DJ Natalia Moon on Earning Her Spot in America [Exclusive Interview]

DJ Natalia Moon on Earning Her Spot in America

11/22/2018

Let's talk about your life in Australia. What were you like growing up and how did you develop your passion for music and acting?
Throughout my time in school, I was always into the arts. I was doing theater and talent shows while taking music classes. When I finished high school, I went on to an acting school for two years to learn all that I could.

What motivated you to uproot your life to pursue acting in the Philippines?
Twelve years ago, I told myself that I was going to move to America. I quickly found out that the visa process is very rigorous and requires a lot of experience, so I started working to build my resume so that I would be eligible when I applied. I was introduced to the Philippines through a friend of mine and so I made my first trip over there to do some work with a charity.

When I first got there, I didn't that I would stay that long but the culture and lifestyle won me over and I fell in love with the place. I put in a lot of time and effort into learning the language which was a huge challenge but well worth it. One of the shows I did was entirely in Tagalog so being able to speak the language was really beneficial for me. I was also getting a lot of opportunities to act in TV shows and endorsements for print modeling. Being there gave me the chance to grow my resume and experiences for the visa process but beyond the stuff on paper, living in the Philippines really contributed to my growth as a person and taught me so much about music and the industry.

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A post shared by Natalia Moon (@nataliamoonofficial) on Sep 25, 2015 at 9:30am PDT

In previous articles, you've been referred to as the "Barbie Doll from Down Under," but it would appear now that you've gone through some rebranding. Looking back on that period, would you have done anything differently?
While I was in the Philippines, that was one of the names that I was known by but even though I've changed my looks since then, I don't regret that part of my life, so I wouldn't have done anything differently. Now that I'm here in America and working towards the peak of my career as an artist, I'm using all of the experiences from my past to help guide my future. The primary reason for changing my hair is that brown is more neutral for casting. Although if I could, I would definitely change it to red!

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A post shared by Natalia Moon (@nataliamoonofficial) on Aug 15, 2018 at 9:35pm PDT

What have been some of the challenges you've faced as a woman in both the acting and music industry?
There have been many obstacles that I've had to overcome as a woman in the arts industry. All the time, I get comments like "You look good, so you're probably just put on a pre-recorded set," or "Are you a real DJ or do you just press play?" To all of those people, I just tell them to come out to my show and see for themselves. One of the worst things that happened early on in my career was that people would sabotage my setup by messing up the cords so that the sound wouldn't work. After that show, I made it a point to learn everything I could about the equipment so that I could check the stage myself before playing my set.

Of course, whenever I post my music videos, singing videos, or sexy photos, I'll get comments asking if I have any real talent. I personally find this hilarious because either way, SEX SELLS! I've put in the time to learn my craft and anyone who looks beyond the photo will see that. I'm a songwriter, beatmaker, DJ, and acted in over fifteen TV shows. Yes, I post sexy photos, but it got your attention, didn't it?

Who have been some of the people who have been with you on this journey that you'd like to give a shout out to?
Throughout my career, I've met a lot of people who've supported me but there have also been some who have knocked me down. It's really important to remember who's been helping you from the start. For me, I got to give a big thank you to my parents for believing in me and my grandparents for always letting me perform for their afternoon caravan parties. There's also my Nanny, Lola, who first inspired me to sing and cultivated my passion for it. I've also got to give a huge shout out to my close friends, Keeti Clarke, Sheng Belmonte, and Bobby Skyz for always pushing me to be better at everything I do.

How do you manage to stay both physically and mentally fit during your hectic schedule between DJ and acting gigs and managing social media accounts?
Doing all of these things like DJing, producing, songwriting, and acting takes up the vast majority of my day. I always try and make the time to stay fit because it's good for my health and my branding. I love doing Muay Thai or Stunt Gun training for dynamic exercise, but I also use some cardio apps on my phone when I'm on the road. I also dance a lot while I'm on stage which contributes to my overall fitness. Of course, I still eat some bad here and there and I actually have a really bad sweet tooth! I enjoy having my day off and indulging in some sweets when I'm lounging around!

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A post shared by Natalia Moon (@nataliamoonofficial) on Sep 14, 2018 at 4:55am PDT

What has been your proudest moment so far in your career and what milestone are you working towards next?
It's hard for me to pick just one moment but I definitely have a top five! The first would have to be acting in my first lead role in this singing, acting, dancing TV series called "The Boston." Second is when I hosted a travel show named "North Bound" that went around to interesting parts of the Philippines. For my third highlight, it would have to be getting nominated for acting in the "Ismol Family" which was entirely in Tagalog. The fourth was winning "Queen of the Mashups" which is this huge DJ Competition in India. Lastly, getting my O-1 American Visa which is for "Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement." I was so proud to earn my visa after making it my goal to come to America twelve years ago!

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A post shared by Natalia Moon (@nataliamoonofficial) on Jun 12, 2018 at 9:31pm PDT

As for the future, I'm always working to improving my skills as a musician, performer, and actor. For the next few months, I'll be going on a DJ Tour in December, acting in some movies and TV series here in America, and putting out weekly YouTube videos. For my overall goals, I'll be aiming to win a Grammy for singing and production, an Oscar for acting, and perform a set at Tomorrowland in Belgium.

I'm a Gemini so I can't sit still. I love keeping my mind busy and working forwards a lot of goals that push me to be the best that I can be!

A huge thank you to Natalia Moon for taking the time to answer our questions! Be sure to go and follow her on social media for all the latest updates!