(Editor’s Note: BGS has partnered with AEA Ribbon Mics and AmericanaFest to share special live sessions shot at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee during AmericanaFest 2025. Over the next few weeks, enjoy select performances from AEA Ribbon Mics’ sessions in Nashville premiered right here on BGS.)
Artist: Natalie Del Carmen
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Songs: “El Cortez,” “Tailored to the Masses, “Good Morning from Magnolia,” “Plans Upon Plans”
In Their Words: “By happenstance, I had the honor of meeting and sitting down to a group dinner with Natalie Del Carmen in LA a few months before this session and we hit it off immediately with our shared Southern California roots and fervor for singer-songwriters, country, and Americana music. When Natalie talks about the inspirations behind her songs, it’s a bit mind blowing that many of them actually have big-city origins. Whether it’s a song inspired by a major thoroughfare in the megalopolis of Los Angeles, or a road trip to Sin City, Natalie is able to distill the storytelling down to its essence. Regardless if it’s rooted in a smell, feeling, or vibe, Del Carmen invites you into her personal and down-home narrative woven through captivating melodies.
“This session was shot in the hallway nook of Nashville studio, Welcome to 1979, because our director, Michael, thought that the intimate space fit the intimacy of her music. And Brandon, our audio guru, chose one solo mic (a single AEA 440 Active Big Ribbon Microphone) to capture her performance and the room.
“I hope when you blast it, it will transport you to that magical hallway in Nashville that afternoon. If you’re ever at Welcome to 1979, you, too, will have to try that slide! Just hold on to your hat.” – Julie Tan, AEA Ribbon Mics
Video Credits: Audio recorded and mixed by Brandon Bell.
Video directed by Michael Perlmutter, assisted by Patrick Dwyer.
Hosted by Julie Tan.
To purchase AEA Ribbon Mics or other gear, contact your local dealer. More information is available at AEARibbonMics.com.
