A-natural (born James Aaron Foster) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, vocal producer, and label executive from Plainfield, New Jersey. A two-time Independent Music Award winner, two-time ASCAP Harold Adamson Songwriting Award recipient, and Recording Academy voting member, he’s built a career rooted in innovation, authenticity, and purpose.

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Raised in a musical household, A-natural began singing at age five and wrote his first song with his father on guitar. After studying voice at Five Towns College in New York, he launched his first indie label under the name BeatSwitch, producing and writing for gospel and R&B artists. His creative journey later led him to co-found BlockStars Production Studios, where he worked with artists and producers such as Raekwon, Brenda K. Starr, Harvey Mason, and Armando Colon, earning TV placements on MTV’s The Hills and Taking the Stage.

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In 2014, A-natural founded Natural City Music, named in honor of a collaborative project with the late producer Jonathan “Jerz” Boyd. Since then, he has released a string of acclaimed projects — including The Chronicles of an Over-Ambitious Fat-Boy, The Ascension of A-natural, KWAMÉ, The Love Experiment, and Welcome to Natural City — while also developing a roster of standout artists like Lenny Harold, Lauren Ashley, Seychelle Elise, and Authentik.

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As both artist and producer, A-natural’s sound — self-described as “sci-fi soul” — fuses futuristic production with the timeless warmth of R&B. Influenced by Brandy, Kim Burrell, B. Slade, and producers like Timbaland and The Neptunes, his music captures both emotional depth and sonic innovation. Beyond music, A-natural uses his platform to champion authenticity and visibility, sharing stories of identity, resilience, and faith that speak directly to the heart of his listeners.