
Natasha Scharf
Contributing to Prog since the very first issue, writer and broadcaster Natasha Scharf was the magazine’s News Editor before she took up her current role of Deputy Editor, and has interviewed some of the best-known acts in the progressive music world from ELP, Yes and Marillion to Nightwish, Dream Theater and TesseracT. Starting young, she set up her first music fanzine in the late 80s and became a regular contributor to local newspapers and magazines over the next decade. The 00s would see her running the dark music magazine, Meltdown, as well as contributing to Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, Terrorizer and Artrocker. Author of music subculture books The Art Of Gothic and Worldwide Gothic, she’s since written album sleeve notes for Cherry Red, and also co-wrote Tarja Turunen’s memoirs, Singing In My Blood. Beyond the written word, Natasha has spent several decades as a club DJ, spinning tunes at aftershow parties for Metallica, Motörhead and Nine Inch Nails. She’s currently the only member of the Prog team to have appeared on the magazine’s cover.
Latest articles by Natasha Scharf

Listen to Six By Six's electric new single Save The Night
By Natasha Scharf published
Six By Six, featuring Ian Crichton, Nigel Glockler and Robert Berry, will release their debut album on August 19

Sweet Billy Pilgrim return with new single Skywriting
By Natasha Scharf published
Sweet Billy Pilgrim to release Somapolis in November - it's their first album in four years

Listen to The Anchoress' haunting version of Nirvana’s Pennyroyal Tea
By Natasha Scharf published
The Anchoress issues limited edition single as a reaction to the overturning of Roe v Wade in the USA

O.R.k. tease new single As I Leave – watch the cosmic video here!
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Prog supergroup O.R.k. – featuring Colin Edwin and Pat Mastelotto – share first track from their upcoming new album

Watch Herbie Hancock wow London’s Barbican with live version of Chameleon
By Natasha Scharf published
Jazz fusion legend Herbie Hancock warmed up his Glastonbury Festival 2022 set with a special London show at the Barbican - watch one of the highlights below!

Shadow Academy takes a trip to The Other Side with their new animated video
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Ninja Sex Party's Dan Avidan shares new Shadow Academy clip for The Other Side - self-titled debut album is out now

Like Black Midi? Check out Cross Country Locomotives by experimental progger Levi Nice
By Natasha Scharf published
Levi Nice shares second single ahead of the release of Oh Our Father’s Children! in September

Hiroe share moody video for new single Doom Moon
By Natasha Scharf published
Post-rockers Hiroe to release debut album, Wrought, in July

Deadly Circus Fire explore "needless conflicts" on new single Bombs Away
By Natasha Scharf published
Prog metallers Deadly Circus Fire share the latest track from their upcoming album, Extinction – due July 2022

Zola Jesus shares stunning new single Into The Wild
By Natasha Scharf published
Zola Jesus to release the delayed Arkhon on June 24 via Sacred Bones

Listen to Lili Refrain's otherworldly new album Mana here!
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Italian born multi-instrumentalist Lili Refrain to perform entirety of Mana live at Roadburn 2022

New album from Umphrey's McGee? Asking For A Friend!
By Natasha Scharf published
Chicago proggers Umphrey's McGee refine their sound on upcoming Asking For A Friend - listen to Small Strides here!

Heilung's music used in new trailer for The Northman
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Heilung's Hakkerskaldyr graces the live action in Robert Eggers' gritty The Northman - based on the original myth that inspired Hamlet

Kikagaku Moyo to release final album, Kumoyo Island – stream Cardboard Pile here
By Natasha Scharf published
Japanese psych band Kikagaku Moyo to go on indefinite hiatus after their upcoming tour

Chinese proggers OU share blistering new single Mountain – watch the video here
By Natasha Scharf published
Chinese prog quartet OU release second single from their debut album One, out in May

Gandalf's Fist sign Agile Thumb to their label – listen to In One Ear (Out The Other)!
By Natasha Scharf published
Agile Thumb to release debut EP Edocesrom in April on Nightkeeper Productions

UK proggers Solstice tease pre-orders for their seventh album
By Natasha Scharf published
Solstice are currently working on the "next-level" follow-up to Sia

Frank Zappa's mid-70s live sets explored in Erie 6-disc box set
By Natasha Scharf published
More than seven hours of unreleased Frank Zappa footage is included in new set, which captures live shows in and around Erie, PA

Alex Lifeson's Envy Of None announce 7" single to raise money for Ukrainian refugees
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Alex Lifeson's Envy Of None to release split 7-inch of Enemy/You'll Be Sorry on Ukrainian flag-coloured vinyl with all proceeds donated Ukraine emergency response

The Tangent reveal new "mega prog" album Songs From The Hard Shoulder
By Natasha Scharf published
The Tangent mark their 20th anniversary with their 12th studio album - listen to a single edit of lead track The Changes

The Flower Kings begin 2022 reissue campaign with 90s albums
By Natasha Scharf published
The Flower Kings to re-release their back catalogue starting with Back In The World Of Adventures and Retropolis

The story behind Karnataka's Secrets Of Angels, their only studio album with Hayley Griffiths
By Natasha Scharf last updated
Now reborn and revamped for the third incarnation, the London-based Karnataka are ready to rise again with a new line-up, featuring classically trained vocalist Hayley Griffiths.

Haken's Charlie Griffiths announces Tiktaalika – "the world’s first palaeontology-based progressive metal album!"
By Natasha Scharf published
Listen to Charlie Griffiths' new single Arctic Cemetery, featuring Between The Buried And Me singer Tommy Rogers

Yes guitarist Steve Howe on cruises, Close To The Edge and the secrets behind Relayer's sound
By Sid Smith published
Now in their sixth decade, Yes show no signs of slowing down. In 2022, they'll be revisiting Close To The Edge with a fresh batch of dates. Long-serving guitarist Steve Howe looks ahead to a busy future
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