Ultra Naté: The Pioneering Voice of House Music
Ultra Naté is an American singer, songwriter, and producer who emerged from the Baltimore club scene to become a defining voice in house and dance music. Her career, spanning over three decades, is anchored by the global phenomenon "Free," a track that became a 1990s anthem and cemented her status as a dance floor icon.
Early career
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ultra Naté began her musical journey in the late 1980s, immersed in the city's vibrant club culture. Her professional debut arrived in 1990 with the single "It's Over Now" on the independent label Warner Bros. Records, followed swiftly by her first album, Blue Notes In The Basement, in 1991, which established her soulful, deep house sound.
Breakthrough
Ultra Naté's career ascended to new heights in 1997 with the release of "Free" on the Strictly Rhythm label. The song, sampling Colours' "Hold On," became an international smash, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and breaking into the Top 10 in the United Kingdom, eventually earning a gold certification there.
Key tracks
Free — This 1997 global hit is her signature song, a platinum-selling anthem that defined the era of uplifting piano house.
If You Could Read My Mind — A 1998 collaboration with Stars on 54 (which included Amber and Jocelyn Enriquez), this track reimagined the Gordon Lightfoot classic and became a major club and pop chart success.
Automatic — A key single from her 2001 album Stranger Than Fiction, this track showcased her evolution into a tougher, more electronic sound.
Found A Cure — This 2007 single marked a powerful return to the top of the dance charts, proving her enduring relevance in the house genre.
Destination — Released in 2013, this track with Chris Willis and David Guetta demonstrated her ability to collaborate with the biggest names in contemporary electronic music.
Following her massive breakthrough, Ultra Naté continued to release influential albums like Situation: Critical in 2000 and founded her own label, Blufire, in 2004. She has collaborated with a wide array of artists, from Deep Dish and Roger Sanchez to Basement Jaxx and Armand Van Helden, consistently delivering high-energy house music.
Fans of Ultra Naté's brand of soulful, powerful house music also enjoy the work of Crystal Waters, another American house vocalist known for her indelible 1990s dance anthems. The classic garage house sound of Robin S shares a similar legacy of commanding vocal performances over driving beats. For a more contemporary take on diva-led house, listeners gravitate towards Kylie Minogue and her consistent chart success in the dance-pop realm.
Ultra Naté's catalog remains a staple on dance and classic hits radio stations across the globe. Her tracks are frequently featured on specialty house music programs, retro 90s FM stations, and online radio streams dedicated to electronic music history.
The music of Ultra Naté, a pioneer of American house music, can be heard regularly on the radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover her timeless hits and deep cuts by tuning into the dance and classic pop stations available on onairium.com.
