Natalie

Natalie Bassingthwaighte heads for LA
13th Augustl 2007

ROGUE Traders singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte is moving to Los Angeles to break into the American music market.

Bassingthwaighte flies to LA this week after finishing her vocals for the third Rogue Traders album, Better in the Dark.

"I'm going over on Wednesday to set up home," Bassingthwaighte said yesterday.

"Then I'll go back and forward in between. I'll come back whenever I'm needed for Rogue Traders stuff."

Bassingthwaighte has a US agent for acting work and the former Neighbours actor is the lead in Australian horror movie Prey.

Rogue Traders' hit Voodoo Child has also started making waves on American radio, after being a Top 5 UK hit last year.

"With Rogue's taking off (in the United States), at least with me being there someone's on the ground," Bassingthwaighte said.

"Hopefully there'll be some offers for film or TV work.

"My agent has been asking when I'm coming for months.

"I'm excited to go over there, have some meetings and start the ball rolling."

Rogue Traders recorded a Vodafone Live at the Chapel session in Prahran last night, including a reggae take on Voodoo Child.

Their new single Don't You Want to Feel? is the first songwriting credit Bassingthwaighte has received on a Rogue Traders song.

Better in the Dark will be released this year and will include new songs What You're On and Candy Coloured Lights.

"It's that weird night before the marriage feeling," keyboardist James Ash said of the pressure to follow up their four-times platinum album Here Come the Drums.

"When you're successful like we were on the last album, naturally you think everything you do will be successful.

"But none of that counts for anything once you're in the studio. We're back to square one. It makes you work harder."