Kate Nash

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Kate Nash
Kate Nash performing in June 2007.
Kate Nash performing in June 2007.
Background information
Birth name Kate Marie Nash
Born July 6, 1987 (1987-07-06) (age 20)
Harrow, London, England [1]
Genre(s) Indie, Indie pop, Piano pop
Instrument(s) vocals, guitar, synth, keyboard, bass
Years active 2007-present
Label(s) Moshi Moshi, Fiction
Website KateNash.co.uk

Kate Marie Nash[2] (born 6 July 1987) is a BRIT Award and NME Award-winning English[3] musician.

Contents

[edit] Career

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[edit] Early years

Kate Nash was born in Liverpool England to an English father and Irish mother[citation needed]; she grew up in North Harrow. Nash first became interested in music during her childhood. She learned how to play the piano at Sandbach School. She attended St. John Fisher School (in Pinner) and moved onto the St Joan of Arc Catholic School, Rickmansworth. She was taught guitar by teacher Louis Michelle. She studied Theatre at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in South London. She auditioned at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but was rejected, after which she fell down a flight of stairs, breaking her foot. During her recovery, she was housebound and unable to move, so her her an electric guitar. Nash used this time to focus on her songwriting: she began to write some new songs, finished old ones and decided that she would book herself a gig at a local bar in Harrow called Trinity on Gayton Road to showcase her songs. She subsequently decided to start a career in music. After several gigs, Nash uploaded her music to the social networking website MySpace. Nash found herself a manager before proceeding to look for producers for her music.

[edit] Moshi Moshi Records

Nash's debut was a single—Caroline's a Victim/Birds—recorded in Iceland and released through Moshi Moshi in February 2007. The release was limited to 1000 copies, and was available on only 7" vinyl. Due to demand another 1000 copies were made and sold out. A video for the song was released and received airplay on MTV2. The video, directed by Kinga Burza. The B-side, "Birds", later featured on her debut album, Made of Bricks.

[edit] Fiction Records

In April 2007, Nash was signed to the Polydor offshoot Fiction Records.[4] A month later, Nash was mocked through a parody of her song, "Caroline's a Victim" entitled "LDN Is A Victim". The song mocked Nash and Lily Allen, amongst others, for singing in a Cockney-drawl, despite their privileged backgrounds.[5]

Nash's second single and first through Fiction Records, "Foundations", which she co-wrote with producer Paul Epworth, was released on June 18, 2007 and reached number two in the official UK Singles Chart.

Following "Foundations", Fiction announced plans to bring forward the release of Nash's debut album to August 6, 2007. The album, Made of Bricks, produced by Paul Epworth, included many of the tracks she had been performing on her two nationwide tours. The album was leaked to filesharing networks days before its commercial release, and has received mixed reviews, The Independent describing it as being in "pole position for worst album of the year."[6] The album reached number 1 in the UK charts.[7]

During mid-2007, Nash performed at numerous festivals including Wireless Festival, Bestival, the Electric Gardens, Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds, Oxegen and T in the Park. She made her official TV performance debut on Later with Jools Holland.

Nash features on rapper Kano's album London Town, in a song titled "Me & My Microphone". She is also featured in the song "Look What You've Done" from Lethal Bizzle's latest album, Back To Bizznizz.

Regarding the recording of a new album, Nash told NME that she had been inspired by The Supremes and has written a song called "Cat Song" in their honour.[8] She is also set to release a duet single with Billy Bragg, a cover of The Shangri-Las "Give Storey A Great Big Kiss".

On 20 February 2008 she received a BRIT award for Best Female artist.

[edit] Personal Life

Nash underwent heart surgery in 2005, for tachycardia.[9]

[edit] Discography

Main article: Kate Nash Discography

[edit] Albums

Nash's 2007 debut album, Made of Bricks.
Nash's 2007 debut album, Made of Bricks.

[edit] Singles

Year Song UK IRE CRO BEL NTH GER USA USA Pop AUS EU Album
2007 "Caroline's a Victim" 153 - - - - - - - - - -
"Foundations" 2 12 1 12 37 28 116 - 38 9 Made of Bricks
"Mouthwash" 23 - - - - - - - - 70
"Pumpkin Soup" 23 40 - - - 83 - - 72 76
2008 "Merry Happy" 193 - - - - - 112 97 - -

[edit] Awards

Year Award Category Title Result
2007 Q Awards Breakthrough Artist Won
XFM Awards Best New Album Made of Bricks Nominated
2008 BRIT Awards British Female Solo Artist Won
British Single Shortlist Foundations Nominated
British Breakthrough Act Nominated
NME Awards Best Solo Artist Won
Best Dressed Nominated
2008 NME Awards USA Best International Indie/Alternative Solo Artist Won
Ivor Novello Awards Best Contemporary Song Foundations Nominated
2008 VQ Hero Awards Nominated

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kate Nash and Adele | Rock | guardian.co.uk Music
  2. ^ ASCAP: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
  3. ^ From nowhere to Number One: Why Kate Nash is the sound of the summer - Features, Music - The Independent
  4. ^ You couldn't make it up: Nash signs with Fiction
  5. ^ "Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog - music: LDN Is A Victim: are you?" (2007-05-13). Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
  6. ^ "The Independent - Reviews: Album - Kate Nash" (2007-08-17). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
  7. ^ "The Sun: Nash names new album" (2007-07-25). Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  8. ^ Taylor, C. "Kate Nash Working On New Album", GIGWISE, 2007-09-12. Retrieved on 2008-02-04. 
  9. ^ Breaking Out: Kate Nash Spin Magazine 5 November, 2007

[edit] External links

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Kate Nash
Studio albums
Singles
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