Rising Star Natalie Fooks on Her New Single ‘Under the Poppies’

“I honestly didn’t expect it at all,” Natalie laughs. “Everyone was so good. But that moment really made me realise — this is what I want to do.”

Since that breakthrough, Fooks’s career has soared. Invitations to perform across the country, media appearances, and songwriting sessions have kept her busier than ever. Yet she remains grounded and grateful, her enthusiasm for music stronger than ever.

“The opportunities that came after that were insane,” she says. “It’s just ignited something in me. I’ve always loved singing, but now it feels even more powerful — like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”

And “where she’s meant to be” clearly involves more than just her voice. Natalie plays piano, guitar, and drums, and often switches between them when writing songs.

“Piano is probably my first choice,” she explains, “especially for ballads. But if it’s something more folky or upbeat, I’ll pick up the guitar. It really depends on the mood of the song.”

Her musical dreams, meanwhile, remain as ambitious as ever. When asked where she’d most love to perform, Natalie doesn’t hesitate: the Royal Albert Hall.

“That would be incredible,” she says with a wide smile. “If I could sing there tomorrow, I’d probably choose O Holy Night. It’s such a classic — I think it would sound amazing in that space.”

Despite her demanding schedule of singing, studying, and performing, Natalie insists that music is still her greatest form of relaxation.

“It’s funny, because even though it’s my work, it never feels like hard work,” she says. “Music is my outlet. It’s where I feel most at peace.”

Now, Fooks is unveiling her most personal project yet: ‘Under the Poppies’, a haunting and heartfelt ballad inspired by a century-old wartime poem.

“I actually wrote it when I was twelve,” she reveals. “It started after a history lesson — my teacher shared a poem written by his relative about her husband, who died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His name was Frank Parknell. I just thought it was so beautiful — it needed to be a song.”

Natalie built the rest of Under the Poppies around that moving piece of poetry, writing new verses and composing the music herself. The result is a timeless, emotional reflection on love, loss, and remembrance — all captured through the pure, soaring tones of her soprano voice.

For someone so young, Natalie Fooks’s depth of artistry is remarkable. With Under the Poppies, she not only showcases her extraordinary musical talent, but also her compassion and storytelling — qualities that mark her out as one of the brightest new voices in British music.

“It’s just the beginning,” she says softly, smiling. “And I can’t wait to see where the music takes me next.”