Natalie Exora’s Musical Journey: From Life-Changing Advice to the Double-Sided Magic of “Nightlight”
When Trinidad & Tobago-born Natalie Exora arrived in Toronto to pursue her passion for music, she built the foundations of an exciting career collaborating with JUNO-winning artists and opening for a slew of high-profile acts. But it wasn’t until she received a life-changing piece of advice from Canadian guitar legend, Rik Emmett of Triumph, that would set her on a completely new and exciting course in just four words: “You need to sing.”
And sing she has, lending her deep, rich, classical voice to two singles released last year. The first of these, “What Are You Waiting For?”, is a formidable debut, setting the tone for Exora’s signature introspective lyrics paired with a chill, synth-pop vibe. Her second single, “Perfect”, is a ballad reminiscent of early-‘90s dream-pop that has drawn comparisons to Madonna.
For her third single– and first double-A side, “Nightlight”/“Nightlight (the Flipside)”, out now, Exora tackles the subject of motherhood – something the mother of four is very familiar with. The single is an EDM-laced pop power ballad that puts one in mind of latter-career Celine Dion, with robust vocals accompanied by a high-energy beat and sumptuous instrumentals.
The song is only one side of motherhood, though.
As Exora explains,
“Motherhood…is simply ‘too big’ to be contained and expressed one way. You are the ultimate Protector. This culminates in my artistically original idea of expressing the theme two ways, through one song musically.”
To this end, and in a breakthrough approach, Exora recorded the track as a double-sided single: Side A being the original EDM-pop song, and Side B featuring a stripped-down, piano-only version which she aptly calls “Nightlight (the Flipside).”
“The A-Side, ‘Nightlight’, is energetic, fierce and fun; it represents the outside view we feel safe showing the world. The B-Side, ‘Nightlight (the Flipside)’, is vulnerable and emotional; it’s the inside view that only a few will get to see,” Exora says. “‘Nightlight’ is one song, two sides. It’s a musical glimpse into two perspectives of being a Protector, but most of all, ‘Nightlight’ is about love.”
What have you been up to since we last spoke?
I’ve been having a blast working on my craft, writing, and singing more than ever! Super excited to share my latest creation, which is very unique in how it comes to life. Maybe even an industry first!
How did Rik Emmett’s advice to “You need to sing” impact your musical journey, and what led you to finally embrace your voice?
When I first met Rik years ago, it was as a mentor to listen to a track of mine. I started the convo by telling him, “I’m just a writer, not a singer” and I really believed that at the time. After listening to my song, his first and only comment was “You need to sing. You really do.” This was the complete opposite of what I expected to learn, and it made me question everything I thought I knew, about being a writer and a singer. Here was one of Canada’s Music Hall of Fame legends believing in me, before I believed in myself! I decided it was time to stop making excuses and just start singing. I’ve since found my voice and the confidence required to share my own songs.
“Nightlight”/”Nightlight (the Flipside)” explores the theme of motherhood in a unique, dual-sided way. What was the creative process behind developing these two contrasting versions of the song.
Looking back, the process of creating contrasting versions of the song was unique because I now know, that one side cannot exist without the other. This wasn’t about creating a song in two genres, like rap and country. It was about capturing two feelings in one song, on a very deep topic. With so many angles to choose from to write about motherhood, the Protector side felt like a very heroic and uplifting side to share with the world. The A-Side, Nightlight, is energetic, fierce, and fun; it’s the outside view we feel safe showing the world. The B-Side, Nightlight (the Flipside), is vulnerable and emotional; it’s the inside view that only a few will get to see. Nightlight is one song, two sides – a musical glimpse into two perspectives of being a Protector. But most of all, Nightlight is about love and love has many sides.
Motherhood is clearly a profound theme in your work. How has your experience as a mother of four influenced your music, particularly in “Nightlight”?
It’s one of life’s greatest honors to be able to raise, love, and protect someone – especially your children. In a world that’s changing rapidly, your children are growing and changing faster than you. This will come with highs and lows, and of course, the need to be there for them as their Protector. “Mama – can you leave a light on for me?” How many times have we heard our littles ask this question? One day they stop asking, but you know they will always need you. The idea and title behind Nightlight were born from this question. It couldn’t exist without them.
The decision to release “Nightlight” as a double-A side single is intriguing. What challenges or surprises did you encounter while recording and producing the two distinct versions of the track?
I really like this question, because Nightlight started so simply!
“Why don’t I write a song my kids and I can dance to, together in the living-room?” That meant exploring a genre, EDM-POP that was new to me. While writing Side A – Nightlight and working on the instrumental, it was completed in a lower key and slower tempo than the final. When we got to the vocals, we realized (by accident!) it sounded better and more energetic in a higher and faster key. So we started over again.
When Side A was complete, I felt there was another version churning inside me – the slower, more emotional side of the song. My intention was to keep this version private, just for my family. During a last-minute trip to NYC, I met my producer (who I trust completely) and shared a homemade video of the kids, set to the slow version playing over it. He said, “You should make this too.” So we made Nightlight – the Flipside together. I realized this was more than a song to dance to in the living room. The journey and discovery in creating it, the feelings captured behind both versions, the making, and the lessons learned, all led to illustrating the two sides of the coin. Some days you’ll dance it out, some days you’ll cry it out. What started simply & small, blossomed into this very unique and creative expression every mother and Protector can relate to.
Finally, producing the music video for Nightlight – shot on an iPhone 15 pro, in three hours downtown Toronto, the crazy part is, this was shot before The Flipside was born! With a title like Nightlight, the contrast between dark and light felt like a rich springboard to go into a bright studio and play. As the project evolved into two sides, everything started falling into place. We adapted as the project grew, re-planned in real-time, and learned to edit on the fly, we got really scrappy. It was basically a FITFO – Figure it the %#&@ out.
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