her time out
On The Scene
Natalia Sheppard, otherwise known as 'MC Tali', is the most successful female MC in Drum n Bass of all time. With three DnB Awards, a solo album, numerous singles and guest vocals under her belt, Tali has performed all around the world with many of the scene's heavyweights. She shares with Her Magazine her journey from Taranaki freestyler to international superstar
THE YEAR WAS 2001, and I was standing backstage at the bar of one of Melbourne's biggest live venues. There in front of me was my musical hero, award winning UK Drum n Bass producer, Roni Size. I couldn't get over how fate had placed him there in front of me, casually sipping his drink and perusing his surroundings. Originally from New Zealand, I had moved to
Melbourne six months earlier, waiting tables to save money for a plane flight to the United Kingdom. My dream was, as Australasia's only female Drum n Bass MC, to turn up in Bristol to find Roni Size and the Full Cycle collective, and convince them to sign me. I have been involved with music since I was a young
girl growing up on a dairy farm under the shadow of Mount Taranaki, classically trained in singing and piano with a passion for writing songs and poetry. As I discovered Hip Hop music, I began to develop a love of 'Free styling', making up songs and raps as I went along, and whilst living in Christchurch I was introduced to Drum n Bass music. I immediately fell in love with the way the music
made me want to dance, and the unity it created amongst those of all ages and races. It was here I witnessed my first real taste of what it would be like to be an MC. Hosting the set, this guy flowed over the music the
DJ mixed, and sent the crowds into fits of hype and joy with his lyrics. I knew then that that was the career choice for me. When I expressed my enthusiasm to my DJ friend,
the first thing he pointed out was that there were very few females who held positions of influence within
96 | February/March 2012 | HER MAGAZINE
