Nottingham-raised and London-based singer-songwriter and pianist Natalie Duncan returns with her highly anticipated third studio album, ‘Black Moon’, out today, and we premiere it here at LOCK.
Recorded with her long-time trio, Alan Mian on bass and Dave “Big D” Browning on drums, the album sees Duncan stepping confidently into new sonic territory, blending jazz, soul, R&B, and contemporary textures into a cohesive, immersive experience.
Leading the charge is the stirring first single, ‘Crashing Into The Dark’, a track that immediately showcases the depth, emotional resonance, and sophistication that defines ‘Black Moon’.
Duncan first caught attention at just 18 with her debut EP ‘Natalie Alexis Duncan’, her expressive voice and virtuoso piano work quickly marking her as a talent to watch. A 2011 appearance on the BBC’s Goldie’s Band By Royal Appointment led to a deal with Decca Records and her acclaimed debut album, ‘Devil in Me’ (2012), which The Guardian hailed as heralding “an incandescent star.” Over the following decade, she toured internationally, appeared on Later… with Jools Holland, supported the likes of Muse, and released her second album Free (2020) on Goldie’s Fallen Tree 1Hundred label, steadily cementing her reputation as one of the UK’s most compelling jazz, soul, and R&B voices.
On ‘Black Moon’, Duncan explores both the futuristic and the familiar. The album’s lead single, ‘Crashing Into The Dark’, opens with delicate, intricate piano lines, setting a contemplative tone before her atmospheric vocals carry the narrative with intimate strength. The track gradually unfolds into a lush, layered arrangement where synth textures intertwine seamlessly with live instrumentation, culminating in a progressive finale that feels both modern and timeless.
Duncan’s career has consistently been marked by collaborations and accolades, from performing with Incognito and contributing to their 2023 album ‘Into You’, to working alongside Mica Paris, Guy Chambers, Disclosure, Skream, and Benga. Her live performances, whether at Ronnie Scott’s, the Jazz Café, or 606 Club, have earned critical praise for their emotional depth and technical excellence.
With ‘Black Moon’, Duncan delivers her most fully realised work yet: polished yet organic, introspective yet uplifting. It’s an album that demands a start-to-finish listen, and in doing so, reaffirms her as one of the UK’s most versatile and visionary artists, poised for a defining 2026.