Ultra Naté

Biography

Ultra Naté (born March 20, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ, and promoter who has achieved success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free", "If You Could Read My Mind" (as part of Stars on 54), and "Automatic×Automatic26 March 2007 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Automatic - Extended6:162Automatic - Digital Dog Mix6:323Automatic - Funky Junction Mix6:294Automatic - Daz & Diddy Mix7:185Automatic - Paul Jackson Version Excursion Mix6:196Automatic - Monkey Brothers Electro Lovely Mix8:407Automatic - Radio Edit3:16".
Virtually all of her singles have reached the Top 10 of the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. These singles include "Show Me", "Free", "Desire×Desire2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Desire (U-Max radio edit)3:502Desire (original radio edit)3:483Desire (Joey Negro radio edit)3:534Desire (Thunderpuss 2000 radio edit)3:365Desire (Kerri's Brazilian mix)7:276Desire (Kerri's Underground mix)8:227Desire (original extended mix)7:32", "Get It Up (the Feeling)×Get It Up (The Feeling)2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Get It Up (The Feeling) (original Radio edit)3:382Get It Up (The Feeling) (original Extended Vocal)7:023Get It Up (The Feeling) (Tru Faith Vocal mix)6:044Get It Up (The Feeling) (Full Intention Club mix)7:035Get It Up (The Feeling) (Spen and Karizma Deepah Dub)6:126Get It Up (The Feeling) (Headrillaz Vocal mix)5:347Get It Up (The Feeling) (Full Intention Sultra mix)7:418Get It Up (The Feeling) (Adam Dived mix)8:06", "Love's the Only Drug", and her number-one hits "Automatic", "Give It All You Got×Give It All You GotNovember 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Give It All You Got (original radio edit)3:562Give It All You Got (Bimbo Jones radio mix)3:353Give It All You Got (Redtop's Imagination radio edit)3:074Give It All You Got (Risqué radio mix)3:355Give It All You Got (Soulcast radio edit)3:206Give It All You Got (original extended mix)7:107Give It All You Got (Bimbo Jones extended mix)8:168Give It All You Got (Soulcast Progressive club mix)7:349Give It All You Got (Matty's All U Got Soulpop mix)8:4010Give It All You Got (Nujax Souer Tordue dub mix)6:33" featuring Chris Willis, "Waiting On You", and "Everybody Loves the Night". In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 12th-most successful dance artist of all time so far.

Early life

Born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States, Naté displayed her singing talent at an early age. Growing up, she enjoyed a wide variety of music and listened to artists such as Marvin Gaye and Boy George, who Naté later said helped her become more open to being experimental with her style and music production.
She is best known for her 1990s dance crossover track Free. Her 1998 cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," with Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez as Stars on 54, was a minor mainstream American hit. It reached No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. She has had club success in the United States, but the majority of her singles and, especially, album sales success has been in Europe.

Career

Ultra Naté began her recording career on a major label, Warner Bros. Records, signed through its British offices. Through it, she released her first two albums. Her debut album, Blue Notes in the Basement×Blue Notes in the Basement6 August 1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Blue Notes1:432Sands of Time4:033Is It Love?4:384Deeper Love (Missing You)4:045You & Me Together4:426It’s Over Now3:577Scandal5:358Rejoicing (I’ll Never Forget)6:319Rain4:1310Love Hungover6:1911It’s My World5:0212Funny (How Things Change)3:35 (1991), was created along with the Basement Boys, and it featured the singles "It's Over Now", "Deeper Love (Missing You)", "Is It Love×Is It Love1992 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Is It Love (The edit)3:362Is It Love (club mix)7:133Scandal (club mix)8:124Scandal (Love Me Dearly mix)7:285It's Over Now (Piano vocal mix)12:48", and the gospel-tinged "Rejoicing×Rejoicing1991 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracksA1Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget) (Deee-liteful Stomp Mix)8:03A2Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget) (Ultrapella / Deee-dub)6:05A3Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget) (Gospel Stomp Mix)7:15B1Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget) (Backslide Remix)7:51B2Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget) (Backslide Hump Mix)5:39B3Deeper Love (Missing You) (The Leftfield Vocal Mix)9:27".
In 1993, the alternative dance/house album One Woman's Insanity was released. Although it still featured the Basement Boys' production on several tracks, this time Ultra worked with Nellee Hooper and D-Influence. At a time when soulful house music performers such as Robin S and Crystal Waters were scoring crossover Top Ten pop singles, it was believed that Ultra Naté would achieve a similar level of commercial success. However, mainstream sales were not realized, even though "Show Me" received moderate mainstream pop radio airplay. Singles included "How Long×How Long9 April 1994 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1How Long (Wigstock Hip Hop Edit)3:592How Long (Album Radio Edit)4:103How Long (118th Street Mix)5:394How Long (Paradox Disco Mix)9:105How Long (Fire Island Remix)7:236How Long (Original Extended Vocal)6:377How Long (Philly Cream Mix)6:548How Long (Ultra's House Swing)8:409How Long (Mood II Master Mix)6:5010How Long (Sound Factory Mood Mix)9:26", "Show Me" (her first song to reach the top position on the US Dance charts), and "Joy". However, neither release sold well, and she was dropped from the label.
In 1995, Ultra Naté contributed the song "Party Girl (Turn Me Loose)×Party Girl (Turn Me Loose)1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (original radio edit)4:172Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Satoshi radio edit)3:503Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Nel's Bump & Grind mix)7:354Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Come on Home mix)6:355Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (The Hardshell)8:276Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Al's original vocal mix)6:467Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Satoshi Tomiie Interpretation)8:528Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Private dub)7:069Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Party Til I Die mix)8:4410Party Girl (Turn Me Loose) (Tom's extended Party edit)8:39" to the soundtrack of the independent film Party Girl starring Parker Posey. The single was commercially released by the King Street Sounds label.
When Warner Bros. attempted to push her in another direction, Ultra Naté left the major label and moved to the independent dance label Strictly Rhythm. It was here that "Free", her biggest mainstream hit, was released in 1997. The song, co-written by Naté, Lem Springsteen, and John Ciafone, with production by both Springsteen and Ciafone, enjoyed heavy airplay throughout the summer, not only in clubs but also on rhythmic and mainstream radio stations in America and Europe. "Free" peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It became a substantial hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, helping its parent album Situation: Critical reach number seventeen on the UK Albums Chart. It was also successful in Canada, where it peaked at number ten on the Canadian Singles Chart.
It was with this album that Ultra×Ultra12 August 2022 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Happy Feeling3:502Lazer3:213Miracle3:344Supernatural Funk Cartel,3:595Sold Out4:206Rich M'fk's3:437Survivor3:468Fun4:259The Garden6:2210Human Behavior3:3011Bitter Fruit4:0412Restless4:5013New Life (Running)5:0214Free (Live Your Life) (Franco De Mulero & Gregor Salto Anniversary Mix)3:59 Naté achieved her greatest commercial success, particularly in Europe, where singles such as "Found a Cure×Found a Cure31 March 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Found a Cure (Full Intention radio mix)3:322Found a Cure (Mood II Swing radio mix)4:073Found a Cure (Full Intention club mix)7:264Found a Cure (Mood II Swing original vocal mix)8:285Found a Cure (Morillo’s Classic Adventure)6:016Found a Cure (Morillo Swings With the Constipated Monkeys edit)6:327Found a Cure (Classic String mix)3:52" (No. 6 in the UK) and "New Kind of Medicine×New Kind of Medicine1998 · Single · RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1New Kind Of Medicine (radio edit)3:502New Kind Of Medicine (original extended vocal mix)7:003New Kind Of Medicine (Rascal dub mix)5:154New Kind Of Medicine (Tiefschwarz is Coming Home Vocal mix)7:385Pressure (extended vocal mix)8:136Pressure (Rascal dub mix)6:257Pressure (radio mix)3:258Free (Yossarian Trip Rock mix)4:009Found A Cure (Club 69 Insane club mix)8:5110New Kind Of Medicine (Tiefschwarz New Kind of Sub Dub mix)7:4111New Kind Of Medicine (a capella)2:56" (No. 14 in the UK) also charted.
In 1998, a new single, "Pressure," was released internationally. Taken from the soundtrack to the film The 24 Hour Woman, it contained three club mixes. The original version of the track was found on Situation: Critical, but listed as "Release the Pressure."
Her follow-up album Stranger Than Fiction×Stranger Than Fiction20 December 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Love Is Stranger Than Fiction2:342Ain't Looking for Nothing5:393Get It Up (The Feeling)4:304Desire4:145Dear John4:546Eternal5:567Twisted6:428Pretender4:459Breakfast for Two4:3410I Don't Understand It6:5611Runaway4:4312Gone Like Yesterday5:0813Love Is Stranger Than Fiction (Epilogue)0:5314How Deep Is Your Love?4:1915Ghost5:11, released in 2001, featured the production work of artists such as Attica Blues, 4 Hero, and Mood II Swing. Four singles were released: "Desire×Desire2000 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Desire (U-Max radio edit)3:502Desire (original radio edit)3:483Desire (Joey Negro radio edit)3:534Desire (Thunderpuss 2000 radio edit)3:365Desire (Kerri's Brazilian mix)7:276Desire (Kerri's Underground mix)8:227Desire (original extended mix)7:32," "Get It Up (The Feeling)×Get It Up (The Feeling)2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Get It Up (The Feeling) (original Radio edit)3:382Get It Up (The Feeling) (original Extended Vocal)7:023Get It Up (The Feeling) (Tru Faith Vocal mix)6:044Get It Up (The Feeling) (Full Intention Club mix)7:035Get It Up (The Feeling) (Spen and Karizma Deepah Dub)6:126Get It Up (The Feeling) (Headrillaz Vocal mix)5:347Get It Up (The Feeling) (Full Intention Sultra mix)7:418Get It Up (The Feeling) (Adam Dived mix)8:06," "Twisted," and "I Don't Understand It×I Don't Understand It2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1I Don't Understand It (Harlem Hustlers club mix)7:48A2I Don't Understand It (Harlem Hustlers Piano-A-Pella)2:50BI Don't Understand It (Cass/Slide Psychedelic High remix)8:07."
Naté contributed the song "Wonderful Place" to the AIDS benefit compilation Keep Hope Alive: A Lifebeat Benefit Compilation. Additionally, in 2004, she released the singles "Feel Love," "Brass in Pocket×Brass In Pocket24 October 2025 · Single · RemixSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Brass in Pocket (Headrillaz original mix)6:562Brass in Pocket (Headrillaz original mix) (edit)2:543Brass in Pocket (Marc & Somatik mix)3:044Brass in Pocket (B-15 Project Garage mix)6:035Brass in Pocket (DJ Karizma mix)6:576Brass in Pocket (DJ Karizma mix) (edit)3:077Brass in Pocket (DJ Dylan Drazen Deep Rhythm mix)8:038Brass in Pocket (C-Dock Style mix)7:099Brass in Pocket (Dockins' 4007 vocal mix)7:0910Brass in Pocket (Chris the Greek Ultimix club mix)7:1511Brass in Pocket (Chris the Greek Ultimix club mix) (edit)4:1512Brass in Pocket (Redtop dub Style mix)8:5213Brass in Pocket (Q & K session Trust vocal mix)9:2514Whatchagonnadoo6:2215It's Over Now (live @ SHINE NYC 2001 W/ Kenny Muhammad: The Human Orchestra)4:5216Brass in Pocket (Headrillaz original mix) (instrumental)6:5817Brass in Pocket (Marc & Somatik karaoke mix)3:0418Brass in Pocket (B-15 Project Garage dub mix)3:3519Brass in Pocket (C-Dock Style mix) (instrumental)7:1120Brass in Pocket (Dockins' 4007 mix) (instrumental)7:0821Brass in Pocket (Q & K session Trust vocal dub mix)3:23," "Time of Our Lives" (released as "Ultra Devoted featuring Ultra Naté and Gerry DeVeaux"), and a new version of "Free" that featured twelve new mixes. In 2005, she collaborated with Gaudino and released the single "Bitter Sweet Melody." Later that year, she appeared again on the charts when her featured vocals on the StoneBridge single "Freak On×Freak On16 May 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Freak On (album edit)3:412Freak On (Ferry Corsten vocal mix)6:453Freak On (StoneBridge club mix)8:104Freak On (JJ•Stockholm club mix)7:025Freak On (late night version)8:376Freak On Video (late night version)" became a successful dance hit. She also performed on the British show Hit Me Baby One More Time.
Having become a mother for the first time in the fall of 2005, Naté released her fifth album Grime, Silk, & Thunder on her newly created imprint Blufire in partnership with Tommy Boy Records. The first single released was "Love's the Only Drug", which became available through the US iTunes Store on August 8, 2006, and reached number two on the American Hot Dance Club Play chart, also making the Top 30 on the Hot Dance Airplay chart. The second single, "Automatic×Automatic26 March 2007 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Automatic - Extended6:162Automatic - Digital Dog Mix6:323Automatic - Funky Junction Mix6:294Automatic - Daz & Diddy Mix7:185Automatic - Paul Jackson Version Excursion Mix6:196Automatic - Monkey Brothers Electro Lovely Mix8:407Automatic - Radio Edit3:16" (a cover version of the Pointer Sisters hit), reached number one on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart (the week ending April 28, 2007). It also received airplay on Rhythmic/Dance radio, where it reached the Top 30 on most playlists in this format. Following "Automatic," Ultra released "Give It All You Got×Give It All You GotNovember 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Give It All You Got (original radio edit)3:562Give It All You Got (Bimbo Jones radio mix)3:353Give It All You Got (Redtop's Imagination radio edit)3:074Give It All You Got (Risqué radio mix)3:355Give It All You Got (Soulcast radio edit)3:206Give It All You Got (original extended mix)7:107Give It All You Got (Bimbo Jones extended mix)8:168Give It All You Got (Soulcast Progressive club mix)7:349Give It All You Got (Matty's All U Got Soulpop mix)8:4010Give It All You Got (Nujax Souer Tordue dub mix)6:33," featuring Chris Willis, in December 2007. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Music/Club Play charts the week ending February 23, 2008.
In mid-2009, it was announced that US singer Michelle Williams, previously of Destiny's Child, had collaborated on a song with Ultra called "I'm Waiting On You," for use on both of their next studio albums. In 2010, Ultra released a Bob Sinclar remix of her hit "Free" on Strictly Rhythm. She also collaborated with Quentin Harris on "Give It 2 U" for his album Sacrifice. Additionally, she released "Destination" in collaboration with Tony Moran, which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Dance Play chart. "Destination" was the second single off Tony's album, Mix Magic Music.
In 2010, she released an EP titled Things Happen At Night, featuring Ultra's pop and soul melodies and vocals over percussive club beats by Unruly Productions. In January 2011, Ultra's next single, "Turn It Up," was released with a music video directed by Leo Herrera. "Turn It Up" was the first single from her sixth studio album, Hero Worship×Hero Worship23 July 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Radio3:202Everybody Loves the Night4:413Unconditional3:124Turn It Up3:505Right Now4:306My Love3:017Hey DJ3:338The Rush5:109Journey5:0310Planet Called Love3:5011Waiting On You4:1212Nobody Has To Know4:5813No Wasted Hearts3:5414Save Me3:49.
In September 2011, she submitted the song "My Love" to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. However, although it was close, the song failed to reach the final.
In 2013, she held a residency at Café Olé at Space, Ibiza. She has performed at the New York's massive Summer Stage in Central Park, Nile Rodgers' acclaimed FOLD Festival, where she shared the stage with CHIC, Duran Duran, Pharrell, and Beck, as well as Lincoln Center's annual Midnight Summer Swing and numerous Pride events around the world.
Ultra's 2017 album collaboration, Ultra Naté & Quentin Harris as Black Stereo Faith×Black Stereo Faith7 July 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1SNL6:092Stay4:283Tears5:514Transformation3:375I'm Too Sexy (Touch This Skin)4:226Hey5:537Taking Me High4:498Lil Miss Baby5:139Life4:1810Luv 2 Bee4:0611Give It 2 U9:5412All The Money4:57, reached the iTunes Top 10 upon release.
In 2022, she released her tenth studio album, "Ultra", through Blufire/Peacebisquit. In 2023, the deluxe edition of the album was released, with 4 additional songs.

Studio albums

Blue Notes in the Basement (1991)
One Woman's Insanity (1993)
Situation: Critical (1998)
Stranger Than Fiction (2001)
Grime, Silk, & Thunder (2007)
Hero Worship (2013)
Black Stereo Faith (2017)
Ultra (2022)

Compilation albums

The Best Remixes, Vol. 1 (1997)
Best Remixes, Vol. 2 (1999)
Alchemy - G.S.T. Reloaded (2008)