That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Natalie Imbruglia

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

Gaby Roslin chats to actor and singer Natalie Imbruglia about all things joy. They chat about Natalie's new album and the fun and joy she had making it - even though the themes of the songs are quite serious - it's an album for dancing to. Natalie's songwriting sessions are quite unique...and she takes us into that world, sharing why it's so important to be open to everyone in the room to get the best song possible. She talks about becoming her mental health, perimenopause struggles and why becoming a mum made her start to not give a $%*t! And YES - we talk about Neighbours...and The Masked Singer of course. We cover A LOT! We hope you enjoy it...

Natalie and Brulia is always a pleasure to see you. How did your baby not be a baby anymore? What on earth? Six, I know. Isn't that wild? No, but I remember when you just had him. I know. But how did that just happen?

I know. Six years. Blink. And I really tried with this album. I was like, I'm going to do it in a year. But it's always about five with me. It's always about five years. Because then it means you take your time. You get it exactly.

right. I'm very proud of this one. Oh, I'm so, it's so lovely to hear, because you've been so honest and open, and we'll talk about that as well, but you've been so honest about times when you haven't felt like that. Yeah. Now you are. Look at the smile on your face. It's a good feeling. And I mean, it's taken until this stage of my life to get there where I just, I've had so much fun with it. Okay. Talk to me about the fun.

Well, ironically, a lot of the, there's a lot of mental health issues coming into perimenopause that came up with this album. But somehow we ended up laughing. So I'd go into the studio and I'd be like, oh, guys, you're not going to believe it. I mean, I'm just, I'm crazy. And I would tell them the funniest stories about this or about that. And we'd end up laughing.

And obviously, most of the times it's been men, I've been songwriting me. But they have manopause. They just don't admit it. Yes. Yeah. So I'm trying to educate them. Good. Anyway, we end up laughing and somehow

the songs are incredibly joyous. So there's these serious undertones in what it's about, but you would never know. Like when you listen to it, it's just so uplifting. Because I've kind of in the past written more melancholic type style, but this is just, this is actually you could dance to it. I was going to say it is very dancing. You know what it reminds me of, and I don't quite mean sling your clothes off,

but, you know, throw your jacket off and just get out there and have some fun. Oh, you can take your clothes off. But also think, think about. Lying naked on the floor. Why not? With your legs, kicking your legs in the air. Has to have the picking in the leg. That's just reminding me of you and your dancing that you do on your social.

It just brings me so much joy. But you just have to, that, but joy is obviously the big word on the podcast as well, reasons to be joyful. And joy is important. And it's, I just feel like you've found that. Like you say, with this album, it's like suddenly you've gone, okay, this is me. This is who I am. Yeah. And I think showing up, I mean, there was a period where I quit music and was like, okay, the universe is

telling me something. I got dropped by a label and it's not been smooth sailing. But when you come back to something from a place of if I'm singing to two people in a pub, this is what I want to do. This is like I have this voice. I love it. And so I came back to it like that. So it's just been a pleasure. But because of doing it for years and years and years, I've gotten better as a songwriter. You learn how to get the best out of people in the room by sharing of yourself, which I've done more and more of. So my songwriter, writing sessions are talking for half the day. The first day we just talk.

Oh, wow. And then the song, it's like, okay, now we should let's... With no plans for the song? You just sort of go in and see what happens. Because if you... How exciting. Yeah. If you give of yourself and talk about even the darkest sides

or embarrassing things or what you're dealing with, it opens the whole room up to share. And you're also kind of giving them ideas for what the song could be and it informs the room and, yeah. That's really exciting. Yeah. Okay, let's talk about upside down. Upside down.

That was the first song I wrote. But it sounds, when the first note, I know it's going to be you, but also here's a really weird thing to say. I can hear the words upside down before you say them in the music. So when the music starts, I can hear the word, it says, although it doesn't say, this is going to sound like I've gone really mad. But when I listen to it, I was saying upside down on the first few notes.

Have you listened to the first few notes? They say upside down without the words. You can hear it? No. That sounds really, I know what I mean. Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah, it's just, okay, not really.

But I'm going to listen and pretend I don't know that's the chorus and see what you mean. It's incredible. Yeah. But it's a very strong song. It's about, and this was me coming into the room with the guys and just saying, how I get before a show because of perimenopause. and anxiety, and I'm like, I'm just a terror. It's like watching a horror film.

It's like something that comes inside of me and I'm possessed. I said, I just got to stop. It's got to stop. I can't behave like this. And the whole song is that what you resist, persist. And sometimes willpower is not enough. Sometimes, you know, you kind of have to make friends with this side of yourself or not be kind of angry about it because then you kind of make more of it.

And then when it happens again, there's a shame around it. So this whole song is about turning your way. world upside down and it's all perspective and it doesn't have to be the end of the world and you can hold things lightly. So I've known you for a very, very long time since Torn came out, which is nearly 30 years and I've interviewed you many, many times over those years. I don't think I've ever seen you this relaxed and this happy ever. How, I mean, I know you're so open about your mental health, which is incredible because it does help a lot of people. But what was the moment that you decided everything's changing and that I'm actually going to talk about all of this?

becoming a mum maybe. I think that's where, you know, you're not the most important thing in the universe, which is an experience I've really yearned for. And especially with all the privilege I've had in my life and the experiences I've had, it's like, now what? You know, like...

And so, becoming a mum and becoming mum a bear, you know what that's about. You just... I've got more ambition, more drive. I really don't give a... know what, about what anyone thinks. And it's quite liberating. And I think you also get to an age where you're not worried about what you look like or what this and that. You know, the things you used to stress about. All those worries do go and they, you suddenly, if you don't get on

the treadmill, it's not the end of the world where there was a time where all of those things were just, you were consumed by it. And there's something more important. But you had a lot of it from outside. So a lot of, you know, press were hungry for stories about you. And you, you, you did it. You, you just kept going. I hope you're proud of yourself. I know people don't like to admit that about themselves, but please tell me you're proud of yourself. I am. Yes. Sorry, yes, that's just so, I really am. That's so lovely. You know, I'm, I've survived it. It's a lot. It's a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot, you know, I just said to my friend the other day, I'm like, I've got to remember how to be famous again because I live out in the countryside that first month

coming back into a campaign because I don't self-promote in between as you well know and it's like oh you know and then and then a few weeks into it you go oh that's right it's okay everything's okay but also people are really happy to have you back I mean torn obviously played a lot it is your signature song it's the one that if people say that must be I know I remember there was a time when you said, as all anybody talks about, but now I feel like you're saying, yeah, that was me. Still, they talk about it. And you know what? I made a decision and I don't know where this insight came from. But when it, when it kicked off, I was like, I've got to make friends with this song. I'm going to be singing it forever. And I remember going to a concert of a band that

will remain nameless. And they didn't play their hit songs. And I was heartbroken. And I thought, I'm never going to do that because it's about the fans and you know you wouldn't be here without your fans and so I've just decided to make friends with that song and also when you sing a song you're not thinking about what you were back in 97 so it's fresh every time for me so it's about different things now than it was when I sang it before are you going to be singing it with is this right

you're going to be with Ricky Martin this year I love Ricky Martin live in LaVida Loca I mean please Are you going to be singing together? No. Please, can you? I did DM him though. I was like, ah, I'm going to be...

And he didn't reply and I got nervous when I deleted my message. Oh, no. Because I was like, oh no, I'm being a sycophon and so I deleted it. No. I just said, oh, hi, Ricky. I'm really excited that I'm going to be doing the show with you and, you know, maybe we can hang out, I think I said. I love that. Please, please. And then I thought, that's really awkward.

He didn't reply, so I deleted it. Oh, no, put it back. I want you and Ricky to sing together and dance together because I just love him. Isn't that incredible? He's amazing. What a showman. You two together, yes please.

Can we talk about masked singer? Yes. Did you love it? I screamed when you were unmasked. As you do, you know, it's just, I didn't guess it was you, and then I thought it's you, and then it was.

I absolutely loved it. I thought I'd be on for one week. I never expected to get that far. I absolutely love the panda. I mean, I put that suit on, and my characteristics changed. Because Panda was quite shy. So if I covered the eyes,

like there was all these, it was like being a puppeteer. Yeah. So I really got into it. I got into it and I'd work the audience and do funny little silly things and tease Joel. I loved it. Yeah, it was great.

And then also, I just feels it would be really weird if we don't talk about going back to neighbours. And I know it was a few years ago now, but that was another stepping back in time. But now, if that makes sense, it was so... It was the reason that I'm here. I wrote a list when I was in high school, maybe 15, and I was in a very small town, and I wanted out.

I was like, I want to be a star. So I was like, right, I'm going to be on Neighbys East Street or Home In Way, then I'm going to be a film star, then I'm going to be a pop star. And you've done my list. Tick, tick, tick. Well, film star questionable. You have been in film. I've been in a film, two films.

Two of, yes. Yes, with a terrible English accent. I look great, though. But, yeah, maybe not my finest moment. But yes, technically... So, a 15... You knew this. What, that's what I mean.

Is that manifesting, or is that just confidence? I don't know, but I did write a list. I read a list. So, okay, if you now went back to your 15-year-old self and said... I'd be more specific. I'd be like... Would you? With...

I'm going to be an actress that masters accents. That's what I would... So talk about neighbours What was the like to be back? It was great. It was fantastic. I, you know, I left school in year 11. What's that here?

Year 11, 16 years old, to do the show. So I dropped out of school, moved interstate from my family and was just, this is brilliant. I was just one of those kids that wanted to be an adult. And so I'm doing this phenomenal job. And I did it for two years. and then I was like, now I'm going to go to England to do pantomime

and come back and be an out-of-work actor. Then I got here and was like, I'm more famous here than back home. I'm moving to England. So that's where it all started. But the show was brilliant. I mean, they really embrace me. It's a bit intimidating going on to a show like that

that's so popular. Maybe we need you on a soap here. Okay, which soaps should we put you in? I don't know. I don't watch the... See, EastEnders, I've never missed an episode. I don't know if I've never mentioned. Yeah, but the accent thing.

All right, let's try it. No. Get out of my pub. Get out of my pub. There you got the car. Got the pub. That's it. Doof, doof, dof, dof, dof.

On the podcast, reasons to be joyful, we always ask everybody to share something that brings you the most joy. I have a feeling. One of two things, you might say. My son. Let's put your beautiful boy aside. My son. Yeah, okay. Okay, okay.

It can be an object. It can be part of your life. It can be anything at all. It's a boring to say singing. No, why is it boring? That brings you joy. I don't know, because yeah, it really does. Considering what I go through before I go on stage,

being neurodivergent, which is a lot of anxiety and putting everyone through hell, and then I go on stage, and I don't know. It's literally like I'm so blessed out. Like I've been really stressed building up to the release of this campaign and I had to go and finish two mixes in the studio yesterday and I was like

oh my God this is so much fun because I've been doing all the kind of boring stuff and you know like finalising artwork and it's not boring but you know what I mean Yeah yeah yes it's not the actual doing And then just when I get to sing and dance around the room I was so happy yesterday so yeah probably singing

Wonderful Right let's talk about the album Algorithm. Talk to me about the album. Obviously we get the idea that it's dancing and throwing your clothes off and naked if we want, as we said. But why is it called algorithm? Algorithm, because it's a lot to do with mental health for various different reasons. But there is a song on that album called Algorithm that's about my addiction to scrolling on my phone, which I think is a really interesting conversation. I'm a late-night scroller. Right. And so it's the whole thing of, you know, if you catch someone's page on Instagram, Some people have got cute puppies. Well, I don't have cute puppies. So I go down these really dark rabbit holes. And the thing is, I'm not into those things, but I don't know how to change the algorithm

or to fix the settings in my phone. And so I just follow it wherever it takes me, which is some very dark places. So that's where it came from. And it's just about, I guess, where we're heading in the world. And, you know, I guess computers and algorithms. and all of that, I find it a really interesting topic of conversation and the impact it has on your mental health without being too serious.

So, yeah. Are you going to keep phones away from your baby boy? I'm trying. And he's one of those ones that already, like, the finger goes. And if I'm on the phone, he's reading over my... He can read better than me, by the way, he's six. And the way his finger moves on the screen is really frightening. So we have lots of fights because I won't let there's certain screen things

you know he's only allowed to do games that have an end and there's a set times for it and he's just got that he's one of those kids that could really go down that road so I'm keeping a really close eye on it that's a sensible thing to do

yeah is does he sing do you sing together he won't sing in front of me he's picture perfect is he really yeah that's incredible and has a really good

oh bless you don't Sorry. We like that you try to open the door to sneeze out of the door. I turned around his head's in the corner and he's squatting. He's squatting and we all heard it anyway and then he's just stayed in that position. I'm so please you didn't fart at the same time because your bottom was in the room and your nose was out. It could have been the double.

Oh my God. Do you know what? That's why such a joy to see you. Natalie and Brulia everybody.