It’s fair to say that no-one has been able to fill the sonic void that Amy Winehouse left back in 2011, until now. It’s also fair to say that human kind (the press, the “cruel youth”, the internet) vilified and scorned two of the world’s most talented musicians last year without context and without hearing both sides of the story (mostly in part to a legal gagging order).
That said, a new page has been turned and now the music can speak for itself. Meet Cruel Youth from Teddy Sinclair (fka Natalia Kills) and Willy Moon, and their first single, Mr Watson which premiered on Consequence of Sound earlier. The track comes hand-in-hand with a really honest and open letter from Teddy explaining how Cruel Youth came in to fruition – also fresh off her song writing success with Madonna (Holy Water) and Rihanna (Kiss It Better, arguably the best song on the album AND next single).
Read the letter in full under the cut and enjoy the “narcotic lullaby” below. I’ve heard a few of the other tracks from Cruel Youth and holy shit your collective minds will be blown. Here’s to a new powder blue beginning.
“Cruel Youth is the musical love child created during a 3-month lock-in at my studio with my husband Willy Moon. It’s The Ronettes on Oxy, it’s a narcotic lullaby, a psychedelic jingle you might hear waiting in line at a Western Union or a laptop symphony soundtracking a car crash in slow motion. Willy and I met whilst both signed to Universal Records, and married only a few months later. Cruel Youth is an intravenous hit of our love and everything I find beautiful.
For a brief moment in 2015 I felt like it was the death of me, but somehow the part that survived was a pure uncensored passion that quickly became the ace in my hand. While evolving my solo project into my new band I was approached to be a personality on X Factor New Zealand, which lead to a publicity stunt resulting in a viral media storm. I was subjected to a global witch hunt I couldn’t defend myself against due to a wide-reaching legal gagging order. It was a truly regrettable situation for everyone involved, and Willy and I flew back to our home in New York where I threw myself headfirst into songwriting. Days later, I was collaborating with Madonna on her #1 album Rebel Heart, co-writing the song “Holy Water”. I was drafted onto Rihanna’s writing team, spending months traveling the world with her, and ultimately co-writing ‘Kiss It Better’ on her worldwide #1 album Anti.
While working with such tenacious and outspoken artists, I found a sanctuary where I was allowed to sing the unspeakable … no frills, no fakery. All fun, games, whiskey and a microphone, with the occasional drop in from friends, writers and producers who added their own take on our world.
To my friends, followers and everyone that has supported me during this transitional time — I’m excited to share this new music with you. This is our song ‘Mr. Watson’, this is Cruel Youth.
Love, Teddy Sinclair”