After 12 years as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the pop group 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie broke away to write and record her first solo album, Tigerlily.

She gathered together a small band with drummer Peter Yanowitz and bassist Barrie Maguire (both formerly of The Wallflowers) and Jennifer Turner, a 22-year-old guitar prodigy. Welsh singer-songwriter Katell Keineg was featured on the first single released from the album, “Carnival.” Although the album was an intimate and understated affair, it shocked the music establishment when it yielded three consecutive top-40 hits “Carnival”, “Wonder”, “Jealousy,” and sold over 5 million copies.

“These countrified arrangements are the sparse frames for 11 moving lyrics, sung with great grace. “Beloved Wife,” a love song written from a widower’s perspective, may turn out to be the most touching thing committed to disc this year. Merchant’s touch, light and sensitive, ennobles.” — The Guardian

Tigerlily was self-produced, recorded and mixed in Woodstock, NY at Bearsville Recording Studios by engineer John Holbrook, assisted by Todd Vos, with additional recording at The Clubhouse, Germantown, NY.