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24.12.03
So Christmas is upon us...
Hi all,
So Christmas is upon us and I hope you're all surviving
it. Actually its weird cause I've been enjoying Christmas
quite a bit this year. I think you always expect it to be
worse than it is. Maybe its because my family hasn't gone
mad with Christmas prezzies this year. Perhaps that is the
key! To resist the corporate madness and just enjoy the
family bits. I was so shocked when somebody told me that
the red Santa Claus we all love and cherish is actually
a trademark of Coca Cola. Santa Claus's outfit is apparently
not traditionally red. So would I be right in saying that
all those Santa Clauses in shops are in breach of Coca Cola's
copyright?! No wonder 'Mad World' is number one this Christmas!
Having said that, I think I'm just being naive. It isn't
really true is it? Does anyone know?
We've had a lot of fun recently, and it's been fantastic
to see the album become successful. They tell me it will
go Platinum by selling 300 thousand copies by Christmas,
this week. That's totally mad. Anyway, thanks to everyone
who sent those wonderful messages to my guestbook, you really
are giving me confidence.
I recorded "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" for BBC
TV a couple of weeks ago. Apparently the producer saw me
on Rise TV and booked me. I was a panelist with Alice Cooper,
who is a really nice guy, and very funny. Mark Lamarr tried
to tease me and give me a hard time - like he does with
everyone, but I hope I gave as good as I got! He's a sweetheart.
It's amazing how obscene he is though, while recording.
They record about two and a half hours, with much effing
and blinding, then edit it down cutting out all the filthy
bits! Good fun. It goes out on BBC TV on January 12th.
When the single went into the charts at number ten I was
in total shock! (We never expected number one, by the way,
- our campaign just hasn't been geared that way) - but what
a great honour to be in the top ten with the first single.
Mike tells me that staying in the top twenty for three weeks,
like we have, is very unusual. He is now having meetings
with all the major record companies, organising the international
release. Next year looks as if it's going to be a busy one!
I think we are putting it out in Europe in March. We are
also working with Barry Marshall to put a tour together,
of the UK and later, on the Continent, early next year.
I was recently given a Damien Rice album called O, I didn't
know much about him but was totally blown away by his album.
Its very acousticky but has some interesting production
and his voice is great. It gets me quite emotional because
his lyrics are very simple but the way he sings them tells
you a hundred things behind one line.
I thought today I'd write back to some of the people who've
asked me some questions on the website.
To Tony Dobb, - the two extra tracks on the single were
recorded on the same sessions as the rest of the songs on
the album. 'Thank you, Stars' was recorded around January
2003 and 'Downstairs To The Sun' was more recent.
Also I can see why you'd think me being inspired by Led
Zeppelin would be strange because of my music is so different
to that. It's because I grew up listening to them. My uncles
(who were in their teens in the late eighties) used to play
them when I lived in Georgia. They were hugely into the
whole rock thing and the bands that stood out for me as
a kid were Queen and Led Zeppelin. Both these bands made
such great records. Bohemian Rhapsody and Stairway to Heaven
are two of my favourite songs of all time.
Nick, if I absolutely had to choose only TWO songs of Queen,
which is almost impossible, I would have to go with Bohemian
Rhapsody (see above) and Who Wants To Live Forever........
oh....can't....do it......must.....say....more..... The
Show Must Go On, A Kind Of Magic, Under Pressure and many
many more....
Lee Smith, about the Matrix..... you'll probably be very
shocked to hear that I haven't yet seen the 3rd film, that
maybe because I have heard negative things about it but
I am going to reserve my opinion until I see the film, you're
right in saying that the trilogy could have been a landmark
in cinema history. However if the Wochowski (hope the spelling’s
right) brothers don't deserve that their first matrix most
definitely does. Its still an amazing film.
Dave Bull, you didn't ask a question but I'm going to say
hi anyway so... hi! - have a good Christmas. Joe Numpty,
I think we will be releasing a DVD of or including parts
of the Shepherd's Bush gig, although I don't know quite
when. Sonal, you want to apply to the Brits, and don't know
which course to do. I would say that if music is what you
love then do music because it doesn't matter if you haven't
done music GCSE. As long as you have a fairly good knowledge
of music theory you should be alright. Hope you get in.
So I'm gonna round off now, thanks to everyone who's left
a message on the site. Have a cool Christmas. See you in
the New Year, and thanks again for caring.
Love, Katie
xxx
30.11.03
Back from Edinburgh
Hi, Everyone.
I've just got back from Edinburgh after doing the Royal
Variety Show and Children in Need on Friday in Belfast.
Going back to Belfast was brilliant. I showed Mike where
I used to live, near the Royal Victoria Hospital. It hasn't
changed a bit. A lot of memories came flooding back, as
it was the place where I spend my last years of childhood
and early teens. The Irish were as warm as ever. I strongly
recommend anyone to go to Belfast for a holiday. It's a
brilliant city and there's things like the Giant's Causeway
in Northern Ireland that absolutely must be seen. Oh, and
Edinburgh was fantastic, - very exciting to meet the Queen,
and to play to a great audience, mostly Scots. We visited
Edinburgh Castle, and had lunch ar Dirty Dick's!
I think today's newsletter will be dominated by the thing
that has been on my mind the last week. Some of you who
have been watching the news will have noticed Georgia, (my
home country) carrying out a "bloodless revolution".
I was worried when the people stormed into parliament demanding
that the president resign, - because they believed the recent
elections had been rigged. I got even more stressed when
the president said he would hold onto power and if the opposition
didn't leave the buildings he'd set the army on them. However,
deep down I never thought it would turn into a another civil
war, because being from Georgia I know that we would never
again be violent against each other, and sure enough after
twenty-four hours the president resigned. Horaaaa!
For all of those who wanna see me play live we've got a
tour of the uk early next year and I'll definitely try to
come to all the towns and places you've mentioned in the
guest-book. Thanks to everyone for your messages, you've
all got good taste in music... hee hee, but seriously even
the constructive criticism is appreciated. I'm just at the
beginning of my career and hope you'll stick with me even
when I go all jazz experimental... the next album is going
to be called "closest thing to atonal"... only
kidding!
I'll really, really try to keep these newsletters as frequent
as I can. In the meantime some of the things that are coming
up this week are: I'm doing a short performance at Virgin
Megastore, Oxford Street on Wednesday the 3rd Dec at 6pm
so if you feel like a bit of music to relax you after your
Christmas shopping then feel free to drop by. Also I'm gonna
be on Rise TV on Thursday morning so look out for me, I'll
be the one being completely bleary-eyed and wondering where
the hell is my bed so early in the morning.
Stay safe.
love, Katie x x x
p.s.. every one should read the book 'Lovely Bones' if you
fancy an enlightening read and aren't scared to shed a few
tears then its the book of the month!
16.10.03
Terrible cold
Hi Everyone
I'm sitting here at home with a terrible cold. Imagine:...
overblown nose, puffy eyes sitting in a sea of tissues..
unused and used. Eh, well, - chin up! So last week we had
the launch party for the album at the Noble Rot club in
London. It went well (see GALLERY on this site for pictures)
- but later on that week I did a small gig at the tiny little
12 Bar which honestly is the best acoustic venue in London.
Serously, you should try and go see someone there. It's
on Denmark Street (a heaven for musicians, which used to
be called Tin Pan Alley because it was the centre of the
music business years ago). If you're into guitar based music
then you're bound to have a good night out at the 12 bar.
I must tell you about the new artist in my life that has
convinced me and my friends that there is still hope for
our generation to have its great artist, you know the Frank
Sanatra, Bob Dylan, Neil young of our decade.
Who is this artist?! Jack Johnson! And i'll bet you anything
you haven't heard of him. Ow what a crime that is! The thing
is that he isn't really known to the mass public especially
in England but I've heard he's quite known in America (He
lives there). His music is a mixture of Bob Dylan, Coldplay
with a hint of a reggea feel. To some people this combination
might sound naf but trust me his work is fascinating and
enlightening, his delivery flawless. I could go on for paragpgaphs
about how his lyrics express the world perfectly using simple
but beautiful imagery. However I won't do that becaue I
know that when people analyse art it's usually a load of
bollocks cause the artists themselves never actually think
of all the psycho-analytical stuff when wrtiing their songs.
Some do of course, but Jack is the type of artist who you
know just picks up his guitar and writes whatever comes
out of him. Anyway the point I'm trying to make is go buy
his album, its called 'On and On' and the best way to realize
how good it is is to listen to it.
I'd like to thank everyone again for leaving messages on
the website. Some of you are waaaaay too kind. So kind that
as each day passes I think my head is slowly growing bigger
and heavier, and if you continue the way you are I'll start
dragging my head on the ground from the heaviness. And that's
NOT a pretty sight! But seriously I always wonder what all
this will do to my brain if I'm succesful- and lets be honest
here's everychance at this early stage that I won't ( there
are so many amazing artists and bands who never get a second
looking from record companies either cause they don't look
good or have potential and aren't quite there yet.) HELLO!
The Beatles were'nt amazing when they first started. Everyone
takes the piss out of that guy who turned them down but
what people don't realize is that the Beatles when they
first started weren't the legends we all remember them by
but someone saw POTENTIAL in them, gave them a chance and
took a RISK! ...... now where was I?! Oh yes, about celebs,
psychology and the bighead syndrome. So could this condition
be something that no successful artist can avoid?! Or does
it not exist at all? Maybe people just act normal but because
they're constantly in the limelight and if they lose it
a bit they are labelled as divas. I don't know. I don't
mind if I don't sell shed loads of records, as long as I
can always play live in small venues and enjoy sharing music
with people.
See you later
Katie
15.8.03
Too hot!
Hi
people,
Katie
here on my second newsletter. I know its been ages since
my first one!
Right
this moment I am sitting at home enjoying the boiling weather.
Actually I'm not enjoying it at all - its been wayyyyy too
hot. No sleep, no fast movements as my brain and everybody's
around me gets boiled. No wonder, then, that I've been writing
really weird and depressing songs. (murders, suicides. rapes,
- note: none of these weird songs will be appearing on the
first album as it would probably spook the audience) - speaking
of which I wanna say the BIGGEST thank you to all of you
who have left messages on my website. It's really cool.
Some of you guys are too kind and sometimes I think it must
be my friends pranking around. If its is....... I'm on to
you!! ....yeah .... you know who you are!!!
By
the way can I say to Katie Baird thank you so much that
you agree with me about the Matrix reloaded film. I've spoken
to a lot of people since writing my last newsletter and
not everyone has been as excited about the film as I was.....
HELLO if you don't believe me, Listen to Katie Baird, -
she knows her stuff!
Anyway
this month I have been HUGELY excited by Tom Petty's new
album called 'Heartbreakers'. I really must insist that
while you're waiting for my album to come out on November
3rd (if you are!) - go out and buy this one. I don't really
know much about him as I was given his album by my agent
who I believe is also his agent. So I just put it on one
day and was blown away. Not by the guy's melodies or his
voice but by his lyrics which are mainly about the horrific
state of the music industry. He talks about this by telling
great sarcastic stories about people in the music industry.
So if you feel like a bit of revolutionary fun - like when
you first heard the master...... (Who,Ihear you ask? Bob
Dylan of course) - then buy this guy's record. ( I think
Tom Petty actually worked with Bob. Wasn't he a Traveling
Wilbury?).
Thank
you Mr Wogan and people on the show and Michael Parkinson
and Ed Stewart for playing the record. Never thought we'd
get such feed back (unless of course it's my friends.....don't
think I'm not onto you!...)
Before
I go, let me tell you a little bit about my computer which
after hearing this I think will help when I apologise about
the lateness of my newsletters. You see the computer in
our house which has internet access is considered, how should
I say this? - an antique! My dad brought it back in 1996
and we haven't upgraded it since. Before you all start thinking
that my family is extremely poor I do have a computer of
my own which I use to record my songs on but it's always
recommended not to have internet access on music computers.
So
the only computer with internet access in my house is this
old dilapidated turtle, which can really infuriate mesometimes
as getting onto my own website turns into a slow, teeth-gnashingg
ritual of the computer telling me that clicking on my own
newsletter is an internal error and an illegal operation...huh!
Someday I will be able to get onto my website without any
hassle, - if I sell enough records, that is! So now it's
time for me to sign out before this computer breathes its
last breath!
Loads
of love
Katie
23.5.03
My First Newsletter
Hi everyone.
This is my first ever newsletter. so you'll have to excuse
its unnewsletterness. That sounded like one of those weird
vocal warm ups! Anyway I'm sitting at home relaxing after
exam turmoil yesterday. Yes I'm going through good old A-levels.
I had a THREE hour (not a minute less) exam, in Baroque
harmony. which is part of the A-level exam. Towards the
end my eyes started going blurry from all the staves and
notes. The best thing about exams is that if you look up
at the teachers supervising, they're bored out of their
wits, - and its heart-warming to know when you're sitting
there wrecking your brain over question b2, that you're
not the only one suffering.
Let me tell you what happened after the exam. To celebrate
the end of 20% of our music A-level my friends and I went
to the cinema to watch the Matrix reloaded. All I can say
about that is ........ Wow! It was soooo good. I loved the
first one, but you've got to see it a couple of times. I
reckon that on one of your viewings (to me it happened on
the second watching of the 1st matrix) - you get completely
mind blown. Not by the fighting and special effects (that's
for the first watching) but by the ingenious intricate storyline.
You sit there thinking about your own life, whether its
real, fake, or made of jelly. And yesterday, watching "Reloaded"
I wasn’t disappointed, and I don't think you can be
if you loved the 1st one. It's early days yet - as the 3rd
part is coming out in November but I think the Matrix trilogy
is probably going to become one of those classic films like
Star wars or Terminator. Its good that at least one aspect
of the entertainment industry is making history. Even though
its been a while since we've had a really classic film made.
We went to the States last week - my first time in New York.
It's strange because you go there with preconceptions of
it but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I kept
comparing everything to "Sex In The City" and
I had a weird evening with three women in their thirties,
that was exactly like a scene from that show, - except that
Mike Batt, my manager/producer was there! (So I knew I was
in reality).
I played for lots of Record company presidents, - and had
an amazing chance to play Bob Dylan's guitar, (at Sony music)
- but goddam it - it was a steel string one, and it wasn't
quite right for the song!
After a week back in the UK (for my exam) we're off for
another week in New York, - (very exciting). I'll tell you
all about that next time.
Thanks for reading my newsletter!
All the best,
Katie
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