released March 11, 2021

The impetus for this collection came from my home church in Mosgiel, Dunedin.
Most of the songs were written during the 20 year span our family lived on the Taieri, with the beloved Te Matamata/Saddle Hill on one side of us and the beautiful Maungatua peaks on the other. Our five children grew up there and it was an outrageously busy, happy and productive time in all our lives.
All of these songs were tried and tested in many different communities and at varied events… churches, schools, camps, shows, choirs, Easter, Christmas, child and youth gatherings. One was for a wedding in my extended whānau (Marriage Song) and another was commissioned for my Teachers’ College graduation (Build Another day).
I like to have songs that are broad enough to be tweaked for a variety of situations, so they don’t sit unused on the shelf. I can do it because I own the copyright! ‘Marriage Song’ has been adapted and used at baptisms, dedications and anniversaries. ‘Build Another Day’ has been sung at celebrations and even at funerals. Children graduating Year 6 in the school where I worked, sang it year after year, with beauty and emotion…and a
few tears! I am constantly surprised that my ‘grown-up people’ songs often hit the mark with child appeal…and vice versa.
I put this collection together because they are singable. The have been constantly used. They work! Four are lifted from my other albums. We added to that ‘use-ability’ by including the backing tracks (with the exception of Psalm 116). There is a songbook. I was stoked that my dear husband Selwyn, did the artwork for this. I love the way he captures ‘the journey’ with our old family photos and indigenous and Biblical images.
The project was funded by my home church and the Otago/Southland Synod. It was gifted to Presbyterian and co-operating parishes in Otago and Southland. All the profits from sales went to the building project at our church, ‘A Place of Welcome’. It’s a truly beautiful and well-resourced space used constantly by the church, community and beyond. A privilege to be part of.
Once again, Phil Yule at the Voice Box was my recording and production backbone, I played keyboards and guitar and Simon Lynch played amazing piano. And wonderfully, my niece, Nicola Yule Manoa played her flute. One of my on-going favourite things is singing my own backing vocals. I love to sing with me! So much fun…and so satisfying!!
I hope many can continue to find these songs useful.


From Fran Short.

I am glad to write about Natalie's music, especially her album 'Cloud and Fire'. These songs were really appreciated by many people in the Mosgiel-North Taieri Presbyterian Church, where for over twenty years Natalie contributed so much that was new to our music. And we continue to use and enjoy them today.
Her melodies and the words of her songs enable me to move into worship and sense the presence of God. I find that worshipping through music is the most helpful way for me to praise God.
'Cloud and Fire' has 13 beautiful songs which are easy to sing as a congregation, plus instrumental backing tracks so that churches or groups who do not have personnel to play music can have accompaniment provided. The songs are thoughtfully and prayerfully written, and those written with children in mind, are especially fun to sing. I am thankful to God for the gift of music and I am especially grateful for Natalie's music.