INTERVIEW: Nectar Woode releases new mixtape 'Naturally': "We’re all learning in this process so give yourself grace and allow yourself to be you."
Published: 14 July 2026
The UK’s Nectar Woode is one of those artists who casts a spell over you from the very first listen. First releasing music in 2021 in collaboration with Mom Tudie and Eriksson Kaner, before dropping her debut solo single the following year, Woode has been described as a modern day Nina Simone by none other than Elton John.
Woode’s background is in soul music, but her music is a skilful blend of multiple genres that remains true to her roots but brings in elements from across the musical spectrum to create a truly magical soundscape. Pop, synths, neo-soul and even disco flow through her music, with everything tied together by her deliciously smooth vocal which has both a richness and lightness that is a large contributor to the overwhelming sense of warmness of connectivity that envelops you when you listen to her sing.
She has recently released her new mixtape Naturally . Depicting a journey to self-acceptance, Naturally explores growing up, experiencing love and heartbreak and finding out who you are through life’s experiences.
“This project explores mistakes, frustration, a noisy brain, being in love and self-love.,” Woode says. “‘Naturally’ feels like an honest title for all these themes.”
The mixtape starts with ‘Lights Off’, an atmospheric soul pop song that brings in a tinge of glam rock in the chorus, with the hint of reverb on Woode’s voice giving everything a slightly otherworldly feel. Woode sings of struggling with life - ‘The more I do I feel worse / Got me on my knees begging for some peace’ - before realising whatever pain she feels is temporary: ‘Let the dust settle / Nothing is forever’.
‘Roses in the Dark’ is a more sombre moment on the mixtape as Woode sings of leaving a relationship where you know both sides have mutually neglected each other but not being able to do anything about it. One of the most gorgeous melodies on the songs gives way to the most melancholic moment as Woode asks ‘was it all for nothing?’
‘Stick Fight’ brings in an unexpected soul-disco-funk sound, with its perky, uplifting beat hiding a more serious struggle of fighting the noise in your head and the constant, impossible, desire humans have to want more and more, an urge we can’t resist despite the anxiety it causes. ‘There’s a choice…but all this noise keeps me wanting more.”
Coming right in the middle of the mixtape, ‘Rivers End’ is a mellow soul track that is almost the bridge between the life lessons Woode experiences in the tracks surrounding it, as she find peace within herself. “The Rivers End is where I accept myself for who I am, flaws, mistakes, uniqueness and all,” Woode said on the song’s release in May.
‘Plasticine’ is a dreamy soul-pop-lullaby blend with a disjointed beat that intrigues, with a story that speaks of the pain of a relationship that has collapsed - ‘what have we done to us?’ Woode asks.
Arguably the most stunning moment on the mixtape is ‘Wine into Water’ featuring Elton John on piano. A gorgeously, cinematic song that begins as a piano ballad, it swells in majesty with the introduction of strings and brass instruments as the song progresses. Woode sings of the often devastating moment when you realise your childhood is over and those formative moments and experiences will never return. ‘Suddenly like a flash of light / I saw myself grow up over night / It’s over / Wine turned into water.’
The mixtape ends on ‘Message to London’ which introduces a beat that almost resembles country music before swinging into a lush, if pared back, soul-pop chorus. Woode sings of surrendering to a relationship which could be that with London, or equally a relationship she can no longer fight against. ‘Try ignore those feelings / When you’re the only one I want…no excuses….I’m yours.’
Naturally is nine tracks of nothing less than absolute beauty. A compelling combination of engaging and relatable stories, gorgeous melodies and music and Woode’s captivating voice, it is not a stretch to say this is an absolute highpoint of Woode’s career to date, and worth your full immersion.
To celebrate the release of Naturally, Woode will be touring Australia for the very first time this August, performing in Sydney on 20 August and Melbourne on 21 August. Tickets are on sale now.
We recently caught up with Woode to find out more about the creation of Naturally.
Hi Nectar! Thanks so much for speaking with us today. How is everything in your world at the moment?
Yeah feeling good thanks! Just kickstarted festival season in Cognac, France and heading to Montreux Jazz Festival so happy to be gigging my new project Naturally.
Congratulations on the release of that mixtape Naturally. This is a beautiful collection of music, was there a particular inspiration or key message you wanted to convey with this release?
Thank you! This project is a collection of songs I wrote over the years of me still developing as a human in my 20s - having suffered break-ups, questions about my identity, falling in love, self-love. It’s a summer project for you to enjoy and hopefully relate to.
I am always curious about the creative decision and process behind the format of how artists release their music, be that a one off single, an EP, mixtape or album. Why did you decide to go with a mixtape for Naturally?
I personally would love an album … but I feel like this project was created from a lot of songs I wrote from observation of my surroundings and all the songs felt right together - it’s a summer project so felt right as a mixtape.
I really love the song ‘Plasticine’ on the mixtape. There is a real beauty in the lyrics of mourning the end of a relationship, but it also has this really interesting soundscape, with an almost off kilter beat to it. Can you tell me a little but more about the background to this song?
I wrote this song quite a while ago when I was going through a break up and I went into the session feeling pretty sad and defeatist. I felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel and wanted to live in that for a sec so that why the lyrics are a bit dark and sad lol. For the sonic space I was listening to a lot of Prince/Dijon/Nick Hakim which influenced the synthy breakbeat effect.
I am sure every single interview has asked you about this, but I have to ask it as well - your collaboration with Elton John on ‘Wine into Water’, how did it come about and what was the experience like?
He’s a legend and an amazing musician that has been championing me for a while now since my very first project and I thought he would be perfect to bring this song to life. So one day I emailed him and explained the song and what the vibe was then he replied saying “let’s go to the studio”, so yeah really simple but also a lesson in you have to ask because you never know if you’ll get a reply.
One thing that really stands out about your music for me and makes it incredibly special is the deep warmness to everything you do. You sing about topics we can all connect to as humans - such as recognising the loss of your childhood in ‘Wine into Water’ - but you have such a unique way of conveying them. You make it feel like an intimate conversation between just you and the listener, and the listener can project their own experience into your words and music. I am curious to know if your ability to this perhaps came from your own relationship with music growing up - you found warmth and connection via your favourite songs and artists as well, and want to project the same feeling to your fans?
Ah thank you! For me I find that the artists that I gravitate towards the most have that effect on me. I connect with honest artists, people that you feel their pain/joy/love/life experiences when you listen to their music. So the aim for me is to do that with mine.
Can you tell me a little bit more about how the song ‘Naturally’ was made? Where you recorded and how long the process took?
I recorded this 2 years ago feeling happy about love and hopeful. It’s a hopeless romantic song, so wanted the chords to represent that. I wrote it with Bastian and we were geeking out about our love for Aretha Franklin so defo was inspired by her when making this.
You will be coming to Australia in August to perform in Melbourne and Sydney, which is really exciting. How are you feeling about that, and what can we expect from your shows?
I can’t wait! I’ve never been down under before so super excited to meet all of you and play my show. For me gigging is a beautiful way to get to know your audience and understand what songs they gravitate towards and connect with so I’m excited for the gigs really.
At the time of writing, three of your five biggest markets in Spotify are Australian cities - does that surprise you?
I know I haven’t been to Australia yet but I feel like you guys are amazing at work / life balance and enjoying rest too and I feel like my music is best suited when you’re feeling still for a moment and want to take in the soulful soundscape.
You have achieved so much in music in a relatively short time, and at such a young age. What advice do you have for young girls and women who dream of following your own career path?
Find like minded people / community in people that like the same music as you do! Dont’ listen to anyone and trust yourself! We’re all learning in this process so give yourself grace and allow yourself to be you!
Naturally is out now, and your Australian tour is coming up, what else do you have planned for 2026?
Before Australia I’m going to Japan to play Summer Sonic Festival which I’m super excited about - and that I’m doing my biggest show yet in London at KOKO, so yeah super exciting and going to be writing an album in the meantime, all great things!
Naturally is out now via Sony Music. You can download and stream here.
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