.
Search

Follow Us

Edit Content
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • New Music
  • Reviews
  • Caught Live
  • Future Pop
Facebook Instagram Spotify Tiktok
RPM031 Menu-3
  • NEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Rick Astley Reflection 2026 Tour Handout-4

    Rick Astley shares details of 2026 Reflection arena tour

    The Never Gonna Give You Up hitmaker will be back on the live stage next year after taking 2025 off, with the star’s latest concert run starting in the spring and consisting of 12 stops across the UK and Ireland.

    Lady Gaga Wednesday Season Two Netflix Handout-4

    Lady Gaga confirms Dead Dance release date

    The pop superstar’s latest track is lifted from the soundtrack to season two of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’, the second half of which drops on Wednesday (September 3), the same day as the single.

    Queen Greatest Hits EMI-4

    Are Queen about to enter the wine biz?

    According to The Sun’s Bizarre column, founding members Brian May and Roger Taylor have trademarked band’s iconic crest for use on a range of goods, including bottles of vino.

    Kylie Minogue Tension World Tour Live BMG-4

    Kylie Minogue announces Tension live album

    The Aussie pop icon performed dates across Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia as part of the run, in support of her 2023 LP, ‘Tension’, and follow-up, ‘Tension II’.

  • EXCLUSIVES
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Cascada Studio 24 Handout-4

    Cascada on her Studio 54-inspired new album and 20 years of global hits [Exclusive]

    As they return with their fifth album, Cascada’s Natalie Horler looks back on 20 years of hits and reacts to her recent interview that went viral online.

    Nicki French Who, What, Where Handout Energise-4

    Nicki French considered Eurovision return with new album track: ‘Would they really go for a 60 year old singer… again?’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her new album, Nicki French reveals she almost submitted one track into the running for next year’s Eurovision.

    Pixie Lott Encino Press Handout-4

    Pixie Lott talks new album Encino: ‘When you fall into your authentic self, that’s when the magic happens’ [Exclusive]

    A decade after releasing her self-titled third album, Pixie Lott returns with a body of work that reflects the place she’s at in her life today.

    Betty Boo Rip Up The Rulebook Credit Sandro Hyams-4

    Betty Boo: ‘It’s a philosophy that I have to not let anybody tell you that you can’t be who you want to be!’ [Exclusive]

    As she returns with her epic new album ‘Rip Up The Rulebook’, Betty Boo opens up about creating her most diverse work to date.

  • NEW MUSIC
  • REVIEWS
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    • All
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s
    • Pop
    • R&B / Hip-Hop
    • Dance
    • Rock
    Alison Goldfrapp Flux AG Records

    Alison Goldfrapp – Flux

    Tom Aspaul Cabin Fever Artwork

    Tom Aspaul – Cabin Fever

    Kim Wilde Closer Artwork Cherry Red

    Kim Wilde – Closer

    Gwen Stefani Bouquet

    Gwen Stefani – Bouquet

  • CAUGHT LIVE
  • FUTUREPOP
  • RELEASE RADAR
Home News

Natalie Imbruglia battled ‘crippling’ writer’s block for five years after being dropped by record label

Connor Gotto by Connor Gotto
July 28, 2022
in News
Natalie Imbruglia - What Kind of Job Would You Have?

YouTube | Natalie Imbruglia

39
SHARES
393
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Natalie Imbruglia was “crippled with fear” to work on new music after a five year bout of writer’s block. 

The singer is set to return to the charts later this year with ‘Firebird’, out September 24, her sixth album overall and first collection of original music in 12 years. 

Don't Miss...

Rick Astley shares details of 2026 Reflection arena tour

Lady Gaga confirms Dead Dance release date

She released the covers album ‘Male’ – consisting of songs popularised by male singers – in 2015, and speaking on Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Spinning Plates podcast,  Natalie opened up on taking control of her material. 

“[It lasted] at least five years,” explained the Build it Better star. “[Songwriter and DJ Ronnie Heart] came down to write with me when I was living in Notting Hill, and I literally couldn’t sing a note. And I kept going, ‘Should we go for a coffee?’ 

“I literally couldn’t do it and that’s a terrible feeling. So, after that session I didn’t try for a long time.”

The singer, who shot to fame in 1997 with her massive hit Torn pinpoints the cause of her struggles as being dropped by her record label around the time of her 2009 album ‘Come to Life’, which only saw a limited release. 

“I still don’t know why,” she said of being axed. “Maybe it was financial, to do with the label… I have no idea. 

“But you’re just abandoned, dropped at a point in your career where you just wouldn’t imagine that would be the case. And I think it was a decent album; there’s great songs on there. 

“But I was convinced the universe was telling me I shouldn’t be doing it. I really believed that.”

According to Natalie, it was returning to the stage with her covers collection that allowed her to “reconnect with the audience” and revived her love of performing.  

“It’s such a great feeling that I just thought, ‘People want to hear what I’ve got to say, my fans really want me to do it, if I can just get over it and find a way back’,” she explained. 

“[I was] terrified to try and sing a melody. Crippled with fear. It’s so bizarre,” she admitted. “I’m sure there’s an added pressure if you fall into writer’s block if you’re also a known person, because you think there’s an expectation. 

“It sounds crazy, but I actually had to listen to my own albums to remind myself that I actually wrote those songs and take that in.”

After signing with BMG and writing her new album, featuring her latest release Maybe It’s Great, Natalie admitted her struggles made it “even sweeter when I’ve managed to write a song that I’m proud of”.

“It’s just perspective – believing in your head that you can do it, and I was determined to because I love performing,” she mused.

Connor Gotto

Connor Gotto

Founder and editor of RETROPOP. Self-proclaimed pop aficionado. Usually seen with a wine in hand.

More Like This

Rick Astley Reflection 2026 Tour Handout-4
News

Rick Astley shares details of 2026 Reflection arena tour

by Connor Gotto
September 2, 2025
Lady Gaga Wednesday Season Two Netflix Handout-4
News

Lady Gaga confirms Dead Dance release date

by Connor Gotto
September 2, 2025
Queen Greatest Hits EMI-4
News

Are Queen about to enter the wine biz?

by Connor Gotto
September 2, 2025
Kylie Minogue Tension World Tour Live BMG-4
News

Kylie Minogue announces Tension live album

by Connor Gotto
September 2, 2025
Suede Antidepressants Press Handout Credit Dean Chalkley-4
News

Suede tease third album in ‘black and white period’

by Connor Gotto
September 2, 2025

Follow Us

The RETROPOP Edit

Never miss a story - sign up to RETROPOP's Daily Edit newsletter for free!

Please wait...

You're in! Keep an eye on your inbox for all the latest!

The Latest

Rick Astley Reflection 2026 Tour Handout-4

Rick Astley shares details of 2026 Reflection arena tour

September 2, 2025
Lady Gaga Wednesday Season Two Netflix Handout-4

Lady Gaga confirms Dead Dance release date

September 2, 2025
Queen Greatest Hits EMI-4

Are Queen about to enter the wine biz?

September 2, 2025
RETROPOP No. 31 : Sept '24
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Change privacy settings
MEDIA KIT

RETROPOP participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Copyright © 2025 Irresistible. All rights reserved.

  • Home
    • Home – Layout 1
    • Home – Layout 2
    • Home – Layout 3
  • News
  • Fashion

© 2025 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

CloseMenu

New issue out now

SHOP HERE