Ultra Naté 'Free' | The Making Of A House Music Anthem
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- Ultra Naté gives us an exclusive insight into the making of her chart-smashing hit, 'Free', released on Strictly Rhythm in 1997.
After being dropped by Warner Music in the 90's, Ultra Naté decided to 'go against the grain' and team up with Mood II Swing to a create song which would change her life.
Here, Ultra Naté tells DJ Mag the full story of 'Free', from being in the studio recording vocals, watching Louie Vega debut the track at Winter Music Conference in Miami, to seeing 'Free' become the song that soundtracked the world coming out of a global pandemic.
Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics. In our series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world's favourite dance tracks, told by the people that made them.
Explore more stories of the biggest tracks in dance music below.
• The Making Of Dance Cl...
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An iconic track! What other classics do you want to see in our series? 👇
Dr. Alban It's My Life
Eric Prydz - Call on me
Alex Gaudino - Destination Calabria
Guru Josh Project - Infinity 2008
Yves Larock - Rise Up
Tom Novy - Your Body
Armand Van Helden - My My My
Kungs/Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
Darude - Sandstorm/Feel The Beat
Route 94 - My Love
Duke Dumont - Need U 100
Daft Punk - One More Time
Celeda Music is the Answer
Rui Da Silva - Touch Me
I can’t listen this and not cry. This was my coming out anthem, a gift that my boyfriend(a legit club kid) gave me. Introducing me to a new world of life and happiness.
Being gay and finding your people is a beauty of a soulful 4 on the floor Church.
Congratulations and much love for living your truth! Not someone else's. Yours.
"Its also art and art feeds people, art is important, it shapes culture". What a queen.
Had never seen an interview with Ultra Nate’. So smart. So talented. So beautiful. Respect!
Still gives you goosebumps in 2024!
Agreed!
For any producer out there, she's droppin straight knowledge
She's a true artist. With substance and compassion
What a lovely articulate and grounded lady. An amazing song and wonderful spirit. Long live free.
Thanks DJ Mag for the in depth Ultra Naté interview and providing fans with a bit more insight into the making of our classic, "Free" and Ultra's three decade plus legacy making dance music. The '90's house music scene was a fertile and exciting time - especially here in NYC. We're honored to have followed our respective muses, went against the grain and honed our collective creative energy and talents to produce a classic that still resonates to this day.
Ultra Nate's a legend. Free was/is awesome and the Basement Boys collabs were fab too. Mood II Swing were also incredible back in the day.
I can't believe she's 55. She's 12 years older than me and looks 12 years younger. 😆
This song, Todd Terry's remix to Everything but the Girl's Missing, DNA's remix to Suzanne vega's Tom Diner, Big Fun by Inner City and Tom's Diner are some of the songs that got me into Electronic/House/Dance/Techno. Thank you!
Man she looks better today than she did in the early 90's! Amazing tune sung by a true Diva of house!
Her recognition of the LGBTQ+ community and its connection to this and many dance tracks was heartwarming to hear. And yea. We love our big black female vocalists. ❤️❤️
Absolutely. If something is uplifting, we back it 100%.... and we stay loyal.
Wow she looks younger now than she did when the iconic track came out ❤
At 55, she looks better now than she did back then.
Hairstyles change people
haha i was thinking the same thing, im 43 and i would def date her.
She's around 1.5 years older than I. But I don't have a lot of melanine in my skin, and as such, I do have wrinkles. She looks amazing.
She's absolutely radiant ! 😍
She's also an outstanding DJ. Her DJ sound is very much in the deep house vein of the Basement Boys, and she played one of the sexiest, sweatiest sets I've ever heard. As a DJ, I prefer Ultra over Louie Vega, and I love Louie Vega. She's that good!
She's hot tbf
Iconic track.
Even today it sounds fresh. Iconic, CLASSIC.
One of the greatest dance songs of all time
Agreed!
10:31 … I’ve always loved this song! But now have so much more appreciation after seeing this video and the wonderful artist(s) behind it. Much love and respect for this lovely, talented lady.
I could listen to her talk all day! What a great interview and recollection! ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
One of the best vocals and productions in dance music history.
No question. All facts.
Bless her beautiful heart,soul and music. 💜✨🫂🥺
Wow she speaks beautifully
These are absolutely fantastic. It's great to see these artists who managed to bring so much happiness to everyone reflecting on 'that' time.
Thanks, and keep these coming!
Loads more on the way!
She's so beautiful. Those Basement Boys collabs were gorgeous too.
This song is eternal ❤❤❤
i love hearing stories like hers, a story of defiance and never giving up against all odds and trusting risks. this song is sooo powerful ! who knows how many people would've given up their own struggles if she had never made this song ! freedom for all !
Still a biggest hit here in Brazil ❤️❤️😍😍😅 one of my favorites free
Again. Another song that is still massive today ❤🎉
I love this back story!! Actually, I could listen to Ultra speak and sing all day...lol. She has always been a class act, and I am so appreciative of her vision and artistry because she has remained true to her original identity while breaking the mold into other genres of music. May Ultra Nate' continue to experience abundant success because she truly deserves it! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it
This series is gold thank you Dj Mag.
Glad you enjoy it. Plenty more to come this year! 🎉
I've loved this song since it came out. It's so delightful to hear Ultra Naté talk about the history and impact of the song. She is so articulate and intelligent and positive, a real inspiration!
What a lady!! She’s so talented & and wrote/sang this amazing classic song
But she is also so inspirational when she speaks
Love this interview 🙌
What a beautiful energy and spirit. Plus she looks 😍 for 55 don’t look day over 30. I remember this song it reminds me of when I finished school in 97 and I was working at my dad’s company and all day on kiss 100 London etc would hear this amazing song.
I’m really loving these house music documentaries you guys are doing! Please keep them coming! Would love a video on “EBTG - Missing (Todd Terry Remix)”
LOOOOVE THIS SINGER!!!!
I first heard her, 'It's Over Now" when I was 15yrs old.' Free', my best friend and I played the crap out of that track over the years. Thank you Ultra Nate.
Baltimore bred, home grown. We love you Ultra Nate . ❤❤❤
I clearly remember just landing in London (from Sydney) in '97 and this track was on the airwaves. My inspirational song. Thank you for making this 🙏🙏.
The most memorable time hearing this song was Frankie Knuckles dropping it at Glee Club @ Crobar in Chicago. The crowd went nuts!!
Not sure about anybody else here but this song is still in my current dance playlist.
Of course!
FREE will always be a classic anthem 😎
Facts!
My friend played this song in her car and it was booming! I immediately loved it. 💕💕💕💕💕💕
I knew this amazing Queen when she was just the sweetest Princess you could ever know. Ultra, I am so proud to see how you have given so much hope to many through your music and that you are happy, healthy, and being recognized for your contributions.
Played this so much in the club i DJ'ed at when it first came out, Absolute banger of a tune. Maximum respect for it, will always be a special record
Artist like her are gifts for the world 🫶🏻
She is so chill, a great role model
This song was, and still is FIRE !!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥
Free is my FAVORITE SONG EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I missed her performing at Pride in miami due to a kidney stone, 2024. Have seen her perform several times live (Amnesia)!!! Amazing soul!!!!
this song did change my life for the better and the older I get, it just never gets old
so powerful and beautiful
Thank you for the music ❤️ The house days
Excellent interview. Love the journey a friend/co-worker turned me on to her in 95 and have been a fan ever since.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good to hear the backstory to one of the 1st records I ever bought on vinyl
Thanks for listening!
My god what a tune. She can literally go anywhere on this earth and sing this song and get massive response! Wow. Just wow!
This song still empowers me! Timeless!
Can't believe I only just found this series, I'm gonna watch them all! Great video!
Welcome aboard!
That opening guitar is just so delicate, emotional and beautiful. She is such an icon!
9 seconds in and my mind is already blown. I was today years old to learn it's not Nate like Nate Robinson or Nate Dog, but Naté (fonetically) 🥳🤯
Why are you surprised? The accent over the e means it makes an ‘ay’ sound.
So eloquently put! What a song. All Time Classic.
Amazing song and artist I grew up in the 90s Memories for me being Lbgtq meant a lot and coming out very touching ❤
Ultra Nate is one of the true icons of house music.
So well spoken! Thank you Ultra Naté!!! Been listening since It's Over Now!!
That song is everything ❤❤❤
When this came out, my cousin played it around me relentlessly until I began to love the song and appreciate it more. Good memories of road trips bumping this song on the stereo and hearing it in the clubs.
I will always love this song.
I remember when and where I was when I first heard FREE and I love it now as much as I did then. 🎉
Can’t believe I have never heard this song! Great stuff!
She is so down-to-earth and beautiful ❤
I lived in France and went to the uk for a quick visit when this first came it out, so I bought two copies on vinyl one for me and the other I took back to Paris for a friend who DJd in a club there and it went down a storm
She is amazing
Remember driving through the highlands for a week in ‘98 and this song came on every hour ❤
Her music rocked the clubs in cape Town south Africa 🎉🎉🎉
I was 10 years old and this song has never left me
Iconic. Last heard it at Defected Croatia a few weeks ago, Natasha Diggs dropped it at a boat party and it went OFF. Everyone (me included) screamed it at the top of their lungs and it was such a special moment! It was incredible seeing her re-live the whole story, you can tell she's really proud of it. Amazing series, keep it up!!!
Amazing!
Great voice. Found a cure was another brilliant track that doesn’t really get played very often
Absolute banger of a tune.
I love this song. Song had a lot of great memories 👊🏿
One of my favorite house songs... Remember hearing it for the first time some time in 1997 on the Los Angeles radio station Groove 103.1... I was 14. Best time in my life.
I remember ...in '97... It was everywhere in the dance charts.. video played.. in circulation.on MTV
Amazing how great art transcends time.
I love this song with all my forces since the first moment I heard it in 1997 on a radio program here in Brazil called Ritmo da Noite (Rhythm of the Night). It was an absolute success, every Friday I looked forward to hearing the DJs play, I must have recorded it on cassette. And during the pandemic it became a kind of amulet and a private anthem so that I could bear all that stress artificially caused against humanity. Anyway, Ultra Naté is wonderful, she has an incredible voice, she's very hot, she made all the difference with Mood II Swing's preexisting talent. I'm grateful to have been able to experience all that in the 90s. Thank you DJ Mag.
One of the BEST house/dance songs ever made. I remember partying to this song at the clubs in NYC & Miami.
What a queen. Wellspoken, beautiful, in it for the love of house not money.
I was a GREAT song and still is. And she's right our LGBTQ+ community has always stood by black divas. Their voices, lyrics, and songs just resonate with us. Whether it be Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Martha Wash, or Ultra Nate. The music of each of these women has a message that resonates. So as a singer myself THANK YOU to all of them so not with us anymore for giving us such uplifting music.
I love this series !! More more more !!!!!!!
So many more to come this year 🤝
@@DJMagThank you for providing the beautiful stories behind my favorite tracks when I was a teen and many from my 20s. History is finally recorded.
Thats a cut from back in the day, when house music was hot! Still love it!
To this day the guitar riff gives me goosebumps,tears of joy and pain. A true anthem and the soundtrack of my youth
I still remember the impact of hearing the first strings on club. Everybody mesmerized by the beauty of the mix. That’s a magical tune, it will never get old. Later them I had to manage to get the single lol
What a talented lady. I love house music!!! ❤❤❤❤
She looks fabulous 😊
Wow watching these videos makes me happy and sad at the same time , I’d give anything to go back to this era
very interesting to get a glimpse into the creative building process of this magical song
Found A Cure was and still is my jammm
The 4hero remix of her song ‘Twisted’ is so beautiful too
She is gorgeous 😍
Timeless record. ❤
Agreed!
Track of my life! ❤
I've waited for a video exactly like this, such a great track
Glad you enjoyed! Check out some of the other tracks in this series
That's a great interview. I like what you said about songs standing the test of time. Rogers Sanchez does some incredible mixes on free❤
Glad you enjoyed it
diva house saved my life.. DIVA HOUSE WILL NEVER DIE!!!❤️
what a huuuuge track......bass hit nyc 96.....the live drums stripped down verson is mad
What a Tune.
Was an instant fan of Ultra Nate with the release of "Joy" and her "One Woman's Insanity" album and still a fan today.