Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie White.
Natalie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It used to be difficult for me to answer the question “What do you do?” My path hasn’t been the most straightforward. And I’m grateful for that. Today, I simply say “I’m a storyteller.”
Since I was a child, creative expression has been my sole pursuit. I began classical piano training at the age of three; I also loved to read and play video games. By 4th grade, I was trying to compose my own music and write sci-fi/fantasy epics. Video games gave me an early education in how music can add dimension and depth to a narrative. I got joyously lost in those stories and still do.
My father bought me my first sequencing keyboard in the early 90s, an Ensoniq VFX, and that changed everything. I created orchestral backing tracks for holiday events at church. I made elaborate soundtracks for my Dragonlance novels. My keyboard was this amazing tool that helped me tell stories! That became my focus creatively—cultivating my mind to tell better stories…so much so that I chose to study Cognitive Science and Linguistics at Northwestern University.
Graduation year, I moved to LA to appear on ABC’s “All American Girl,” a spinoff of American Idol. I did the “LA thing” for a while but I was only going through the motions of what I thought it meant to pursue a career in entertainment. The best thing that happened was the time I spent in a recording studio, learning the ins and outs of engineering from true professionals. Those folks took me under their wing and let me record my original music for free in exchange for my vocal performance on various projects. Overall, I gained lots of great experiences in LA, both positive and negative.
I built on that knowledge and found a new outlet while living in San Francisco: producing my own recreations of Kpop songs and casually sharing them on YouTube. One went viral overnight, which led to a few invitations to perform in Korea under my artist name “pumashock” (borrowed from my OG WoW shadow priest). I was amused that a local paper referred to me as “Korea’s black big sister.” Meanwhile, I also composed and arranged 17 original songs for a musical written by a close friend. We were two young women who managed to produce a three-night run in a dusky, off-Broadway theater. Amazing adventures like these taught me that I didn’t have to do things the prescribed way. Anything is possible! I can follow my gut and create my own opportunities.
I’ve continued to diversify my professional skills in my pursuit of creative storytelling to include motion design, game development, writing, and brand development. No matter the media, it’s always about transporting people to another world or a newfound perspective. Here in Atlanta, I continue to forge my own, kooky path and collect adventures along the way. The curious, free-spirited storyteller is the “me” that has persisted since childhood and is still running wild.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve certainly faced extrinsic hardships in life, but my most persistent struggles have been internal. My “cocktail” of neuroses is pretty relentless. It breathes down my neck every minute of every day; some days are harder than others. But I’ve figured out that, if it won’t go away (and it probably won’t), then it has to come along for the ride because I must move forward. Over time, I’ve cultivated a “DO IT ANYWAY” response. “Yes, I’m panicking. I’m anxious. I’m terrified. I’m exhausted. I feel like a fraud. Hello, my faithful companions!” Then, I push through and get it done—and I get a bit of relief. I’m learning to give myself more patience and compassion. It’s a muscle I keep flexing and strengthening. Because my will to express myself is forever greater than their will to silence me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Pumashock Arts is my creative services business. I cut my teeth professionally at a large corporate branding firm before becoming a freelancer. I specialize in brand identity and design; and music composition for video games, short film, and animation.
I recently scored an animated series pilot called “MINE” which is part of the Rise Home Stories project and premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Festival. Right now, my passion project is developing interactive mini-worlds that incorporate 3D animation and design using Unreal Engine 4 with my original music.
I enjoy tinkering on other instruments; my latest obsession is a 6/6 cross-strung chromatic harp. I’m also an avid needlecraft enthusiast and have a distant dream of publishing my designs one day.
My unique style is shaped by divergent experiences that have made me quite brazen when it comes to creativity. I’m a true jack of all trades who’ll consistently deliver an unexpected perspective.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I actively encourage people to be more audacious in their own creative endeavors. If you have a fun, challenging idea, I’d love to hear more about it and explore ways I could help bring that story to life. You can contact me at pumashock.com. If you’d like to stay updated on my creative shenanigans, find me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram: @pumashock. Thanks!
Contact Info:
- Email: me@pumashock.com
- Website: https://www.pumashock.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pumashock/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pumashock
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Pumashock
