Introducing… Shelby Natasha

I love hearing traditional instruments in modern or unusual settings, and Shelby Natasha does just that. Shelby plays the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument that is akin to a harp with plenty of expression and string bending. I have one myself, and I’m terrible at it, so I always appreciate the skill a guzheng player has. The guzheng is paired with Shelby’s ethereal vocals, some lo-fi beats, and a jazzy/alt-folk band to create a sound that stradles all kinds of genres, yet sounds like its own thing entirely. Natasha says the music is a whirlpool of her upbringing, which was split between China and the Pacific Northwest.

‘It Was Mine’ is her latest single and was born out of a project run by the Seattle organisation, the Bushwick Bookclub. They challenge musicians to write songs based on the book being read at the time. When Shelby took part, the book was Violeta. Speaking about the track, Shelby says:

“I was part of a group that was writing songs based on the book Violeta, a story told from the perspective of a lady, who reminded me a lot of my grandma, reflecting on her life, in old age, and telling her story. 

I read Violeta right after my grandma passed and it helped me process my relationship to her mortality and my own and had me thinking a lot about the person I hope that I get to be, on the other side of my life. Almost every line is a mix between a prayer and a promise to myself. I wanted it to feel, sonically, like reaching back into time. I really loved getting to blend the Guzheng in with so many other live strings, I feel like it encapsulated the tenderness and warmth that I craved, as well as the ache and sorrow that are a part of life. It is a dreamy and haunting blend of Chinese folk music and Lo-fi sounds.“

Shelby is performing live across Seattle for the first half of 2026. For information on live shows, videos, and upcoming releases, visit Shelby Natasha’s website.

Support Higher Plain Music

Higher Plain Music is part of the Higher Plain Network – a one-man indie media project. If you like what I do, please consider supporting me via Patreon for as little as $1/£1 a month. In return, you’ll receive additional perks for supporting me, such as behind-the-scenes content and free downloads. You can also donate using PayPal. Sharing the website helps too or using the affiliate buy now links on reviews. I receive a few pence per Amazon sale. All your support will enable me to produce better content, more often. I’d love to make this a full-time media network and your support can make that happen. Thank you.