by: Annette Cardwell
Singer Natalie Merchant, shy by reputation, is increasingly comfortable with letting the world know who she is, no doubt because she finally seems to know herself.
Last year, Merchant shocked her fans by quitting as vocalist for the band 10,000 Maniacs, a group that launched her musical career nearly 14 years ago. [webmaster's note: Natalie left 10kM in 1993, not 1994]
Merchant grew up in the last decade as part of a group in which she was by far the youngest member and felt limited artistically. Now she has regrets about letting herself be carried along by that ride, about missed opportunities such as a college education.
"A degree is like the Holy Grail to me," said Merchant, who never attended college, having joined 10,000 Maniacs at age 17. "I'm full of envy for people who were able to study at fine universities, and I've had to educate myself for the most part."
Perhaps these frustrations and constraints - both artistic and personal - were what made her seek a way out of that situation within the Maniacs - at the height of the band's success. After a half-dozen albums and singles such as Trouble Me, Candy Everybody Wants and Like the Weather, 1993's MTV Unplugged produced the band's biggest hit, Because the Night.
The group has continued with a new lead singer, Mary Ramsey.
"There wasn't a strong tie anymore," said Merchant, now in her early 30s. "I think we basically ran out of things to say to each other on a social level and a musical level."
Merchant pulled together a new band of young, unknown faces to work on her now-platinum solo debut, Tigerlily, a summer release that has achieved platinum sales status and brought her back into the spotlight as a more mature, focused artist.
Her new band, Merchant said, "is really different from the Maniacs." Using these three relatively inexperienced musicians, she felt free to create an album that, she said, "lets me speak for myself."
Merchant has been on tour for only three weeks but said she's invigorated by touring and performing the songs live.
"The songs have taken on new life, and actually made them more exciting," said Merchant. "A lot of songs hinted at dance-ability on the record; but in a live situation, I've been able to make them more rhythmic, speed them up a bit."
The single Carnival is in the Top 20 of the Billboard singles chart and is getting airplay on Top-40 radio and MTV.
Merchant's play list at the Orpheum will likely include songs from Tigerlily, new arrangements of Maniacs songs and "a lot of '60s soul and r&b covers."
"I think a lot about balance when I'm putting a set together," said Merchant. "Our set right now starts gradually and gets to a point where people can feel free to get up and dance."
As for plans after this tour, Merchant is intent on maintaining independence.
"I'm really excited about these songs and doing the Maniacs songs, but I really do want a larger repertoire," said Merchant. "The only way I can do that is to get off the road and write another record. I'll take some time off during the winter, tour a bit more in the spring, and be in the studio by next fall."