For Natalie Horler, dance music is not just a career — it’s her way of life.
She has spent the last 20 years as the face of Cascada, the global Euro dance act she founded in 2004 with composers and record producers DJ Manian and DJ Yanou.
The masterminds behind tracks Everytime We Touch and Evacuate The Dancefloor, Cascada performed as a trio until 2021, when Horler took on the project solo.
These hits are synonymous with the 2000s, and now fans are set to make new memories when Cascada performs across Australia for her debut solo headline tour celebrating 20 years of her breakout song Everytime We Touch.
“I love it in Australia,” she tells PLAY from Germany.
“It’s literally one of my favourite places, and it’s a place I rarely get to travel to. I just couldn’t be happier.”
Horler will kick off her Aussie tour in Queensland on November 27 at the Sunshine Coast, before hitting the Gold Coast on November 28 and Brisbane on November 29.
She will perform a sold-out show at The Court in Perth on December 4 before playing in Sydney and Melbourne on December 5 and 6.
Due to high demand, Horler announced two extra shows — one in Manly on December 3 and another December 6 Melbourne show to take place in the afternoon.
She will be joined by Darren Bailie of Guru Josh Project, known for their mammoth record Infinity, alongside Australian dance legend Nick Skitz.
Horler, born in Germany to British parents, says she is “so excited” to see her Australian fans after last performing in Sydney in 2018.
“It’s always quite special because obviously it’s not like anyone can just hop over to Europe and see us every year,” she says.
Horler is hoping to explore more of Australia and connect with as many locals as possible when in town.
“Every time I come to Australia, I just feel so welcome, and I love the vibe there,” she says.
“I think it’s because I’m English as well. I do feel a connection to Australians because I do find there’s similarities, and I also grew up watching Neighbours.
“It’s just a beautiful place. I haven’t been able to see too much of the country, but what I have seen in the past, I just absolutely love it.”
Perth fans heading to The Court can expect other nostalgic bangers such as Miracle and Bad Boy as well as newly released singles.
Horler released new song Alive in August and will follow it up with another single called Be The One on November 20.
The 45-year-old says she is “really proud” of the past 20 years, which have seen her enjoy career highs such as being a judge on the German talent show Deutschland sucht den Superstar in 2012 and representing Germany for Eurovision in 2013.
“Not everyone is allowed to enjoy this longevity, and I do work really, really hard, and we’re still releasing new music all the time,” she says.
“I just signed a new deal with Universal last December, so that’s all systems go, and yeah, I just love it all. So the fact that we now get to go to Australia as well is just insane.”
Horler says her career began when she was a “young and green” 23-year-old music hopeful playing at small clubs in Austria and Germany.
Little did she know what the future would hold and how memories of her early chart-topping hits would still be so special to fans all these years later.
“When people think of my music, the 2000s is the first thing they think of. People associate those songs to going out in their 20s, that was their clubbing music,” Horler says.
“Social media wasn’t a thing yet, so I think that’s where the connection comes from.
“Everytime We Touch went to top 10 in the US, and all of a sudden I was touring the States. I never had experience of being on tour except doing the little clubs in Austria and Germany. It was quite a whirlwind for me to jump straight in, but it just hasn’t stopped since then, so it’s been a long 20 years.”
“Positive nerves” are now starting to take hold of Horler as she prepares for the journey to Australia and decides on costumes and set lists.
But she cannot wait to set the dancefloor on fire at shows a lot of Aussie fans have been anticipating.
“I’m sure there’s going to be lots of fans in the audience that maybe have never seen us on stage, so that does make it particularly special,” she says.
Cascada plays a sold-out show at The Court on December 4.
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