Music By Natalia

San Francisco Examiner

by Kate Williamson

Songwriter Wins VH1 Award
Natalia Bortolotti's tunes win awards, air on teen TV dramas.
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Teenagers catching their favorite drama on The WB may not know it, but some of the music aired on shows like "One Tree Hill" and "Smallville" were written in their own backyard.

San Francisco Bay Area native Natalia Bortolotti was recently honored in the VH1 cable network Song of the Year contest, for a song she co-wrote with Cupertino resident Scott Smith called "Your Only Other." It placed as a Top 5 Finalist in the Pop category, according to VH1.

The honor will add to her already long list of awards, from such industry giants as Billboard Magazine, California Music Awards, and the John Lennon Song Contest. Not surprisingly, her songs are regularly featured in film and television.

The song, beautiful and catchy, is pure pop. But the idea behind the song is for mature audiences.

"'Your Only Other' is a song about being really happy with the relationship you're in, but not losing yourself in the relationship," Bortolotti said. "I really wanted to write a non co-dependent love song."

For inspiration, she looks to such successful songwriters as Linda Perry, who has written hits for Pink and Christina Aguilera, and Diane Warren, who penned the LeAnn Rimes hit "How Do I Live," among many other hits.

"That would be the ultimate for me, to be the person to call when you need a hit song," she said.

She's working diligently toward that end, according to Smith.

"She's scary bright. She really listens to what's out in the marketplace. She really has her finger on the pulse of today's pop song," said Smith, adding that she's a stickler for perfection. "She'll get a hold of an idea and won't let go of it. I call it reeling in the marlin, the big fish. Most songwriters will settle."

Bortolotti approaches music looking for the quality that distinguishes her own favorite songs -- "something that moves me." Focusing on lyrics and melodies, she collaborates with other artists, such as Smith, to fill out the remaining parts. And when she dreams up a catchy tune, she's quick to get it down.

"I'll call my voicemail and leave the melody because I don't want to forget it," she said.