Natalia Scott, a.k.a. MC Tali, has a long and impressive music- and arts-related resumé. She’s done solo and collaborative projects in various genres of dance music, hip-hop, soul and jazz, she writes songs for herself and others, and she’s had training in dance, singing and piano.

Tali has earned a diploma in performing arts, and she’s writing an autobiography about her journey from being raised on a dairy farm in rural New Zealand to becoming one of the most popular MCs in the world.

Despite her love for many styles of music, and all her various projects, drum and bass comes first in her heart. She said she was immediately hooked when she first heard the dance genre in 1996.

“Hearing drum ‘n’ bass for the first time was like having something unlocked inside me,” Tali wrote in an email to The Question. “I felt genuinely excited by what I was hearing, as if it was something special and unique and really forward thinking compared to everything else.

“From that day forward I made it my mission to find out as much about the music as I could, and to get involved where possible.”

With a passion for drum and bass, Tali started out performing at local events and helping host a radio show in New Zealand. She overcame stage fright and other challenges to reach her goal of becoming an MC in the U.K., where she’s now based.

Tali is now known as the “First Lady of the mic” and just last week was named Best Female MC for the second year in a row at the Official Drum and Bass Awards. She said it’s a great feeling to be recognized for the time and effort she’s put into her career.

“Because this is voted for by people all around the world, it shows to what extent my sound and talent has reached people,” she said.

Tali is set to reach people in Whistler with her talent and spitfire lyrics on Tuesday (March 17) as part of the World of Drum ‘n’ Bass 2009 tour.

The biggest club tour of its kind, this year’s lineup includes chart-topping DJs/producers Chase and Status, plus World of Drum ‘n’ Bass tour founder DJ SS and old-school DJ Kenny Ken — in Whistler for one night only at Garfinkel’s.

Tali has been part of World of Drum ‘n’ Bass tours several times, and she said they’re what she looks forward to the most during the year. The 2009 tour will be her first time MCing for Chase and Status, and she’s a big fan. She said their most recent album, More than Alot, “gets played all the time ’round mine — whatever the occasion.”

For people who aren’t familiar with Chase and Status, Tali said their music includes “a little bit of everything.” Kenny Ken’s sets never fail to put a smile on faces in the crowd and SS plays tunes that “allow people to let themselves go on the dance floor,” she said.

As for Tali, she describes her MC style as “unique and elastic, ever-changing and often free styling, melodic and uplifting.”

Take in the talent of some of the world’s biggest dance stars at the World of Drum ‘n’ Bass at Garf’s on Tuesday (March 17). Doors open at 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $22 at Cyber Web Café or online at www.clubzone.com.