Liverpool alt-pop innovator Natalie McCool has announced her new album Good For The Soul, set for release on 9th September, alongside the arrival of its exuberant lead single Coming Of Age, a vibrant celebration of self-discovery featuring London vocal collective Trans Voices.
Natalie McCool
Long recognised as one of the UK’s most inventive independent artists, McCool has spent her career pushing beyond conventional pop boundaries. On Good For The Soul, however, she appears to have embraced that freedom more completely than ever before, delivering what promises to be her most expansive and adventurous record to date.
Previewed by the infectious energy of Coming Of Age, the album marks a significant evolution from 2021’s Memory Girl. While McCool’s distinctive alternative-pop sensibilities remain firmly intact, the new collection reportedly ventures into a broader sonic landscape, weaving together uplifting pop moments, immersive electronic textures and darker, more cinematic soundscapes.
At the heart of Coming Of Age is a message of empowerment, transformation and embracing the person you are becoming. Driven by McCool’s soaring vocal performance and elevated by the rich harmonies of Trans Voices, the track radiates optimism while capturing the exhilaration that comes with finding confidence in your own identity.
The collaboration with Trans Voices adds further emotional depth to the song. The London-based collective has become renowned for creating space for trans voices through innovative vocal performance and community-led projects, making them a fitting creative partner for a song centred around self-realisation and authenticity.
McCool explains that the track’s themes immediately resonated with the group, helping transform the song into an anthem of personal growth and belonging. The result is one of the most uplifting moments in her catalogue to date, blending emotional honesty with an irresistible pop energy.
The single also boasts an impressive creative pedigree. Co-written with Dan Haggis of The Wombats and produced by Danio Forni, the track reflects McCool’s willingness to embrace collaboration while continuing to shape a sound that remains uniquely her own.
That collaborative spirit extends throughout Good For The Soul. The album features contributions from a diverse range of artists, including She Drew The Gun, Dilettante, Renee Stormz and members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, helping create a record that promises both sonic ambition and emotional depth.
Much of the album’s inspiration can be traced back to McCool’s involvement in Liverpool’s Eurovision celebrations in 2023. Having been commissioned to co-curate and perform Welcome To Eurotopia, a large-scale live production that united musicians, orchestral players and guest vocalists, the experience appears to have encouraged an even more fearless approach to songwriting and arrangement.
Equally important was a personal realisation that creative boundaries are often self-imposed. Rather than restricting herself to a particular genre or expectation, McCool allowed herself complete freedom in shaping the album’s identity.
The result is a record that reflects adulthood in all its complexity. Rather than dwelling solely on heartbreak or struggle, Good For The Soul explores the joy, resilience, hope and self-acceptance that can emerge through life’s experiences, both good and bad.
Originally from Widnes and now firmly embedded within Liverpool’s thriving creative community, McCool has steadily built an impressive career through a combination of fearless experimentation and meticulous craftsmanship. From early recognition as a songwriter through to acclaimed releases including The Great Unknown, Memory Girl and her self-titled debut, she has consistently demonstrated a desire to evolve.
That evolution continues on Good For The Soul, a record that not only showcases McCool’s strengths as a songwriter and performer, but also highlights her growing confidence as a producer, having recorded and produced much of the album herself.
If Coming Of Age is any indication, Good For The Soul could prove to be Natalie McCool’s most complete artistic statement yet — a bold, celebratory album that embraces transformation while encouraging listeners to do the same.
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