We Speak Pop
Natalie Gray opens up on mental health with ‘The Me I Pretend To Be’, out now via Aztec Records!
THE ME I PRETEND TO BE is the latest single from Synth-Pop artist Natalie Gray. Grabbing inspiration from some of Natalie’s favourite artists such as Cyndi Lauper and Madonna, as well as more recent artists such as Paramore, Kings Elliot and Lawrence, this song embodies the desperation of losing yourself and hiding behind a smile and a cliche whilst it feels that your world could crumble at any second.
Following the success of Natalie’s previous single “Fire” supported by BBC introducing, THE ME I PRETEND TO BE steps away from her usual upbeat and colourful sound and brings a more honest and nostalgic feel, touching on the reality of living with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, a theme that a lot of us can relate to. This latest track is Natalie’s first time opening up about her own personal experience with living with PTSD and struggling to find her old self.
Instead of reaching for your hairbrush and throwing your best 80s dance moves infront of the mirror, THE ME I PRETEND TO BE will have you opening your old photo albums and coming face to face with your own demons.
Natalie has teamed up once again with childhood friend and personal agony aunt Jack Craig, (the producer behind “Dance Floor” and “One In A Million”) to create this vulnerable and heartstring grabbing song.
THE ME I PRETEND TO BE comes after Natalie’s first ever UK tour “TAKE BACK THE BEAT” which raised money for Women’s Aid to help support survivors of domestic abuse and violence, a charity very close to Natalie’s heart.
Natalie Gray on Social Media: @natgraymusic
We Speak Music
Lee Mendelson Film Productions Celebrates 75 Years of Vince Guaraldi with Exclusive Record Store Day 2026 “Baseball & Glove” Soundtrack Release
Fresh off the success of Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, Lee Mendelson Film Productions is continuing its celebration of Vince Guaraldi’s musical legacy with a standout Record Store Day 2026 exclusive: the soundtrack release of two beloved Peanuts® television specials, It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown and Charlie Brown’s All Stars!. The special Record Store Day edition arrives April 18, 2026 at participating stores.
This collectible “Baseball & Glove” edition is exactly the kind of thing fans and vinyl collectors go nuts for. It includes two uniquely designed 45 RPM records packaged together in a PVC gatefold: a 10-inch clear “baseball” LP of It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown and a 12-inch brown die-cut glove-shaped LP of Charlie Brown’s All Stars!. The release also includes a 6-page tri-fold insert with artwork from the specials and liner notes by Sean Mendelson, Jason Mendelson, and Derrick Bang, author of Vince Guaraldi at the Piano.
The release marks the 50th anniversary of It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown and the 60th anniversary of Charlie Brown’s All Stars!, presenting complete scores that frame the first decade of Peanuts® television music. Charlie Brown’s All Stars!originally aired June 8, 1966 as the second prime-time Peanuts® special after A Charlie Brown Christmas, while It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown aired March 16, 1976 as Guaraldi’s 15th and final Peanuts® special.
There’s also real emotional weight behind this release. Arbor Day contains the final recordings by Vince Guaraldi, recorded on February 6, 1976, the day he died at age 47 in Menlo Park, California. That alone gives the set a kind of gravity beyond nostalgia. It’s not just a reissue. It’s a preservation piece.
Charlie Brown’s All Stars! features performances by the Vince Guaraldi Sextet: Vince Guaraldi on piano, Eugene “Puzzy” Firth on bass, Eddie Duran on guitar, John Coppola and Frank Snow on trumpet, and Lee Charlton on drums. The score is presented in seven tracks, with some selections restored from 35mm negative soundtrack tape. It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown features the Vince Guaraldi Trio: Guaraldi on piano, Seward McCain on bass, and Jim Zimmerman on drums. That “baseball” LP includes 14 tracks, among them “Young Man’s Fancy,” “Jay Sterling Morton Jazz,” “Sprinkle Your Bird,” “Rain, Rain, Go Away (Rain, Gentle Rain),” and “Happy Arbor Day, Charlie Brown.”
The production side is as lovingly handled as the music itself. Clark Germain mixed Arbor Day at WonderWorld Studio, while Vinson Hudson restored and mastered the recordings. Sean Mendelson and Jason Mendelson produced the release.
And there’s a nice environmental angle here, too. The records are pressed on bio-attributed vinyl said to reduce carbon footprint by roughly 90% compared with standard LP manufacturing. The packaging uses sustainably forested paper and recycled materials, and in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Lee Mendelson Film Productions says it will plant one tree for every copy sold in 2026, with a minimum commitment of 12,000 trees.
For longtime Peanuts® fans, jazz lovers, and serious soundtrack collectors, this one feels less like a novelty and more like an event. It celebrates two classic specials, honors one of the most distinctive composers ever connected to animation, and packages it all in a format that actually feels worthy of the music.
Release Information
Record Store Day Exclusive: April 18, 2026
The official website for Lee Mendelson Film Productions may be found at https://www.mendelsonproductions.com
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