In this episode of Proof of Culture, Sian sits down with Natalie, an early adopter and influencer in web3 to unpack her journey through the landscape of blockchain, community building, and music. Natalie shares her inception into the space and her experiences with pivotal figures and events that shape her perspective.

Natalie recalls her introduction to social tokens and NFTs through her interactions with hip-hop artists entrenched in the global music scene, and her shift into web3 around 2018. She describes the early web3 space as diverse within her niche of musicians, emphasizing a more welcoming environment where sharing resources was a priority. The discussion pivots to Natalie's principles of community building, noting her refusal to adhere to gatekeeping and emphasizing the importance of providing open spaces for genuine inquiry and knowledge exchange.

Key themes emerge as Natalie outlines her resistance to commodifying art and her advocacy for collective practices and ownership using blockchain technology. She criticizes existing systems, including the music industry, advocating for creating entirely new frameworks rather than attempting reform. Natalie passionately calls for utilizing web three technologies to enable artists to explore and express their creativity unfettered by traditional industry constraints.

• Natalie's early involvement in web3 was through interactions with united communities surrounding global hip-hop.
• Gatekeeping and the lack of diversity and inclusivity in the space are ongoing issues Natalie actively challenges.
• She discusses the importance of building true communities in web three, focusing on reciprocal relationships and collective empowerment rather than consumerism.
• The episode examines the potential of web three to transform the music industry by providing a platform for artists to experiment and redefine their relationship with supporters.
• Natalie recounts the challenge faced during the organization of Metaverse Music Festival with other entities trying to co-opt the event and the name.

Stay connected with us for more engaging and enlightening content from Proof of Culture.

Natalie on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NatalieCrue

Be sure to follow Proof of Culture, The BlkChain and Sian on social media.

Proof of Culture on Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/proofofcult_pod Proof of Culture website - https://proofofculture.podbean.com/ Sian on Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/sianmorson Sian on IG - https://www.instagram.com/sianmorson/ The BlkChain on IG - https://www.instagram.com/theblkchain/ The BlkChain on Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/theblkchain

Support our sponsor, Zora and mint all episodes free:

Zora: https://zora.co/

Proof of Culture Collection page: https://zora.co/collect/zora:0x822fc92cfe5fcfee61c3a9d62f2df7416b6fa6e0