Biography

Natasha Antoinette Anastasiades was born to perform. From a young age, every opportunity that presented itself, she would perform in front of family and friends. She’d spend hours watching her favourite Disney films and dreamt of one day being a star. Natasha was ambitious, determined and loved life.

A loving and compassionate young lady, Natasha donated blood every year from the tender age of 13 and carried a donor card with her at all times. She felt she had to contribute something back to society from the time her mother, Klida, received a kidney transplant.

Educated at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, with contemporaries Amy Winehouse, Billy Piper, Matt Willis from Busted, Royston, Craig Davis to name a few, Natasha went on to appear in Evita with Madonna and Antonio Banderas, various TV commercials and TV series including Grange Hill. Although Natasha was offered many more parts including a lead part in a West End theatre production, it became evident that music was her driving passion, perhaps this was due to her father Mario being in the music industry. Natasha was surrounded by music all her life, it was in her blood, and music was in her soul. She shone as a thought provoking songwriter and a powerful performer.

After a brief music career as a duo with her classmate Lara Copcutt, performing in numerous clubs including the Ministry of Sound, The Pepsi Chart Show, prime time TV appearances etc., they came to the attention of Andy Neuman (then Mica Paris’ manager) and Grammy Award winning producers, The Berman Brothers (Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dog’s Out?”). They proceeded to produce and or write for the girls the tracks “Breaking All the Rules” and “Without You”. Natasha wrote the English lyrics for the track “Without You”. The tracks were produced in Manhattan, US and Hamburg, Germany.

Due to Lara wanting to pursue another avenue, they amicably decided to go their own way with Lara pursuing a modelling career and Natasha going solo.

During this time, Natasha caught the attention of Marc Nelson (Boyz II Men). A production deal was signed and a couple of demos produced, “Follow My Lead” and “No One Like Me” in Philadelphia, US. The project gained the attention of Evelyn Junker, who at the time was head of A&R, EMI Germany. Natasha flew out to Cologne to meet Evelyn and the following email was sent to Natasha’s father from Evelyn:

Natasha is not only damn good looking but she is very positive and has a very open character”.

Natasha was very keen to get back into the studio to record her new track. She had been introduced to Chaz Dabat by her father and she was very excited to begin work with Chaz.

The new track, entitled “Yell Cut” was the track completed by Natasha on the morning of the day of her fatal car accident. The version of the song that Natasha’s parent found on her Dictaphone in her room was that of the last goodbye from a mother to her child.

On the evening of 6^th March 2005 (Mother’s Day) Natasha was a passenger in her own car. Her learner-driver friend, Panos Savvides, 17, who was behind the wheel driving, lost control of the vehicle in Buckingham Avenue, Whetstone, and crashed into a tree. He had a provisional driver’s license and was not insured on Natasha’s car. In a moment, Natasha’s life was extinguished.

However, Natasha’s music lives on and her Tribute album is a wonderful journey of a young girl’s passion, drive and determination to succeed and live life doing what she loved......writing, singing and performing.

You can read more about reckless driving and the work of The Natasha Foundation here