Music is her Muse

How student-singer-songwriter Natalie Schlesinger fuels her musical inspiration through community.

by Morgan Magats ★ October 27th, 2025

Photo Credit: Natalie Schlesinger

Grinning ear to ear, 20-year-old Connecticut native Natalie Schlesinger recounts her first musical inspiration. 

At just three years old, Schlesinger depicts her infatuation with Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” saying,  “I was obsessed with that song. Every single time we got in the car, I would make my mom play it. And as I’ve grown up and blossomed into this musician and songwriter, she [Taylor Swift] has always been my muse for how I carry myself and how I approach music and the music industry.” 


At just 14 years old, Schlesinger first heard her song “Girl in the Mirror” fully produced and knew music was her true calling. When she first wrote the song at 12, she never imagined it would see the light of day—let alone “spark a newfound creativity” that would carry her through her career.

From live performances and late-night practices on her bedroom floor to studio sessions and appearances on ’Cuse Tonight and Loud and Clear, Schlesinger feels deeply inspired to tell stories and form connections through music.

“I think that music is so special because it can fuse everyone in different ways and evoke different feelings and stories,” she said.

That sense of connection—with both listeners and other artists—is what keeps Schlesinger motivated in a competitive field. “I love writing and working with other people. I feel like the best product usually comes from multiple perspectives and voices,” she said.

She added that collaboration has taught her “a great lesson about asking people for help, and that working with others doesn’t diminish your own creativity or intelligence. Usually, having many different voices and perspectives gives you the greatest outcome.”

Though she attributes her primary musical influence to Swift, Schlesinger acknowledges that many other artists play a key role in her creative process. “I’ll sometimes sit down and think, I’m going to write a song I’d want to pitch to Katy Perry, or Tate McRae, or any artist,” she said

She often envisions herself in a writer's room with her favorite musicians, crafting song pitches that challenge her to write in different styles and genres and expand beyond her own sound. “Writing for yourself versus other people is a completely different game,” she said. “It exercises a different muscle that helps me move through writer’s block.”

This practice has become so influential to her work that Schlesinger has even created a TikTok series where she shares the songs she’s written for various artists.

This practice has become so influential on her work, Schlesinger has even created a TikTok series where she shares the songs she’s written for various artists.

Drawing inspiration from the community that has shaped her, Schlesinger has released seven studio singles — soon to be eight with the upcoming addition of “Ghost.” The single will be available to stream on all major music platforms starting Nov. 28, 2025.

Big or small, music plays a role in almost everyone’s life. For Schlesinger, it’s everything. “There’s not really another option for me. This was kind of it,” she said.

Music is a muse for Schlesinger’s life, but the muse of her muse has been guided by the community and connection the industry has given her. Even during her summer internship with 2B Entertainment, after a nine-hour workday centered around music, she would unwind by writing songs or creating new ones.

“Yes, it’s not conventional,” she admitted of her career path. “Yes, there’s a lot of room for failure. It’s extremely scary.” Still, her passion for the art is unwavering. “I would rather die trying than not try at all,” she said proudly.

Edited by: Maia Simmons