Natalie

Rogue Traders take stock for crack at US
Fiona Byrne (Page 111)
4th Marchl 2007

Stunning singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte is set to crack the lucrative US music market. The former Neighbours star confirmed on Thursday that the Rogue Traders, the top selling electro-rock band she fronts, had snared a US recording deal. "Yes, that is all done," she said at the David Jones Winter Collection launch. Living up to her rock-chick status, Bassingthwaighte was a fashion favourite at the David Jones show, wearing a funky shorts suit and sporting a sharp new shorter hairstyle.

While the Rogue Traders are signed to Sony/BMG in Australia, they have signed a deal with Universal Music in the US. Their first US single release could come as early as next month. The band has already made substansial inroads into the British music market, hitting No.3 on the charts with their first international single Voodoo Child. Bassingthwaighte and the band are flying to Britain in mid-May for an extensive tour with the group Girls Aloud. The timing of the tour is fortuitous, as Bassingthwaighte will surely be required to attend the Logie Awards at Crown on May 6. The versatile performer is hotly tipped to score her second Gold Logie nomination this year. Bassingthwaighte is also working on a solo record, although she said her priority was finishing the Rogue Trader's follow-up album to Here Come The Drums.