Natasha Bedingfield Had the Loneliest Time on The Masked Singer

Since rising to fame in the mid-2000s, Natasha Bedingfield’s music has consistently felt like a joyful boost. Songs like “These Words,” “Pocketful of Sunshine,” and “Love Like This” are guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone who grew up in the millennial era. But nothing compares to “Unwritten,” a massive hit from the 2000s and an empowering anthem about taking control of your life. (The author still remembers proudly singing it with her classmates at middle school graduation!) Now, Bedingfield is working on her sixth album, using the process to consider her life experiences and what she wants to accomplish moving forward.

Bedingfield hopes her music takes listeners on an emotional journey. She’s noticed fans describe feeling healed through her songs, and that’s inspiring her new work. She envisions creating live shows similar to those by Coldplay and Massive Attack – performances that blend authentic, human elements like live vocals and avoid excessive use of autotune. Currently, she’s sharing stories with us about her experiences, including feeling confined while on The Masked Singer, a surprising early performance with Lady Gaga, and a particularly impactful review she received.

First album that sparked your interest in music

Growing up, my family didn’t allow us to listen to the radio. We were pretty isolated from popular music, which is funny because my brother and I ended up writing pop songs! It’s ironic that we had hits on the radio when we didn’t grow up with it. I discovered Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life at the library, and it completely blew me away. That album was hugely influential for me.

Growing up, my sister and I had a few records we listened to constantly. It was a different time – we actually played vinyl! We were also big Disney fans, and since we went to church, we heard a lot of Christian music. There was a lot of great music happening there, actually. We loved albums by The Cardigans – the one with them on the couch – as well as Björk and Lauryn Hill. I especially remember discovering India.Arie’s Voyage to India as a teenager and instantly connecting with it – it was so soulful. As I got older and started pursuing singing myself, I realized how difficult it was to develop a truly unique voice. So many singers sound alike. I thought a smart approach would be to listen to male singers – people like Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bono, and the Rolling Stones – singers with a lot of power and grit.

First person who recognized your talent

I was lucky to have an incredible teacher named Francis who really fostered creativity, and taught us how to write both poetry and music. She was one of the first people to recognize potential in my brother and me. My older brother was always seen as the naturally gifted one, while I was more reserved and didn’t get much attention for any particular talent. People knew me, but they didn’t necessarily see future potential. We all assumed my brother would be the successful musician. But my sister and I loved to sing harmonies, and we’d always make him include us! He’s actually been my biggest influence – he taught me everything I know about singing harmonies. He pushes me hard, always pointing out when I’m off-key and making me try again. It’s tough love, but it’s helped me improve.

First artist you opened for

I once opened for Justin Timberlake while he was touring Europe. It was amazing playing in those massive arenas, and the backstage area felt like a school with all the hallways and people just hanging out. What struck me about Justin was how quietly he’d enter a room – you’d be talking and suddenly he’d just be there, joining the conversation. And he never actually says goodbye; you’d turn around, and he’d already disappeared. He was a genuinely lovely person to tour with. He was with Jessica Biel at the time, and he had a fantastic crew – really talented musicians and dancers.

I was touring with New Kids on the Block – I can’t remember the other opening act. I wasn’t a fan of boy bands, but I found myself on tour with one while Lady Gaga was opening for me. It was very early in her career; she only had one outfit, a white cube dress, and wore it constantly. Even then, she was incredibly focused and confident. I overheard her telling her team she wanted to collaborate with Eminem, appear in Rolling Stone magazine, and achieve major success. It was amazing, considering she had just released her first single! Americans are really good at believing in themselves and visualizing their goals – she was fully committed to making it happen.

She didn’t just talk about her ambitions; she worked incredibly hard to achieve them. She’d spend her mornings at radio stations, co-hosting our show with New Kids on the Block, and then perform at nightclubs every single night. I was truly impressed and so happy for her – she really revolutionized the music industry and proved it could be done. I’ve often met artists right before they became famous, and you start to recognize that special quality they have. Nicki Minaj had it too. I was on tour when my team told me about her, saying she was the next big thing, finishing up her album and a fan of mine. They asked me to collaborate immediately, even while I was on tour, because the album was about to be finalized. We booked a studio wherever we were and recorded the track that night. It ended up on her album, Pink Friday.

First time hearing your music in the wild

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=abf5tZdilOc

Back when I first released music in England, there was a popular TV show called Top of the Pops. It was a fantastic opportunity to perform your song, and if it was good, it could become a hit within a week – that’s exactly what happened to me. I performed my first song, “Single,” and I loved the playful double meaning – the song was called “Single” and I was single at the time! It became incredibly popular very quickly, reaching number one, which was a strange experience. The oddest part was going through airport security. I worried I was going to be searched, and then a security officer asked if I was the singer. I jokingly replied, asking for a pat-down instead of a full search.

First gig that gave you an ‘I made it’ feeling

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=u_k1Sx_KQQo

I performed at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium. It was incredible – even though I only sang one song, the energy from the huge crowd was amazing. It’s actually easier to perform for larger audiences, and it feels better. I later learned there were 80,000 people there, which explained why I enjoyed it so much. It’s hard to see the size of the crowd because of all the stage lights. What was frustrating was the British press – they focused on my shoes instead of the performance. They called them ‘stripper shoes,’ but they were just high-heeled platforms. I like platforms because they actually make it easier to move around and run, giving you a little extra space in the toes so your feet aren’t at such a sharp angle. I still wear them for that reason.

First review that challenged you

I recall a review of my first album that compared it to an American Idol record – meaning each song sounded distinct and lacked a cohesive style. I actually agreed with that assessment. It was true that I’d worked with many different writers and hadn’t used a single producer throughout the whole album, resulting in a lot of variety in sound. I thought it was a valid point. Since then, I’ve focused much more on creating a consistent overall sound for each album.

First time you were mistaken for Ellie Goulding

It’s really strange, but a lot of people tell me I look just like their best friend. I think I just have a generally familiar face, which is nice to hear. They usually show me a picture, and I’m not always convinced it’s a match. Someone once said I looked like Ellie Goulding, which I don’t really see, but I’m flattered because I think she’s beautiful! She’s incredibly talented, and it’s funny to think we could switch places and she could blame any trouble on me.

First moment you had full autonomy over your career

From the start, I really felt like I had creative freedom, and I was lucky to be signed by songwriters who included me in everything, even the production side. But as things moved forward, I started to see that freedom wasn’t always what it seemed. When the record label got involved, it was like they’d present me with limited choices – “Pick a director from these two, and you have an hour!” – which didn’t really feel like having control at all. It was a slow realization, honestly. It felt a lot like becoming aware of how women are conditioned, understanding the patriarchy, and then thinking, Wow, now I’m actually taking the reins. It’s funny, because when I was under a label, if something went wrong, I could almost point the finger elsewhere. But leaving the label and having complete control was actually more daunting. I didn’t realize how much I relied on having that label attached to my name, how much I thought it validated me as an artist.

It’s up to you to discover what truly makes an artist special. It’s a fantastic era for musicians because they don’t necessarily need a record label to succeed. Look at Raye – she swept the Brit Awards last year, and it was clear the record companies were frustrated she was winning without them! She’s proving that being independent and authentic is the way to go, and that’s what audiences are craving. It means artists have to handle everything themselves, which is challenging, but I genuinely enjoy seeing the labels react when artists thrive on their own terms.

First day on set of The Masked Singer

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=nulsOUOb8Ro

I get really anxious in tight spaces, and I hated wearing the mask on the show. To cope, I’d put it on a full half hour before going onstage just to get used to it, but I still felt incredibly panicked. The crew was surprised to see me practicing deep breathing in the hallway. It was just a really unpleasant experience – I felt like I needed to escape! The mask was heavy and made it hard to concentrate, something I don’t think many people discuss. I suspect I might have asthma, and wearing the mask brought back childhood memories of my brother playfully covering my head with blankets. I really don’t like feeling trapped. The show itself is strange; you’re completely isolated backstage. They make you wear a sign saying not to talk to anyone, and the mask stays on the entire time. It’s a very lonely experience, even though the people involved are great. It’s a good show to watch, though, and I enjoyed seeing it from my perspective. I’m worried I’ve ruined the mystery for you, and I probably have! Everyone reacts differently, and while some people might enjoy the enclosed feeling, it wasn’t for me.

First time you realized ‘Unwritten’ had become a stone-cold classic

There’s nothing like performing a song for the first time and then, after months of sharing it, hearing the audience sing along with everything they have. That’s when you realize you’ve created something truly special – something bigger than yourself. A lot of artists focus on promoting themselves, almost asking to be admired, and you definitely saw that with performers like Michael Jackson. Pop music often creates this image of perfection, and Billy Corgan recently talked about this very thing. But with a song like ‘Unwritten,’ it was the song itself that really connected with people, and that’s what I strive for. It’s my greatest accomplishment and brings me so much joy. I always wanted to write music that would become meaningful anthems for others, and when Danielle Brisebois and I wrote ‘Unwritten,’ we felt like we’d actually done it. It felt like something beyond just us was at play.

First time seeing Easy A’s “Pocketful of Sunshine” scene

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=ylvh800i85I

I’ll never forget when I first saw Emma Stone in Easy A – that’s when I really discovered her. It’s funny because my family member hated Natasha Bedingfield’s “Pocketful of Sunshine” when it came out, and there’s this scene where Emma’s character calls it the most annoying song ever! It became a total earworm for her in the movie, and she ends up loving it. It felt like such a perfect little ‘take that’ to my family member – like, yeah, it might be annoying, but it can still be something special. I actually had to fight for one of the verses in the song. The head of my label kept questioning it, worried that I liking it didn’t mean anyone else would. He wanted it to be more mainstream, even thought it might be a chorus instead of a verse! We tried rewriting it a bunch of times, but we always came back to the original. It just felt right, and that’s how it had to stay. I’d absolutely love to meet Emma Stone someday. She just seems like a genuinely fun person, and I get the feeling she’s a lot like the best parts of all the characters she plays.

2026-03-11 18:57