘Piano bitch with the perfect pitch’, she would accompany Peyton and many others (eg Alison Limerick, Mary Pearce, Elizabeth Troy) as the resident musician of a night that soon gained cult status but ended all too quickly.

Peyton released an album with Hed Kandi, featuring Natasha’s vocal arranging and keyboard skills. He also recorded a version of her track ‘Need to feel wanted’ which proved a popular hit on Hed Kandi’s Beach House compilation. She was his one and only choice as MD for his subsequent live shows.

Whilst playing at the Groucho club one night, Harper Simon (son of Paul) noticed her and asked if she’d be interested in joining his band, Menlo Park. She accepted his invitation, went on to play various gigs and recorded an album with them in New York.

She has collaborated with writers such as Felix Howard, Paul Simm and the inimitable David McAlmont, with whom she has also performed on numerous occasions. Last year saw her work as MD on a tour of the musical ‘Hot Flush’, starring Rula Lenska, Sheila Ferguson and Marti Webb. She gained from the experience but knew that the world of musical theatre was not for her. Upon her return from the four month UK tour, she was presented with the golden opportunity of recording her first solo album (Yellow Flowers) with highly regarded producer/musician and good friend, Paul Simm (Sugababes, Virgin Souls, Amy Winehouse, Neneh Cherry….).

The record is a collection of twelve carefully crafted tracks – all original - three of which are collaborations, including the first single ‘Kennington’, penned with David McAlmont and featuring him on backing vocals. Its classic and timeless sound is thanks to a combination of sophisticated song writing, wonderful musicianship (Natasha and Paul sourced some of the UK’s finest players, including Jeremy Stacey on drums, Toby Baker on bass and the wonderful horn arrangements of sax player, Sam Frank) and of course, fantastic production and mixing skills.