Natasha Scharf

Deputy Editor, Prog

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

Velcrocranes monochrome posed press shot 2022

Velcrocranes announce new deal with InsideOut for debut album What If I Die

By Prog Published 2 February 22

Russia's Velcrocranes' first album due in April and includes contributions from Steven Wilson collaborator Adam Holzman

Albums

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets in a wood hugging gnomes, 2021 promo shot for Night Gnomes album

Watch Psychedelic Porn Crumpets trippy new video for Bubblegum Infinity

By Prog Published 2 February 22

Aussies Psychedelic Porn Crumpets announce new album Night Gnomes and UK tour for 2022

Music Videos

Auri's II – Those We Don’t Speak Of is "The perfect antidote to these troubled times."

By Natasha Scharf Published 3 September 21

Not yet rated

Folky Nightwish side-project offers a soothing solution to 2021.

Albums

An Evening With Nightwish In A Virtual World review

By Natasha Scharf Published 30 May 21

Wintersun’s Jukka Koskinen joins symphonic proggers Nightwish for the first of two ambitious livestreams in a virtual setting

Bands & Artists

Genesis' early years detailed in a new book

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 3 February 21

Mario Giammetti's new book on Genesis covers the Peter Gabriel years

Bands & Artists

12 of the best books about prog for you to read

By Grant Moon, Sid Smith, David West, Mike Barnes, Natasha Scharf, Rachel Mann, Joe Banks, Chris Roberts Last updated 3 February 21

Want to catch up on some reading? Here are 12 of the best books about progressive music

Bands & Artists

How HIM’s Razorblade Romance set Ville Valo on the path to goth-metal immortality

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 21 January 21

Looking back on the first great goth-metal album of the 21st century

Interviews

Watch Unravel - The Anchoress’ David Lynch-inspired video

By Natasha Scharf Published 3 December 20

The Anchoress’ second album, The Art Of Losing is out in March

Music Videos

The story of Nightwish's Imaginaerum

By Natasha Scharf Published 30 November 20

How Finnish symphonic prog metallers Nightwish created their bold 2011 concept album Imaginaerum

Albums

Auri in Cornwall outside an old building

What happened when Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley formed Auri

By Natasha Scharf Published 28 September 20

In 2018 Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley teamed up with Finnish singer Johanna Kurkela on Auri's first album - here's what happened

Bands & Artists

Antimatter's Mick Moss against a blue background

“I’ve taken a difficult period of my life and turned it into a positive"- Antimatter come clean on Black Market Enlightenment

By Natasha Scharf Published 8 August 20

Black Market Enlightenment is one of Antimatter's darkest and most honest recordings to date

Albums

11 Top Tunes For A Prog-tastic Christmas!

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 25 June 20

Ring out solstice bells!

Tracks & Singles

The world according to Chelsea Wolfe: “Witchcraft helped me find myself”

By Natasha Scharf Published 21 April 20

The lessons Chelsea Wolfe has learnt from life

Interviews

Gandalf's Fist group shot against a purple background

Gandalf’s Fist to release The Clockwork Fable on vinyl

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 4 April 20

Steampunk proggers Gandalf's Fist team up with Plane Groovy for 5-LP box set

Bands & Artists

Styx founder Dennis DeYoung announces new solo album and tour

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 10 March 20

Listen to Dennis DeYoung and Julian Lennon singing To The Good Old Days

Concerts & Shows

Leprous confirmed to play at Midsummer Prog 2020

By Natasha Scharf Published 10 March 20

Norwegian prog act Leprous added to this year's Midsummer Prog event in the Netherlands

Bands & Artists

RUSHfest Scotland confirmed for 2020

By Natasha Scharf Published 10 March 20

Rush art director Hugh Syme and producer Terry Brown join RUSHfest Scotland 2020 fan convention

Music Festivals

Kayak cancel summer festival shows

By Natasha Scharf Last updated 25 February 20

Kayak have withdrawn from Night Of The Prog and Midsummer Prog but will release live double album in spring 2020

Music Festivals