Ultra Naté Explained

Ultra Naté
Background:	solo_singer
Birth Name:	Ultra Naté
Birth Date:	20 March 1968
Birth Place:	Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States
Years Active:	1989 - present

Ultra Naté Wyche (born March 20, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ and promoter who has achieved success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free", "If You Could Read My Mind" (as part of Stars on 54), and "Automatic".

Virtually all of her singles have reached the Top 10 of the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Such singles include "Show Me", "Free", "Desire", "Get It Up (the Feeling)", "Love's the Only Drug", and her number-one hits "Automatic", "Give it All You Got" featuring Chris Willis, "Waiting On You" and "Everybody Loves the Night". In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 12th most successful dance artist of all-time.^[1]

Biography

Early life

Born Ultra Naté in Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States, she displayed her singing talent at an early age. Growing up, Naté enjoyed a wide variety of music; she enjoyed listening to artists such as Marvin Gaye and Boy George,^[2] who Naté later said helped her become more open to being more experimental with her style and production of music.^[3]

She is best known for her 1990s dance crossover track, "Free". The 1998 cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind", with Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez as Stars on 54, was a minor mainstream American hit. It reached #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Though she has had club success in the United States, she has found the majority of her singles and, especially, album sales success in Europe.

Career

Ultra Naté began her recording career on a major label, Warner Bros. Records, signed through its British offices.^[4] Through it, she released her first two albums. Her debut album, Blue Notes in the Basement (1991) was created along with the Basement Boys and it featured the singles "It's Over Now", "Deeper Love (Missing You)", "Is It Love", and the gospel-tinged "Rejoicing".^[4]

In 1993, the alternative dance/house One Woman's Insanity was released.^[4] Although it still featured the Basement Boys' production on several tracks, this time Ultra found herself working with Nellee Hooper, and D-Influence.^[4] At a time when soulful house music performers such as Robin S and Crystal Waters were scoring cross-over Top Ten Pop singles, it was believed that Ultra Naté would score a similar level of commercial success. Mainstream sales however were not achieved even though "Show Me" received moderate mainstream pop radio airplay. Singles included "How Long", "Show Me" (her first song to reach the top position on the US Dance charts) and "Joy". However, neither release sold very well, and she was dropped from the label.

In 1995, Ultra Naté contributed the song "Party Girl (Turn Me Loose)" to the soundtrack of the independent film Party Girl starring Parker Posey. The single was commercially released by the King Street Sounds label.

When Warner Bros. tried to push her in another direction, Ultra Naté left the major label and moved to the independent dance label, Strictly Rhythm. It was here that "Free", her biggest mainstream hit, was released in 1997.^[4] The song, co-written by Naté, Lem Springsteen and John Ciafone while production was held by both Springsteen and Ciafone, enjoyed heavy airplay throughout the summer, not only in clubs, but on rhythmic and mainstream radio stations in America and Europe. "Free" peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It became a substantial hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, helping its parent album 'Situation: Critical' reach number seventeen on the UK Albums Chart.^[4] It was also successful in Canada, where it peaked at number ten on the Canadian Singles Chart.^[5]

It was with this album that Ultra Naté's greatest commercial success was achieved, particularly in Europe, where singles such as "Found a Cure" (No. 6 in the UK), and "New Kind of Medicine" (No 14 UK) also charted.

In 1998, a new single "Pressure" was released internationally. Taken from the soundtrack to the film The 24 Hour Woman, it contained three club mixes. The original version of the track was found on 'Situation: Critical" but listed as "Release the Pressure".

Her follow-up album Stranger Than Fiction, which was released in 2001, featured the production work of artists such as Attica Blues, 4 Hero, and Mood II Swing. Four singles were released: "Desire", "Get It Up (The Feeling)", "Twisted", and "I Don't Understand It".

Naté contributed the song "Wonderful Place" to the AIDS benefit compilation Keep Hope Alive: A Lifebeat Benefit Compilation. Additionally, in 2004, she released the singles "Feel Love", "Brass in Pocket", "Time of Our Lives" (released as "Ultra Devoted featuring Ultra Naté and Gerry DeVeaux"), and a new version of "Free" that features twelve new mixes. In 2005, she collaborated with Gaudino and released the single "Bitter Sweet Melody". Later in the same year she found herself again on the charts, when her featured vocals on the Stonebridge single "Freak On" became a successful dance hit. She also performed on the British show Hit Me Baby One More Time.

Having become a mother for the first time in the fall of 2005, Naté released her fifth album Grime, Silk, & Thunder on her newly created imprint Blufire in partnership with Tommy Boy Records. The first single released was "Love's the Only Drug", which became available through the US iTunes Store August 8, 2006 and reached number two on the American Hot Dance Club Play and made the Top 30 on the Hot Dance Airplay chart. The second single "Automatic" (a cover version of the Pointer Sisters hit) reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart (the week ending April 28, 2007). It also received airplay in the Rhythmic/Dance format radio where it reached the Top 30 of most playlists in this radio format. Following Automatic, Ultra released "Give It All You Got" which features Chris Willis in Dec 2007. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play charts the week ending February 23, 2008.

In mid-2009 it was announced that US singer Michelle Williams, previously of Destiny's Child has collaborated on a song with Ultra called "I'm Waiting On You", for use on both of their next studio albums.^[6] In 2010 Ultra has released a Bob Sinclar remix of her hit "Free" on Strictly Rhythm. "Give It 2 U" in collaboration with Quentin Harris for his album "Sacrifice". She also released "Destination" in collaboration with Tony Moran which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Dance Play chart. "Destination" was the second single off Tony's album, Mix Magic Music.

In 2010 she released an EP titled "Things Happen At Night" featuring Ultra's pop and soul melodies and vocals over percussive club beats done by Unruly productions. January 2011 is saw the release of Ultra's next single with Strictly Rhythm on her Deep Sugar label imprint called "Turn It Up" with a music video directed by Leo Herrera. "Turn It Up" was the first single to be released from her sixth studio album titled Hero Worship.

In September 2011, she submitted the song, "My Love" to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. However, though close, the song failed to reach the final.^[7]

In 2013, she held a residency spot at Cafe Ole at Space, Ibiza.^[8] Her spirited presence has graced the stages of New York's massive Summer Stage in Central Park, Nile Rodgers acclaimed FOLD Festival sharing the stage with the likes of CHIC, Duran Duran, Pharrell and Beck to Lincoln Center's annual Midnight Summer Swing and numerous Pride events around the world.

Ultra's 2017 album collaboration, Ultra Naté & Quentin Harris as Black Stereo Faith, reached the iTunes Top 10 upon release.^[9]

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
	1997	Top Hot Dance Club Play Single	"Free"		^[10]
1998	"Found a Cure"			^[11]
	Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist	Herself
International Dance Music Awards	1998	Best Dance Solo Artist	Herself		^[12]
Best House/Garage 12"		"Free"
Best Pop 12" Dance Record
2008	Best Dance Solo Artist	Herself		^[13]
2011	Best House/Garage Dance Track	"Give It 2 U"		^[14]
Music Week Awards	2023	Music & Brand Partnership	Becky Hill x Stefflon Don x Ultra Naté x Pepsi MAX – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Final Show		^[15] Discography Albums Studio albums Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" Album details Peak chart positions AUS ^[16] SCO ^[17] UK ^[18] Blue Notes in the Basement Released: June 1991 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: CD, cassette, LP — — — One Woman's Insanity Released: October 1993 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: CD, cassette, LP — — — Released: 3 May 1998 Label: Strictly Rhythm Formats: CD, cassette, LP 157 33 17 Stranger than Fiction Released: 2000 (Europe and Japan), 24 April 2001 (US) Label: Strictly Rhythm Formats: CD, LP — — — Grime, Silk, & Thunder Released: 5 June 2007 Label: Silver Label/Tommy Boy Entertainment Formats: CD — — — Hero Worship Released: 23 July 2013 Label: BluFire/Peace Bisquit Formats: Digital — — — Ultra Naté & Quentin Harris as Black Stereo Faith Released: 7 July 2017 Label: BluFire/Epod Music/Peace Bisquit Formats: CD, Digital — — — Ultra Released: 12 August 2022 Label: BluFire/Peace Bisquit Formats: Digital — — — "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory. Compilation albums The Best Remixes, Vol. 1 (1997) Best Remixes, Vol. 2 (1999) Alchemy - G.S.T. Reloaded (2008) Extended plays Things Happen at Night (2010) Singles Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications (sales thresholds) Album US US Dance^[19] AUS ^[20] CAN UK ^[21] 1989 "It's Over Now" — — — — 62 Blue Notes in the Basement 1991 "Is It Love?" — 45 — — 71 1992 "Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget)" — 7 — — — 1993 "Joy" — 2 — — — One Woman's Insanity 1994 "Show Me" — 1 — — 62 "How Long" — 2 — — — 1997 "Free" 75 1 31 10 4 BPI Platinum^[22] 1998 "Free (Remix)"^[23] — — — — 33 "Found a Cure" — 1 127 — 6 "New Kind of Medicine" — 28 — — 14 "Release the Pressure" — 3 — — — "If You Could Read My Mind" (Stars on 54: Ultra Naté, Amber, Jocelyn Enriquez) 52 3 3 7 23 ARIA: Gold 54 soundtrack 2000 "Desire" — 1 — — 40 Stranger Than Fiction 2001 "Get It Up (The Feeling)" — 1 — — 51 2002 "I Don't Understand It" — 25 — — — "Twisted" — — — — — 2003 "Brass in Pocket" — 8 — — — Non-album single 2004 "Free" (Remixes) (Oscar G, Brick City, Corbett & Troia remix) — 22 — — — Free (Remixes) 2005 "Freak On" (Ultra Naté vs Stonebridge) — — — — 37 Grime, Silk, & Thunder 2006 "Love's the Only Drug" — 2 — — — 2007 "Automatic" — 1 — — — "Give It All You Got" (with Chris Willis) — 1 — — — 2008 "Twisted (Got Me Goin' Round)" — 3 — — — GST: Grime Silk & Thunder Reloaded 2009 "Faster Faster Pussycat (Let’s Go )" — — — — — Things Happen at Night "Hey DJ" — — — — — 2011 "Turn It Up" — 4 — — — Hero Worship "My Love" — — — — — "Waiting on You" (with Michelle Williams) — 11 — — — 2013 "Everybody Loves the Night" — 29 — — — 2014 "Unconditional" — 2 — — — "So Glamorous" (with Samuele Sartini) — — — — — Non-album singles 2015 "Take Care of My Heart" (with Eddie Amador) — 21 — — — 2016 "Alive" — — — — — 2017 "I'm Too Sexy (Touch This Skin)" — 7 — — — Black Stereo Faith 2017 "Fake" (S-Man & Ultra Naté) — — — — — Non-album single As featured artist Year Single Peak chart positions US Dance AUS UK 1992 "Altitude" (777 featuring Ultra Naté) 44 — — 1995 "Party Girl (Turn Me Loose)" 6 — — "10,000 Screaming Faggots" (The Moonwalkers feat. Ultra Naté) — — — 1997 "Partay Feeling" (B-Crew featuring Barbara Tucker, Dajae, Ultra Naté and Moné) 22 — 45 2004 "Time of Our Lives" (Ultra Devoted) — 59 — 2005 "Bittersweet Melody" (Gaudino feat. Ultra Naté) — — — "Wonderful Place" (U.D.A.U.F.L.) — — — 2010 "No Wasted Hearts" (Nicola Fasano feat. Ultra Naté) — — — "Destination" (Tony Moran feat. Ultra Naté) 10 — — 2018 "Feeling Mighty" (David Harness, Ultra Naté) — — — See also List of number-one dance hits (United States) List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart External links Ultra Naté — official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists : Page 1. Billboard.com. December 21, 2019.
2. News: How Ultra Naté's 'Free' became a dancefloor anthem for personal liberation. Caryl. Kristan J. September 22, 2021. DJ Mag. June 15, 2022.
3. News: DJ Ron Slomowicz. Interview with Ultra Nate. Dance Music / Electronica. 2007. 2007-09-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040803141550/http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/interviews/a/IntUltraNateR.htm. 2004-08-03.
4. Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 2000. First. 0-7535-0427-8. 407.
5. News: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r351038/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} AllMusicGuide entry ]. AllMusic. 2007-07-27 . 2007-07-27.
6. Web site: Michelle Williams. Nick. Levine. 29 June 2009. Digital Spy.
7. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/17658 Eurovision Song Contest - Baku 2012 | News - Switzerland: American singer Ultra Naté on the race to Baku
8. Web site: House Music Diva Ultra Naté Starts Her Residence on Café Olé Ibiza. July 22, 2013. Space Ibiza. March 4, 2020.
9. News: Tantum. Bruce. Quentin Harris and Ultra Nate are Black Stereo Faith. September 5, 2017. 5 Magazine. March 4, 2020.
10. Web site: Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1997 . Rockonthenet.com . 2020-04-29.
11. Web site: Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1998 . Rockonthenet.com . 2020-04-29.
12. Web site: Winter Music Conference 2015 - WMC 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418115208/http://wintermusicconference.com/idmaballot/nominees/archived/index.php?year=1998. 2015-04-18. April 18, 2015. December 21, 2019.
13. Web site: 31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161126005612/http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2008#idmanominees. 2016-11-26. November 26, 2016. April 7, 2020.
14. Web site: 31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2017 - WMC 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221195049/http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2011#idmanominees. 2016-12-21. December 21, 2016. April 7, 2020.
15. Web site: Music Week Awards 2024 .
16. Web site: Ultra Naté ARIA Chart History complete to 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. July 20, 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
17. Scottish studio album chart peaks:
    • Web site: Situation: Critical . . 21 November 2019.
18. Web site: UK Albums . . 21 November 2019.
19. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ultra naté|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}} Ultra Naté Album & Song Chart History]. Billboard.com. January 8, 2012.
20. Peaks in Australia:
    • "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind": Web site: Discography Ultra Naté. australian-charts.com. September 1, 2022.
    • "Freak On" and "Time of Our Lives": 199.
21. Book: Roberts, David . 2006 . British Hit Singles & Albums . 19th . Guinness World Records Limited . London . 1-904994-10-5 . 388.
22. United Kingdom. 27 February 2022. Ultra Nate.
23. Web site: Official Charts Company, Artist Chart History, Ultra Nate. Officialcharts.com. September 7, 2014.