Natural Self

Biography

Natural Self is the ongoing project of Nathaniel Pearn, a Brighton-based producer, vocalist, and DJ originally inspired by the rhythmic force of The Bomb Squad's productions for Public Enemy. Hip hop served as his primary early influence, expanding through crate digging into funk, soul, jazz, Latin, electronica, and beyond. By 2001, he debuted with the 'Shakedown/The Soul Step' single on Breakin’ Bread records, showcasing raw drums, polyrhythmic percussion, and strident horns that became his signature sound, honed by seven years of DJing experience.[1][2]

Pearn's career evolved with his 2006 debut album 'Let Peace Be The Ruler', introducing live recordings and a collaboration with Alice Russell on 'I Don’t Need This Trouble', alongside a joint album 'Gravity' with Nostalgia 77 as The Broken Keys. He ventured into singing on this release and continued developing his style with the 2008 Tru Thoughts album 'The Art Of Vibration', featuring Andreya Triana and electronic excursions. Further works included 'My Heart Beats Like A Drum' in 2009 with Elodie Rama and the 2013 album 'Neon Hunts My Eyes', marking a shift to singer-songwriter territory with themes of technology, environment, and time, blending beat-heavy synths with warmth and nostalgia.[1]

His musical style fuses nu jazz, funk, hip hop, and electronic elements with deep percussive vibes, evolving from dancefloor-focused tracks to broader tropical and bass influences. As a remixer and DJ, Pearn has toured the UK, Europe, and America, maintaining a demand for his distinctive productions that balance energy, heart, and rhythmic drive.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Natural Self also releases under the alias Keno-1 for certain sounds, particularly in collaborations like with Nostalgia 77.[2]
• His DJ sets evolved from early funk and hip hop to incorporate tropical influences and bass culture while retaining deep percussive vibes.[1]
• The 2013 album 'Neon Hunts My Eyes' represented a major shift, with Pearn fully embracing the singer-songwriter role for the first time.[1]
• He provided lead vocals on DJ Food’s 'One Man’s Weird Is Another Man’s World' EP before his own vocal-focused releases.[1]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• The Bomb Squad - Primary rhythmic production inspiration from their work with Public Enemy (Public Enemy productions) [Early career, pre-2001]

Key Collaborators

• Nostalgia 77 - Good friend and frequent collaborator, including as Keno-1 & The Hermit and The Broken Keys ('Heavy Heavy', 'Gravity' album) [2001-2006]
• Alice Russell - Vocal collaboration on debut album ('I Don’t Need This Trouble' on 'Let Peace Be The Ruler') [2006]
• Andreya Triana - Vocal collaboration on second solo album ('The Art Of Vibration') [2008]
• Elodie Rama - Vocal features on album ('My Heart Beats Like A Drum') [2009]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz