Photo by Sandy Ha
I was admittedly shook when PinkPantheress announced that rising internet pop star Cece Natalie was going to be joining her on her 2026 North American tour.
Natalie, who makes some of the most surreal and delectable pop music coming out today, is an if you know you know kind of star, beloved by a ragtag audience of pop-loving music critics and niche music fans who lurk on the post-tumblr internet. They're the type of listeners who also favor underground pop performers like Ms* Gloom, Canelle, and Bassvictim.
PinkPantheress — who’s now at a career peak with the dominance of the “Stateside” remix featuring Zara Larsson — is a big booking for Natalie, who until now had played largely smaller shows for her low-key internet scene.
I saw Natalie perform in 2024 to a small, yet committed Brooklyn crowd. I was locked in on her performance which mainly consisted of lip syncing and exaggerated dance motions that were funny and strange. She kept making wide eyes that'd jut out when she hit a particular line. It felt like I was watching Natalie performing alone in her bedroom, dreaming of future pop star ambitions. It was awkward. It was also very charming.
That same kind of jagged motion and lip syncing intensity is on display in her opening slot for PinkPantheress, though her behavior on stage seems to have gotten more messy, according to the videos surfacing online of Natalie walking in semi-random circles. It doesn't seem she’s singing all that much, opting to lip sync and emote instead. For what it’s worth, there’s one clip going around where her vocals do sound quite ethereal.
I wasn’t at these shows, but per the testimonies of many impassioned observers on TikTok and Reddit, Natalie’s performance is not Grammy-stage ready. “Cece was just rolling around on stage, she literally winded herself and had to take a break to catch her breath. ALL WHILE LIP SYNCING,” wrote one commentator on Reddit. “The few times she actually sang was just terrible, not on key at all.”
“I'm crying because I literally had to look up if other people were saying this because I was and still am in awe of how bad she was,” wrote another in response.
Natalie recently responded to the critiques (and rumors that she is on drugs) with a statement on X, writing, “literally having to speak on this is crazy but i have heard some people believe I am on drugs or being drugged. But i am just kind of weird and I get tired on stage. LOL”
She clarified further that she's just a “weird bitch."
There are artists. There are entertainers. And then there are artist-entertainers. Entertainers — think Jennifer Lopez or Usher — are primarily at home on the stage. Yes, they make art, but all of their work funnels towards their impeccable ability to perform for audiences. While artist-entertainers, like Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Doechii who can effectively combine their recorded artistry with olympian level of live performance, are relatively rare.
Artists, on the other hand, mired in their own complex psychology and need to express themselves, struggle when it’s time to perform, like Frank Ocean’s ambitious but overwhelmed Coachella headlining slot, or Bassvictim’s on-tour messiness.
The unfortunate truth is that the stuff that makes many artists, artists, is the same reality that prevents them from thriving on stage. Their intensity and oddness, are what make their art engaging, but it also means they are prone to eccentricity and mercurial behavior. That often makes them less consummate pros than flash in the pan creatives.
I think this is what Natalie is facing and why crowds are befuddled at her vibe. Natalie being a "weird" artiste on stage is, for better or worse, part of the recipe — and her appeal. I’m not saying everyone needs to enjoy this particular dessert, but for certain people, the sweetness is worth the strife.
