Natalie Jane Hill: a voice that screams ‘still waters run deep’ at SXSW 2026

Who is Natalie Jane Hill? An artist that can bring you to tears with one line, while rejuvenating a wayward soul in the next. She is not only a musician that should be listened to, they need to be cherished.

Nature themed lyrics and settings often form the spine of her creative output. In an increasingly hectic technological environment, Natalie’s visuals are often based in the woods or beside a lake.

This simplicity enhances her depth, creating the backbone of her image and embellishes character to the music rather than adding frivolous elements that would otherwise detach listeners.

While discussing her new album, Hopeful Woman, we chat about why has nature played a prominent role in her work?

“It might just be from growing up, I always lived in small towns,” she reveals.

“I always had access to nature. That was my escape, that’s where I’d go wondering off in the woods. That’s where I’d come up with little lyrics and it was a way to get out of my head. Having that source around a lot made it feel effortless.”

“I think nature is always going to be there in some form,” acknowledges Natalie.

“With the last record [Solely] it was more obvious, the driving force was very nature inspired, and in this one, it’s more metaphorical. There’s so much more involved.

“It’s more relationship based,” she admits about her new album. “But, I find no matter what I write, nature, whether it’s the words or symbolism, it’s always in there. Sometimes I don’t realise it until later like, ‘oh I was talking about this thing, but meant this’. I think it’s in everything. There’s no way to get out of it.”

As album titles go, Hopeful Woman, is quite a positive one. Does she feel as positive as the title suggests?

“I don’t think I’m naturally very hopeful,” she confesses. “I like to present myself that way, but I think I can be pessimistic and negative.

“The title came a lot later. It took a long time to figure out what I was gonna name this collection. It’s the direction I am constantly trying to go in to. This is sort of a hopeful little cloud, and I’m constantly reaching for that. And I think having that as the focus was a way for me to slowly reach that. I’m still working on that.

“I think that a lot of these songs are so personal, they feel the most me. And I like the sound of it too. I wanted it to feel very feminine, because I feel I’m stepping into more of that side of me, having an empowerment with myself.”

There is a dichotomy in the current state of America and the album title, Hopeful Woman, I wonder how Natalie feels they intercept?

“At the time, I wasn’t thinking about it in that sense, but I realised after I decided on the name of the album. The timing of it was very relevant as everything else was going on in the world,” she divulges.

“And it kinda made sense, not that I’m naturally a very political person so I don’t like to put my music in that category. I also think people now more than ever are searching for some kind of grasp on how to feel connected, and music is such an outlet for that. I don’t wanna say that this is to do with everything that is going on in the world, but I’m fine if someone wants to relate it to that. I love that people can take it any sort of way. I think it was selfishly more about myself.”

Along with a new record has come new opportunities to tour. A support act for Ray Lamontagne on his 20th anniversary Trouble tour. Playing across May and June 2026, Hill’s first stop will be in Dublin on May 20, at the 3Olympia for two nights.

“Yes, it’s my first time playing over there,” she admits. “I’ve never played anywhere outside of the States, it’s a pretty big deal for me. It starts in Ireland, then it’s all England and Scotland.

“They’re gonna be the biggest shows I’ve ever done, so I’m really nervous. It’s a really good opportunity and looks like we’ll be in some really beautiful theatres. I’m really excited.

“The last two shows are in London, the second to last show is at the Royal Albert Hall. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another opportunity to play there. That’s pretty cool.

”A couple of months ago I was watching a documentary about Bob Dylan in the 60s and I think it was on his first tour, in London, in his early twenties, and they had a glimpse of him playing there and it was so surreal. I think that’s pretty amazing.

“It was cool cause he was playing all those solo. So, it’s kinda like what I’ll be doing,” Natalie says sheepishly.

“Not obviously to compare myself,” she laughs. “But, I’m really excited. I’m excited to play in Dublin. It’s a lot of firsts.”

Hopeful Woman is available to stream and purchase now.