Classically trained at the Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ms. Pasternak went on to excel in the local music scene with various projects. In 2010, she co-founded the acclaimed Toronto indie-pop band, Hands & Teeth. One part Broken Social Scene, one part Arcade Fire, Hands & Teeth dominated festivals across North America (SXSW, POP Montreal, Halifax POP, CMW, M for Montreal and NXNE to name a few). Their songs found homes locally and internationally, featured on various radio and television stations including the CBC, BBC, Much Music and MTV. And featured in various publications, including a 5/5 star review in NOW magazine for their first release. In 2016 Ms. Pasternak lent her vocals for Warner Bros. official trailer for The Legend of Tarzan, now with over 16,000,000 plays.
Ms. Pasternak is an active committee member for Women In Music L.A (WIM LA) and a juror for FACTOR Canada. She recently launched her own songwriting workshop/ master class business, Desert Dream Creative. Over the years she has been selected for various prestigious workshops and mentorships, including ASCAP’s Harold Adamson Workshop. Ms. Pasternak worked one-on-one with top industry professionals (Mr. Hudson, Autumn Rowe, Jayson De Zuzio, Nicole Morier, Andrew Cider and Daniel Werman). For the past 3 years Ms. Pasternak has been building programming and lecturing at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. This past June she acted as Assistant Director, program designer and lead instructor for UCLA Herb Alpert school of music’s Teen Summer Songwriting Intensive. She is currently in her summer appointment at UCLA and will be heading back to take up her role as professor this fall as well. On top of lecturing at UCLA, Ms. Pasternak splits her time working for the non-profit, Jail Guitar Doors, bringing songwriting and music into correctional institutions as a part of their rehabilitation. There, she teaches guitar and songwriting, designs programming and organizes concerts with her students. For more information head to www.desertdreamcreative.com or www.natashapasternak.com.