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Pianist/composer/producer/mentor
Founder of @amica.records
Neurodiversity advocate
Purveyor of kind music
@cabinartistsagency @yamahamusicau

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$Today was meant to mark the release of my 10th album, 🌱Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender🌱- an exploration of climate resilience, guided by the voices of leading Australian climate scientists, and created with Monash Art Ensemble. Sadly, the universe had other plans, (a fractured wrist 🫠) and we will now release the record in April 2027. But I am *so* pleased to be able to share the title track from the album, out now on @amica.records While the first single, Solastalgia, is a heartfelt ballad to process our climate grief, this next single is a call to action! The phrase “acceptance does not mean surrender” comes from the title of a chapter in @trebbe_johnson’s incredible book Radical Joy for Hard Times. Some of the scientists I collaborated with were reading this book, and it became a life-changing experience for me. Please check it out if you can! A huge thanks to everybody who helped me bring this music to life, and especially cinematographer Stefan Raabe @stef_phteven, who brought together these deeply mindful moments in Australian nature to accompany the music. I highly recommend enjoying the full music video to appreciate his artistry: out now on YouTube! Composed & produced by @natbartsch Conducted by @paul_grabowsky  Trumpet - Paul Williamson Alto Saxophone - @rob.burke3  Violin - @natashcon , Meg Cohen Viola - @psiborg112  Cello - @jackecharlo  Harp - @haarpgirl Piano, voice samples, effects - Nat Bartsch Guitar- @eugene.m4a  Percussion - Zela Papageorgiou Double bass - @benmhanlon  Drumkit - Kai Arai Synth - @lrzimora , @danbccomposer , Nat Bartsch Drum programming - @danbccomposer, Nat Bartsch Field recordings - @michaeljkellett, @hadynbuxton  MAE recorded by @dantanmusic Additional recording by Nat Bartsch Mixed by Dan Tan and Hadyn Buxton  Atmos mix by Hadyn Buxton Mastering by @lachlanjc  Cover photo and videographer @stef_phteven @sofiajorgovic_music # And most importantly, my climate science collaborators! @windjunky, @rogerdargaville, Dr. Joëlle Gergis, @the_storm_prognosticator, Kate Bongiovanni, Francine Machin, Hannah Bourbon & Lacey Elsum 🙏 Link in bio to listen/watch the by @natbartsch$

I am lost for words. A huge thanks to everyone who has visited Forever Changed at @hyphen_wodonga the past few months, and especially everyone who has contributed to this great big wall of neurodiversity pride 😭😭😭😭😭😭
I can’t describe how special and timely it has been to be invited to turn my album into an art installation, at a time when I was quietly battling a lot of health issues as a performer, and gigs have been hard.
Creating this work with Mark Wells and @hadynbuxton was an unprecedented privilege, and a reminder that there are so many ways we can share our music with the world, so many ways to connect with audiences, to advocate for what we care about. And there is no way AI can ever create a wall like this!
Thank you Karen, Bronwen and everyone at Hyphen for this opportunity, Adam and Tony at Professional Audio Services for the surround sound system install, Luke st @tier1arts, and everyone at @regionalartsvic, VAPAC and @thecubewodonga who created a path from my touring show to this moment.
#neurodiversitypride #autisticandproud #audhd #adhd #latediagnosedautistic by @natbartsch

Here is a window into the ethereal, immersive and neuro-affirming world I’m building with my new album Forever Changed 🥹 ♾️🌈
Huge thanks to @mariacolaidis for this beautiful footage, and @finn_tla for editing. And of course, @melbrecital and everyone who supported the Creative Development of this project, as part of my Artist-in-Residence! A privilege I will never forget.
The visuals projected in this video are by the one and only @lightrift_vision, and the music you can hear is the opening of a new song, Thirty Nine, recorded and mixed by @hadynbuxton.
My album of lullabies is released on 15 November, and you can see the surround sound live show on 16 November at @melbrecital! Link in bio for tix or head to www.natbartsch.com
There are two Relaxed shows at 2pm and 6pm, and a general show at 8pm
#musicforneurodiversity #audhd #lullabies #womeninmusic #peacefulmusic #surroundsound #melbournemusic by @natbartsch

I’m proud to belong to the newly formed @artistsaa_, positioning itself at the forefront of the Australian music industry - seeking to protect our beautiful talented community at a time of extraordinary change and complexity.
Our government has truly drunk the kool aid when it comes to AI, they went from being world-leading advocates for our copyright to being up for throwing all artists (and even our global peers) under a bus, just so we can have giant data centres built in our communities that also seems to be occurring without much community consultation 🤔
4/5 Australians want our copyright act to continue to protect artists and their works… I wish @albomp and the Federal Government would listen to their own consituents, and not the tech bros who promise the world, and create tech without thinking about community safety, need or impact… like it seems everyone in Silicon Valley does, whilst trying to become a be-squillionaire (looking at you Elizabeth Holmes).
Australian artists, please join me!!
#australianmusic #artistalliance by @natbartsch

$An exercise in patience like never before 🫠 I’m sad to announce the rescheduling of the release of my next album, and the launch shows at @melbrecital and @theempireplantsback in November. But the rescheduled concerts in July are going to be even more special and worth the wait 💕🌏 And I’m proud of myself for actually coping with the concept of rescheduling, and properly putting my health first. It literally took 5 fractures in my wrist to do away with the “show must go on” trope us musicians tell ourselves. Which when you think about it, really needs unpacking/dismantling! Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender, the visual album created with climate scientists, Monash Art Ensemble and Stefan Raabe, will be released on @amica.records in autumn 27… and then launch shows will be happening at @melbrecital and @theempireplantsback in July. Brisbane is July 10, and Melbourne details are to be announced (but save the date - July 30!) Huge thanks to @achordagency @elchantry @theresemil Sue McKell @miarosebarham_ and all my collaborators and ticketholders for their understanding and support 🙏 by @natbartsch$

I woke up this morning thinking about how dark the world can be - the stories of violence, abuse of power & disconnect. & then I opened my inbox full of message after message from humans all over the world wanting to support us, who are working to make things better. Matrescence education is powerful because caring for mothers is a rebuilding of the sacredness of all life, a pathway to reconnect us to the land, to our hearts & to each other. How we care for our planet is how we are currently treating mothers themselves. Domination & greed, power & control over heart led care, connection, community, reciprocity & compassion. I stand with all people who are currently being oppressed from Gaza, to the Congo, to Afghanistan, to Sudan, to Iran, to Syria to First Nations people across this beautiful planet. I deeply believe we are not free until we are all free. I wrote this song Hearts years ago for my first record Matrescence. It came through as a piece about the first sound that meant my life was going to change. My son's heartbeat. Over time it became a song about our shared humanity, our ancestors, how for generations we have all sung & told stories. We all have hearts that beat in time. Every one of us. We are all more the same than we are different. Across time humans have worked together to make the world better & though these times may seem to indicate otherwise I firmly believe we are made for love. We need to remember who we are. We belong to each other. A huge thank you to the beautiful musicians who made this reimagining of my song Hearts possible. Thank you to @natbartsch who composed our score & arranged this piece, playing my simple melody on piano, allowing each woman to improvise & the space to create the sound bath that is the bedrock of this performance - to @hadynbuxton for engineering, mixing & mastering so beautifully - to @maddisoncartermusic for his expert drumming - to @itsmemaxon @mietta.music @beehere_productions @__joannaclaire__ for creating this piece with me & embedding your hearts, voices & deep intention into this song. Thank you to Nay from @heapsstoked for your direction & @m.ridley_ for the cinematography. Filmed at @echidnastudio by @natbartsch

$Thanks to @synthtemple for letting me try out their gorgeous new @yamahamusicau S7 when Hadyn and I popped in for a moment last week. It is glorious!! I’ve found it quite hard to be around pianos and piano music since my accident in Belgium, I’m still really grieving it all and feels very raw and sad. But I’m so glad I sat down and played this one, and remembered there is actually one piece that was meant for this moment, (as well as the beginnings of nap time since 2017!) Unfortunately my wrist fracture is recovering very slowly, which comes as a surprise to no one involved in my healthcare in recent years… my body, brain and nervous system are going to need more time. 2026 can get in the bin, frankly! I will be sharing news of some postponements very soon, we just need to finish working on the final details. Enormous thanks to @achordagency and @miarosebarham_ for holding the fort, and @hadynbuxton for driving me everywhere, listening to me rant about medical misogyny, and opening my water bottle 4 times a day 😅. And thanks to everyone for their support and patience with me. by @natbartsch$

Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender (single) is out now!

This is the second single release from @natbartsch and the Monash Art Ensemble’s upcoming album ‘Acceptance Does Mean Surrender’, which is set for release in early 2027.

Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender (single), is a reflection on climate resilience, and a powerful call to action, composed by @natbartsch, featuring the voices of Australian climate scientists, and cinematography by @stefanraabe.

The title of the work comes from the inspiring book ‘Radical Joy for Hard Times: Finding Meaning and Making Beauty in Earth’s Broken Places’ by Trebbe Johnson (North Atlantic Books, 2018)

Track credits:
Composed & produced by @natbartsch
Conductor - @paul_grabowsky
Piano, voice samples, ambient effects - @natbartsch
Trumpet - Paul Williamson
Alto Saxophone - @rob.burke3
Violin - @natashcon & Meg Cohen
Viola - @psiborg112
Cello - @jackecharlo
Harp - @haarpgirl
Guitar - @eugene.m4a
Percussion - @zela_
Double bass - @benmhanlon
Drumkit - Kai Arai
Synth - Lani Zimora, Daniel Bickham-Cullis, @natbartsch
Drum programming - Daniel Bickham-Cullis, @natbartsch
Field recordings - @hadynbuxton, Michael Kellett

Commissioned by Monash University for Monash Art Ensemble 2025
Recording & mixing by @dantanmusic
Music editing and additional recording by @natbartsch
Mixing, atmos and additional recording by @hadynbuxton
Mastering by @lachlanjc
Released on Amica Records

Commissioned by Monash University for Monash Art Ensemble

Full album and film released early 2027

Link in bio and stories to enjoy, or head to www.amicarecords.com/releases
#ambientjazz #australianmusic #climatechange #peacefulmusic climatemus by @natbartsch

I’m home, and well, it will certainly be a trip to remember 🤪 but not just because of the accident, because of the happiness found in the between times, when the pain and the grief wasn’t too loud, and I was blown away by the beauty of Belgium and Germany, and my family’s resilience and connectedness!
Hadyn and I went to Beethovenhalle to see @quatuor_ebene in the studio (Op. 130 with the og Grosse Fugue at the end! 😍 perfection). I would have played Forever Changed 24hrs earlier in the same space. I felt quite emotional not just thinking about what we missed out on, but also the notion of being included in this world at all! As a living composer from so far away, invited to share my work here, alongside the greatest composer of western music in our history 🥹. Even though it didn’t work out, what a privilege that is!
So while I wish I had a time machine (or a crystal ball), I refuse to say that that stupid footpath in Brussels ruined the trip. We really did have a special time: there was joy found in every day we spent together.
Now begins the real challenge, resisting my inner nature to be on the go all day at home, to prioritise rest and rehab (and insurance claim forms 🪦)
Thanks to everyone who has supported us through this past month.
Photos:
1. @beethovenfestbonn
2 & 3. Vorst, Brussels: a beautiful suburb with questionable footpath maintenance
4 & 5. @atomium.official, mid-century design, international relations history, and immersive music installations. What more could a Nat ask for!
6. Brussels street art
7. The questionable footpath in question ☠️
8, 13 &14. Beautiful Ghent
9 & 10. Van Eyck’s Adoration of the Lamb at St Baaf’s (or as my son calls it, ‘Sheesus’ 🐑)
11 & 12. Sink Jakob’s fleamarket 🥹
15. The bakery my grandmother used to visit before WWII! Still making incredible boeterkoeken 150yrs on
16. The Damvallei in my grandma’s hometown of Destelbergen, where she took long walks with a handsome Australian-British soldier (my grandad!) with only a handful of shared words in French between them
17. The church my grandparents married in, in 1946
18. Bonn
19. Leaving a note at @beethoven_haus_bonn
20. The extraordinary @quatuor_ebene 🔥 by @natbartsch

A bit of an update from me. Thanks to everyone for their support and understanding. I wish I had a time machine and could rewind to Day 1 of this EU tour where I didn’t decide to go on a walk down the street in Brussels, as benign as that choice was… I’m grieving the accident, the slow pace of recovery, the complexities of this as a 🦓 with other health conditions, and I feel anxious whenever I walk on gravel now!
But I also feel gratitude for the care and support I’ve had access to, especially in a foreign country.
Huge thanks especially to @hadynbuxton @miarosebarham_ @achordagency @cabinartistsagency @moderna.records and my parents for keeping the wheels turning for me, from near and far. by @natbartsch

My new single 🍃Solastalgia🍃is also available as a stunning music video - featuring the artistry of cinematographer and editor Stefan Raabe @stef_phteven, footage of the Victorian high country by @roywangvisual, the voices of leading Australian climate scientists, and the beautiful playing of Monash Art Ensemble conducted by @paul_grabowsky.
You can enjoy the video on YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify in full- link in bio or head to https://youtu.be/U4gaaLBdn0Q?si=0sshef-cXuVfELgL
Solastalgia is a beautiful but very sad word, coined by Australian environmental philosopher @glenn.a.albrecht, describing a nostalgia for a place you’re still in, that’s been permanently altered by our changing climate. Trying very hard not to reflect upon the way this metaphor can also be applied to me physical self at the moment, too, what a powerful concept.
Please take care, as you listen - and thank you for listening, if you do 🌏 - and thank you to Glenn Albrecht for helping find the words to describe thus process of grief that many of us are experiencing at the moment.
The full album, Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender, will be released on Nov 3rd on @amica.records #australianmusic #climateresilience #climatechange #jazzballad #artmeetsscience by @natbartsch

Deepest thanks to @hadynbuxton for offering to say the words I can’t bring myself to say today. Like a lot of artists I find release days extremely vulnerable at the best of times, but it matters so much to me that this song is out in the world, and it mean so much to me if you could listen to it (if you’re feeling up to it, it is very sad).
Huge thanks to everyone who has helped create and release Solastalgia, but especially the incredible musicians of Monash Art Ensemble, @paul_grabowsky, Stefan Raabe, @dantanmusic, @michaeljkellett, @miarosebarham_, @moderna.records and @achordagency. Extra special thanks to Hadyn and Will for all their love and support through this project, and especially this week.
Solastalgia is out now on all streaming platforms https://idol-io.ffm.to/solastalgia and the whole album is out on November 3. by @natbartsch