Ultra Naté

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ultra Naté | image = Ultranate.JPG | caption = Ultra Naté in 2007 | image_size = 220px | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Ultra Naté | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|03|20}} | birth_place = Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States | genre = {{flat list| * Dance * garage house * R&B }} | associated_acts = {{flat list| * Deee-lite * Crystal Waters * Basement Boys * Quentin Harris * Alex Gaudino * Stonebridge * Michelle Williams * Chris Willis }} | occupation = {{flat list| * Singer * songwriter * record producer * promoter * DJ }} | years_active = 1989–present | label = {{flat list| * Warner Bros. Records * Strictly Rhythm Records * Silver Label/Tommy Boy Entertainment * Blufire/Peacebisquit * Grand Groove Records }} | website = {{URL|http://www.ultranate.com/}} }}

'''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".

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", "Get It Up (the Feeling)", "Love's the Only Drug", and her number-one hits "Automatic", "Give It All You Got" 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-top-dance-club-artists|title=Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists : Page 1|website=Billboard.com|access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref>

==Biography== ===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,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://djmag.com/longreads/how-ultra-nat-s-free-became-dancefloor-anthem-personal-liberation|title=How Ultra Naté's 'Free' became a dancefloor anthem for personal liberation|last=Caryl|first=Kristan J|date=September 22, 2021|work=DJ Mag|accessdate=June 15, 2022}}</ref> who Naté later said helped her become more open to being experimental with her style and music production.<ref>{{cite news| author=DJ Ron Slomowicz| url=http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/interviews/a/IntUltraNateR.htm| title=Interview with Ultra Nate| publisher=Dance Music / Electronica| year=2007| access-date=2007-09-21| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803141550/http://dancemusic.about.com/cs/interviews/a/IntUltraNateR.htm| archive-date=2004-08-03}}</ref>

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.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

===Career=== Ultra Naté began her recording career on a major label, Warner Bros. Records, signed through its British offices.<ref name="Larkin90">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=2000|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0427-8|page=407}}</ref> Through it, she released her first two albums. Her debut album, ''Blue Notes in the Basement'' (1991), was created along with the Basement Boys, and it featured the singles "It's Over Now", "Deeper Love (Missing You)", "Is It Love", and the gospel-tinged "Rejoicing".<ref name="Larkin90"/>

In 1993, the alternative dance/house album ''One Woman's Insanity'' was released.<ref name="Larkin90"/> Although it still featured the Basement Boys' production on several tracks, this time Ultra worked with Nellee Hooper and D-Influence.<ref name="Larkin90"/> 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", "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)" 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.<ref name="Larkin90"/> 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.<ref name="Larkin90"/> It was also successful in Canada, where it peaked at number ten on the Canadian Singles Chart.<ref>{{cite news | url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r351038/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} | title= AllMusicGuide entry | website=AllMusic| date=2007-07-27 | access-date=2007-07-27}}</ref>

It was with this album that Ultra Naté achieved her greatest commercial success, particularly in Europe, where singles such as "Found a Cure" (No. 6 in the UK) and "New Kind of Medicine" (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'', released in 2001, featured the production work of artists such as Attica Blues, 4 Hero, and Mood II Swing. Four singles were released: "Desire," "Get It Up (The Feeling)," "Twisted," and "I Don't Understand It."

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," "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" 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" (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," 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a162286/michelle-williams-162286/|title=Michelle Williams|first=Nick|last=Levine|date=29 June 2009|website=Digital Spy}}</ref> 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.''

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.<ref>[http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/17658 Eurovision Song Contest - Baku 2012 | News - Switzerland: American singer Ultra Naté on the race to Baku]. Esctoday.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-17.</ref>

In 2013, she held a residency at Café Olé at Space, Ibiza.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceibiza.com/en/news/item/1950-la-diva-del-house-ultra-nat%C3%A9-estrena-residencia-en-caf%C3%A9-ol%C3%A9-ibiza.html|title=House Music Diva Ultra Naté Starts Her Residence on Café Olé Ibiza|date=July 22, 2013|website=Space Ibiza|access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Her spirited presence has graced the stages of 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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Ultra's 2017 album collaboration, ''Ultra Naté & Quentin Harris as Black Stereo Faith,'' reached the iTunes Top 10 upon release.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tantum|first=Bruce|url=https://5mag.net/features/black-stereo-faith/|title=Quentin Harris and Ultra Nate are Black Stereo Faith|date=September 5, 2017|work=5 Magazine|access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=3|Billboard Music Awards | 1997 | rowspan=2|Top Hot Dance Club Play Single | "Free" | {{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/bbyearend.htm |title=Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1997 |website=Rockonthenet.com |access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> |- | rowspan=2|1998 | "Found a Cure" | {{nom}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/bbyearend.htm |title=Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1998 |website=Rockonthenet.com |access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref> |- | Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist | Herself | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=5|International Dance Music Awards | rowspan=3|1998 | Best Dance Solo Artist | Herself | {{won}} | rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wintermusicconference.com/idmaballot/nominees/archived/index.php?year=1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418115208/http://wintermusicconference.com/idmaballot/nominees/archived/index.php?year=1998|archive-date=2015-04-18|title=Winter Music Conference 2015 - WMC 2015|date=April 18, 2015|access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> |- | Best House/Garage 12" | rowspan=2|"Free" | {{won}} |- | Best Pop 12" Dance Record | {{won}} |- | 2008 | Best Dance Solo Artist | Herself | {{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2008#idmanominees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126005612/http://www.wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2008#idmanominees|archive-date=2016-11-26|title=31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016|date=November 26, 2016|access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref> |- | 2011 | Best House/Garage Dance Track | "Give It 2 U" | {{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2011#idmanominees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221195049/http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2011#idmanominees|archive-date=2016-12-21|title=31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2017 - WMC 2017|date=December 21, 2016|access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Music Week Awards | 2023 | Music & Brand Partnership | Becky Hill x Stefflon Don x Ultra Naté x Pepsi MAX – UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Final Show | {{nom}} | <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.musicweekawards.com/2023/shortlist | title=Music Week Awards 2024 }}</ref> {{end}}

==Discography==

===Albums===

====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) * ''Every Emotion'' (2024)

====Compilation albums==== *''The Best Remixes, Vol. 1'' (1997) *''Best Remixes, Vol. 2'' (1999) *''Alchemy - G.S.T. Reloaded'' (2008)

===Extended plays=== *''Things Happen at Night'' (2010)

=== Singles === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:300px;"| Title ! colspan="5"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications (sales thresholds) ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="width:4em;font-size:85%;" ! style="width:30px;"|US ! style="width:30px;"|US Dance<ref name="BB - Singles (Dance)">{{cite web |title=Ultra Naté Album & Song Chart History|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ultra naté|chart=Dance/Club Play Songs}}|work=Billboard.com|access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> ! style="width:30px;"|AUS <ref name="AUS">Peaks in Australia: * "Free" and "If You Could Read My Mind": {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ultra+Nat%E9|title=Discography Ultra Naté|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=September 1, 2022}} * "Freak On" and "Time of Our Lives": {{cite Ryan|page=199}}</ref><ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/dCQfCJD | title=Ultra Naté ARIA Chart History complete to 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 20, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> ! style="width:30px;"|CAN ! style="width:30px;"|UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 388}}</ref> |- | 1989 |align="left"|"It's Over Now" | — | — | — | — | 62 | | rowspan="3"|''Blue Notes in the Basement'' |- | 1991 |align="left"|"Is It Love?" | — | 45 | — | — | 71 | |- | 1992 |align="left"|"Rejoicing (I'll Never Forget)" | — | 7 | — | — | — | |- | 1993 |align="left"|"Joy" | — | 2 | — | — | 77 | | rowspan="3"|''One Woman's Insanity'' |- | rowspan="2"|1994 |align="left"|"Show Me" | — | 1 | — | — | 62 | |- |align="left"|"How Long" | — | 2 | — | — | — | |- | 1997 |align="left"|"Free" | 75 | 1 | 31 | 10 | 4 | *BPI: Platinum<ref name="BPI">{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|access-date=27 February 2022|artist=Ultra Nate}}</ref> | rowspan="5"|''Situation: Critical'' |- | rowspan="5"|1998 |align="left"|"Free (Remix)"<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Charts Company, Artist Chart History, Ultra Nate|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/ultra%20nate/|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> | — | — | — | — | 33 | |- |align="left"|"Found a Cure" | — | 1 | 127 | — | 6 | |- |align="left"|"New Kind of Medicine" | — | 28 | — | — | 14 | |- |align="left"|"Release the Pressure" | — | 3 | — | — | — | |- |align="left"|"If You Could Read My Mind" (Stars on 54: Ultra Naté, Amber, Jocelyn Enriquez) | 52 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 23 | * ARIA: Gold<ref name="AUS"/> | ''54 soundtrack'' |- | 2000 |align="left"|"Desire" | — | 1 | — | — | 40 | | rowspan="4"|''Stranger Than Fiction'' |- | 2001 |align="left"|"Get It Up (The Feeling)" | — | 1 | — | — | 51 | |- | rowspan="2"|2002 |align="left"|"I Don't Understand It" | — | 25 | — | — | — | |- |align="left"|"Twisted" | — | — | — | — | — | |- | 2003 |align="left"|"Brass in Pocket" | — | 8 | — | — | — | | Non-album single |- |2004 |align="left"|"Free" (Remixes) (Oscar G, Brick City, Corbett & Troia remix) | — | 22 | — | — | — | |''Free (Remixes)'' |- | style="text-align:center;"|2005 |align="left"|"Freak On" (Ultra Naté vs Stonebridge) | — | — | — | — | 37 | | rowspan="4"|''Grime, Silk, & Thunder'' |- | 2006 |align="left"|"Love's the Only Drug" | — | 2 | — | — | — | |- | rowspan="2"|2007 |align="left"|"Automatic" | — | 1 | — | — | — | |- |align="left"|"Give It All You Got" (with Chris Willis) | — | 1 | — | — | — | |- |2008 |align="left"|"Twisted (Got Me Goin' Round)" | — | 3 | — | — | — | | ''GST: Grime Silk & Thunder Reloaded'' |- | rowspan="2"|2009 |align="left"|"Faster Faster Pussycat (Let’s Go!)" | — | — | — | — | — | | rowspan="2"|''Things Happen at Night'' |- |align="left"|"Hey DJ" | — | — | — | — | — | |- | rowspan="3"|2011 |align="left"|"Turn It Up" | — | 4 | — | — | — | | rowspan="5"|''Hero Worship'' |- |align="left"|"My Love" | — | — | — | — | — | |- |align="left"|"Waiting on You" (with Michelle Williams) | — | 11 | — | — | — | |- | 2013 |align="left"|"Everybody Loves the Night" | — | 29 | — | — | — | |- | rowspan="2"|2014 |align="left"|"Unconditional" | — | 2 | — | — | — | |-

|align="left"|"So Glamorous" (with Samuele Sartini) | — | — | — | — | — | | rowspan="3"| Non-album singles |- | 2015 |align="left"|"Take Care of My Heart" (with Eddie Amador) | — | 21 | — | — | — | |- |2016 |align="left"|"Alive" | — | — | — | — | — | |- |2017 |align="left"|"I'm Too Sexy (Touch This Skin)" | — | 7 | — | — | — | |''Black Stereo Faith'' |- |2017 |align="left"|"Fake" (S-Man & Ultra Naté) | — | — | — | — | — | |Non-album single |}

====As featured artist==== {|class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:300px;"| Single ! colspan="3"|Peak chart positions |- style="width:4em;font-size:85%;" ! style="text-align:center; width:30px;"|US Dance ! style="text-align:center; width:30px;"|AUS <ref name="AUS"/> ! style="text-align:center; width:30px;"|UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> |- | style="text-align:center;"|1992 |align="left"|"Altitude" (777 featuring Ultra Naté) | style="text-align:center;"|44 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|1995 |align="left"|"Party Girl (Turn Me Loose)" | style="text-align:center;"|6 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |align="left"|"10,000 Screaming Faggots" (The Moonwalkers feat. Ultra Naté) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | style="text-align:center;"|1997 |align="left"|"Partay Feeling" (B-Crew featuring Barbara Tucker, Dajae, Ultra Naté and Moné) | style="text-align:center;"|22 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|45 |- | style="text-align:center;"|2004 |align="left"|"Time of Our Lives" (Ultra Devoted) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|59 | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2005 |align="left"|"Bittersweet Melody" (Gaudino feat. Ultra Naté) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |align="left"|"Wonderful Place" (U.D.A.U.F.L.) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|2010 |align="left"|"No Wasted Hearts" (Nicola Fasano feat. Ultra Naté) | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |align="left"|"Destination" (Tony Moran feat. Ultra Naté) | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|— | style="text-align:center;"|— |- |2018 |"Feeling Mighty" (David Harness, Ultra Naté) |style="text-align:center;"|— |style="text-align:center;"|— |style="text-align:center;"|— |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.ultranate.com Ultra Naté] — official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nate, Ultra}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:People from Havre de Grace, Maryland Category:African-American women singer-songwriters Category:American women singer-songwriters Category:American garage house musicians Category:American house musicians Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:Warner Records artists Category:Tommy Boy Records artists Category:AM PM Records artists Category:American dance musicians Category:Singer-songwriters from Maryland Category:Deep house musicians Category:American women in electronic music Category:20th-century African-American women singers Category:20th-century American women singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:Musicians from Baltimore