Joining Atomic Kitten at 16: readiness and drive

Natasha Hamilton was 16 when she signed a record deal with the girl band, Atomic Kitten. The group went on to sell over 10 million records and achieve three UK Number One singles including Whole Again and The Tide Is High. But the pressures of fame affected her mental health and made her feel isolated and judged. After five years and the birth of her first son, Hamilton quit the band.

Today, Hamilton tells that story - the one that existed behind the headlines. We talk about the toxicity of 90s and early Y2K media, surviving postnatal depression and financial catastrophe after divorce. Plus we talk about why she set up her own record label, Morpho, to focus on nurturing and empowering young talent rather than - as she puts it - ‘moulding them into a product’. An amazing woman whose resilience should be an inspiration to us all!

Natasha Hamilton’s new single Fantasy is out now.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction

03:15 Forties And Clarity

04:47 Writing Numb

06:03 Morpho Records And Duty Of Care

08:11 Bullied But Born To Sing

14:13 Fame Tabloids And Numbness

21:40 Whole Again And Industry Bias

29:37 Making Peace With The Band

31:17 Rebuilding Sisterhood Again

31:37 Losing Pop Star Identity

32:43 Shock Pregnancy And Isolation

35:17 Postnatal Breakdown And Help

38:12 CBT And Taking Control

40:40 New Career In Beauty

46:00 Divorce Money Chaos And Recovery

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

From the age of 16 I was constantly told who to be: what to do, how to look, how to act - I’d never been given the reins of my own life before.

There is no wrong decision, if it works it works.

I thought: everyone’s judging me for not being thin enough.

Fame was so isolating.

If you’re struggling - talk to someone.

It’s incredible what can happen when you back yourself.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

Natasha Hamilton’s new single, Numb, is out now

If you need someone to talk to, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day: www.samaritans.org or call on 116 123

Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com

📚 WANT MORE?

Vicky Pattison - on Geordie Shore, self-worth, PMDD and family addiction: swap.fm/l/kUiBIHEkL1y3C9moLdsx

Louise Thompson - on how severe trauma after childbirth, chronic illness and the loss of her former identity forced her to rebuild her life with self-compassion: swap.fm/l/LouiseThompson

💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE?

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Website: www.elizabethday.org

Elizabeth and Natasha answer listener questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan

Engineer: Matias Torres

Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson

Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot

Executive Producer: Alex Lawless

How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production.

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