interview_Shawn Lawrence James // ph_Rahan Cotterel

Meshing an around the way cool with even fresher perspectives way across the Atlantic, writer/blogger Shauna Barbosa builds with Stylistics on her sophisticated funk, trendspotting, and dicets the science of chic.

Name: Shauna Barbosa
Better Known As: SB, Elle
Age: Late 80’s
Occupation: HBIC at Let’s Just Eat Cheese, Freelance Writer, Corporate Publishing

Born: Roxbury, MA by way of Cape Verde
Based: New York City

Define your style.
Funky, sassy, sophisticated, and down right gutsy. You ever see someone wear red pumps in the snow? Suede boots in the snow?

The older women in my life heavily influence my style. My mentors have taught me so much about walking into a room, making my clothing work for me. And I just can’t complain about the Prada, JP Tod’s, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Flavi Olivera and countless other vintage gems bestowed upon me from real women — real life trendsetters.

Do you draw any inspiration from your Cape Verdean upbringing?
Cape Verdean fashion is very much inspired by American culture. People like to keep up with Americans. However, the traditional dress is very original, tropical, and inspired by Portuguese and African culture. Brazil also shares similar taste in style because of European influences. Remember, Brazil was also colonized by the Portuguese so we have a lot of similar cultural traits.

While we’re trying to keep up with Western fashion, at the same time there’s always a touch of Cape Verde in the way we dress. Whether it’s jewelry or a wearing a traditional wrap around the waist.

Just being Cape Verdean is individuality. We fight to be recognized. I mean, we get excited to see our country on the map. With that passion and our mix of cultures, it undoubtedly influences how we carry ourselves.

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Thinking outside the box usually represents a paradigm with the ability to slay with conformity all those who try to embrace it. Within the music industry, many feign standing out but instead, like lepers, swiftly jump into a box they cannot escape. Not so for Natty, whose acute understanding of diverse musical forms has him acting as welder, fusing the sounds with a fiery guitar strum.

Hailing from North London, the 24-year-old singer, songwriter and performer is prepped to deliver his signature blend of “mix up” music to the masses and so far, the response has been pretty good in his native UK. Without the ordinary boundaries of genre, Natty has room to do what he wants and what listeners get in the end are solid tunes that span the breadth of afrobeat, hip-hop, reggae, folk and rock.

Natty steps to the mic with a number of grievances about the realities of urban life; anger accompanied by a cool older brother’s sense of reflection and understanding. His star rose last year after quitting work as a studio engineer to pursue his own music. Since then, he signed to Atlantic Records and his “intelligent words on racial issues” have also led to involvement with Love Music Hate Racism and a track, “If Is” on their benefit album.

Working toward social change and setting up youth workshops, Natty hopes “will be something else to talk about when the music is done talking.”

I had a chance to speak with Natty on the day his “Cold Town” EP dropped and — even if he will hesitate to call himself a star — it is safe to say the charismatic performer has star power.

Natty’s full-length debut, “Man Like I” will be released on July 14. Until then, check him out on MySpace or at one of his many shows in the UK through the summer.

TRACE: You started out engineering at Sphere Studios in London’s Battersea; could you describe how you got from behind the production boards to creating your own music?
Natty: I was creating music while I was at Battersea. I was kind of working there to have free studio time. I’d just be there, trying to do what I could early in the morning or after everyone went home. Even before I got there, I was writing music. I didn’t make the transition by working behind the boards and then one day deciding to go into the booth. I just stopped working in the studio and started doing open mics and everything kind of went from there.

T: You have mentioned Lee “Scratch” Perry as one of your musical influences, who are some others?
N: Fela Kuti and Neil Young. Common is a big contemporary one too. I also like Miles Davis for the space he creates with his music.

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