Kate Walsh became the talk of the music industry when she leap-frogged well established artists like Take That, Amy Winehouse and the Kaiser Chiefs to top the iTunes chart in the UK and then across Europe.She then went on to top the iTunes folk chart in America and this was without signing a record deal.Her success was due to word of mouth alone and had record companies fighting it out to sign her.Now her album Tims House is getting a physical release as she attempts to repeat her online success and bring her music to a more mainstream audience.
How did you get into the music industry and why did you pursue a music career?
Well I always did music from really young I was a pianist and I was going to go to university and do composition and things like that. But I got into the industry this way because somebody heard my composition that I did for my music A level and offered to make an album with me. So I was very lucky. And that was my first album about four years ago.You have carved quite a unique niche market with web listeners was this always your intention to target online listeners first?
Well it was always our intention just to get the music heard and because we did it ourselves without major labels or anything like that we didn't have the funds for physical releases, marketing and magazines and things so by doing these things online it cost nearly nothing
Your recorded your new album Tim's House prior to signing a record deal why did you decide to do it that way?
Because we didn't specifically look for a record deal, because I had been signed before, and we realised that you didn't have to have a record deal to release a record, and all I wanted to do was release a record. So that's what we did and we were lucky that the labels wanted to get involved after that so we could then sign a deal on our own terms.
Why did you decide to sign with Mercury Records?
Out of all the labels we met they seemed to get us straight away and really seemed to push the boat out for us and really made us feel that we were going to be an important signing. We believed that we had made a special record and it was good that they appreciated that because if it hadn't have been the right deal we wouldn't have gone with it because we didn't really need it, if you know what I mean, we would have carried on the way we were.
How did you feel about taking over Take That and the Kaiser Chiefs at the top of the download charts were you surprised by that?
Yeah I was totally shocked, I think I was in Denmark at the time, the album went into the top ten and we just couldn't believe it, and we were joking that it would get to number one, it was just amazing we couldn't believe it and it just meant so much to us and people were buying because they truly liked it not because they were having it rammed down their throats if you know what I mean.
Who is your musical inspiration did you write the whole album?
Yes I did yeah. All my songs are about personal experiences and emotions so I just kind of write when I feel down and emotional, my writing acts as a kind of therapy.
And Tim's House is getting a physical release
Well it was released back in April, when we released it, but this is Mercury doing a big relaunch. I'm really excited by this I'm going to be on This Morning with Phil and Fern on the day of release as well so I can't wait for that. I'm just really looking forward to see how the public react to it now that it is being made available to them I can't wait.
You have been compared to people like Joni Mitchell are you happy with this comparison or would you rather carve out your own identity?
Oh no everyone has to pigeon hole what they like otherwise people wouldnt be able to find the music that they love if people didnt liken you to other thing. And to be likened to Joni Mitchell I couldnt think or a better compliment really so I dont mind it at all.
Are you planning to go and promote in the States?
Yeah we went back in July and we have another trip booked for November and people are really liking my music out there so we shall see what we can do.
You have just been on tour how was that?
Well tonight is the last night and it has all be amazing. Its always good to go on tour, especially when you are on tour with someone else, because you are playing to a new audience every night and are trying to win fans over and its amazing.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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