KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall performing in February 2008.
Background information
Birth name Kate Victoria Tunstall
Born 23 June 1975 (1975-06-23) (age 35)
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres Alternative rock
Folk
Blues
Country blues
Instruments Guitar, drums, flute, piano, vocals
Years active 2000–present
Labels Relentless, Virgin
(2004–present)
Website www.kttunstall.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Firebird, Gibson Dove, Gretsch White Falcon, Gibson Hummingbird, Gretsch G6128-1962 Double Cutaway

Kate Victoria Tunstall, better known as KT Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. She broke into the public eye with a live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland. She has enjoyed commercial and critical success since, picking up three nominations before winning a BRIT Award, and a Grammy Award nomination.[1] She is also the recipient of an Ivor Novello Award.

Her debut album Eye to the Telescope was released in 2004, and was a worldwide success. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at #3 on the UK Album Charts, and to date has been certified 5x Platinum by the BPI; this indicating that the album has sold over 1,500,000 copies in the UK. In the United States, Eye to the Telescope charted at #33 on the Billboard 200 album charts, and has been certified Platinum in the United States, selling over 1 million copies there. Her first live album was an acoustic album entitled KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza, released in 2006, and charted at #33 on the UK Album Charts. Her second studio album, Drastic Fantastic was released in 2007, and debuted at #3 on the UK Album Charts. In the United States, it debuted at #9 on the US Billboard 200 album charts.

Tunstall is to release her third studio album entitled Tiger Suit in late September 2010.

Contents

Early life

KT Tunstall was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to a half-Chinese, half-Scottish mother and an Irish father, and was adopted 18 days later by teachers who lived in St Andrews, Scotland.[2] She has never met her biological father.[3] Her adoptive father was employed as a physics lecturer at the University of St Andrews, and her adoptive mother was a school teacher.[4] Tunstall's family also includes an older brother named Joe and a younger brother named Daniel. Her parents had no interest in music and owned no records—the only tape her father owned was a comedy recording by mathematician and musical satirist Tom Lehrer.[5]

Tunstall grew up in St Andrews, a town in Fife, attending Lawhead Primary, but spending her last year of high school in New England[4] at the Kent School, a selective prep school in Kent, Connecticut.[6][7]

"After school, having learned the piano, flute, and guitar, she left her native St Andrews to take up a scholarship at Kent School in Connecticut, New England, where she formed her first band, The Happy Campers."

She spent time busking on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont, and at a commune in rural Vermont. Tunstall studied at the High School of Dundee in Dundee, Madras College in St Andrews, Kent School in Connecticut, and at Royal Holloway, University of London. She has said that: "...My earliest memories are Californian...", attributed to a sabbatical that her father took at UCLA in 1979.[8]

She is influenced by David Bowie, Patti Smith, The Velvet Underground, Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.

Music career

Career Beginnings

Throughout her twenties, she played in indie bands including Elia Drew [9] and Tomoko, and focused on songwriting, as well as performing with members of the fledgling Fence Collective including work in the Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra with King Creosote, who recently supported her UK tour. She also lived with Gordon Anderson (The Beta Band and The Aliens), whom the song Funnyman, on the album Drastic Fantastic, is about. She toured with the Klezmer band Oi Va Voi, and guested on their album, Laughter Through Tears.

UK-based label Relentless Records heard about Tunstall through their scouts and quickly put forward an independent offer.[10] However, Tunstall had decided to sign with a US major, and initially passed up the offer.[10] That deal didn't work out and so she eventually decided to go with Relentless.[10]

Although he recognised the potential in the quality of her voice and songs, at this point Relentless co-founder Shabs Jobanputra's assessment was that she "wasn't ready yet" and so together with her manager, Jobanputra discussed "the process of how we saw her happening and how we would work, why we thought the songs were great, why we thought she was great, and why it could really work if we took enough time."[10] After the signing a lot of time was spent developing certain songs and honing her live performance before she was ready for release.[10]

Eye to the Telescope (2004–2006)

Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, was released in late 2004. Tunstall's style of music varies from folk to pop. In Edinburgh and St Andrews, she played in a band called Red Light Stylus, which was regarded as one of the better bands to emerge from the limited Fife scene.

Tunstall's first appearance of note was a solo performance of her blues song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland.[11] The performance was notable as she had only 24 hours to prepare after scheduled performer Nas cancelled.[12] Her performance caught the eye of many viewers, although she had previously performed it on French television only some weeks before, upstaging more established acts such as The Cure, Embrace, and The Futureheads; she then went on to top the post-show poll on the website for that episode.

Shortly after the "Later" appearance, Eye to the Telescope was re-released and shot up the UK charts, eventually peaking at #3 (on its first release it had entered at #73); it was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. It was released in the U.S. on 7 February 2006.

Tunstall's North American break came when American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee contacted her asking to use "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" as her choice for a Billboard-themed week. At the time, the song was #79 on the Billboard charts.[13] Tunstall had not been shy with her opinions regarding shows like Idol saying "The major problem I have is that it's completely controlled... they're told what to say. They're told how to sing."[14] She chose to license the song as she felt that "no one on that show told Katharine McPhee to sing my song because no one knew it"[14] Tunstall's belief was correct—the song was suggested to McPhee by Billboard columnist and author Fred Bronson.[15] The song immediately jumped to #23 on the Billboard charts the week following McPhee's performance.[13] She has later said "My status as a musician in America is pretty much cemented by Katharine McPhee, which is really interesting and funny for me because I've never been polite about how I feel about shows like that."[16]

Acoustic Extravaganza (2006–2007)

Tunstall released a new acoustic album in May 2006, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza, which was first only available via mail order from her website. The album was re-released in stores worldwide in October 2006.

Tunstall sang with Scottish band Travis on their 2007 album "The Boy With No Name", on the track "Under The Moonlight", a song written by Susie Hug (late of Katydids).

Drastic Fantastic (2007–2008)

Tunstall's second album, Drastic Fantastic, premiered on 3 September 2007 in Scotland, followed a week later on 10 September 2007 with the London release for the UK and 18 September 2007, in the US. In its first week, Drastic Fantastic reached #1 on the Scottish Album Charts, #3 on the UK Charts, and #9 on the U.S. Charts.[17] The album's lead single "Hold On" was released in August 2007, debuting at #34 in the UK, before peaking at #21 in the United Kingdom. The song was also very successful in certain European nations peaking at #19 in Italy, #19 in Norway, #26 in Switzerland and #39 in Ireland.[18][19] The album's second single "Saving My Face" was released in December 2007. The song did not make the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, but however did managed to peak at #50 on the UK Singles Charts, managing 3 weeks on the UK Charts. Despite missing the UK Top 40, the song made the Top 40 in Italy, making #23 and in Switzerland peaking at #93.[20][21] The album's third single, and final worldwide single, "If Only" was released in March 2008, becoming the second single from the album not to make the UK Top 40, it managed #45 in audition.[22]

On 5 October 2007 the U.S. discount department store chain Target, in association with NBC, released a special KT Tunstall Christmas EP on CD. Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection contains six exclusive tracks:

On 10 December 2007 it was released in Europe through Relentless Records as a digital download only, under the title Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas.

In 2008 KT Tunstall recorded a song for the album Songs for Survival, in support of the indigenous rights organization Survival International.[23][24] In a video for Survival International, she speaks of music as being a force for good, and about what she has learned about tribal people on this project. She also discusses various issues concerning our culture of consumption and greed, our relation to the earth and the importance of indigenous rights in the world today.[25]

Tunstall also worked with Suzanne Vega on her 2007 album Beauty & Crime, singing backup on songs "Zephyr and I" and "Frank and Ava". It was revealed in the booklet by Vega that the two had never met during the process of making the album.

Tiger Suit (2009-present)

On February 11, 2010 The Daily Record reported that, " 'KT TUNSTALL has recorded her new album in Berlin's famous Hansa studio. The studio, beside the site of the Berlin Wall, was used to make legendary albums including David Bowie's Heroes and U2's Achtung Baby. Kt said: "I had an amazing three weeks recording in Hansa in Berlin in January and am finishing it all off in London." The Scots singer, who has been quiet of late, reassured fans she has been busy. She added: "I am still very much alive and have every music-making limb and muscle working in my laboratory of fierce-new-album-ness." Before her album comes out, KT will be playing a stripped-down set at the Haiti fundraising gig at the Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday February 25. She hopes to jump up with her old pal Seasick Steve for a song or two. Kt added: "My shizzle will feature some new faces and definitely some new songs, so come and have a listen and chuck some dough at a good cause." '

According to her website, Tunstall has finished recording her third studio album.[26]. The album has been titled Tiger Suit.[27] It will be released in the UK on 20 September 2010 and in the US on 28 September 2010.[28]

The official artwork for the sleeve leaked on 2 August 2010 appearing first on Kuwaiti music blog Loft965.com.[29]

Live performances

Tunstall performing at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival with her Gibson Dove guitar

Tunstall is known for her live performances, in which she combines use of an Akai E2 Headrush loop pedal, which she affectionately calls "Wee Bastard", with a full four-piece backing band (Luke Bullen on drums, Arnulf Lindner on bass, Sam Lewis on lead guitar and Kenny Dickenson on keyboards, trumpet, percussion and various other instruments), as well as her two backup singers (Cat Sforza and Ami Richardson)

Similar to her initial debut on music show Later... with Jools Holland,[11] Tunstall first debuted in the United States performing on various talk shows, although it wasn't until The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she was interviewed. Since her talk show days, she has performed at numerous large concerts such as the Hogmanay Edinburgh Concert in 2005, the American leg of Live Earth in 2007, and the Nobel Peace Prize Concert also in 2007.[30] Tunstall said prior to the Hogmanay performance that "This is the gig of a lifetime... This Hogmanay party is probably the best-known and best-loved in the world, and I've been here a few times over the years dreaming of being the one entertaining the crowds. Until we're on that stage I won't believe we're allowed on it."[31]

Jimmy Doherty organised a festival called "Harvest at Jimmy's" in which many folk artists performed for festival goers. KT Tunstall played at this event and was the "Headliner act" of the festival. She performed some exclusive tracks from her new album at the event.

Awards and nominations

In Tunstall's break through year, 2005, she received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize, which eventually went to Antony and the Johnsons;[32] and was awarded Best Track for her composition and performance of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by Q magazine.[33]

In January the following year, 2006, she received three BRIT nominations - British Live Act, British Breakthrough Act, and British Female Solo Artist - eventually gaining the award for British Female Solo Artist, remarking that she wished to share it with fellow nominee Kate Bush.[11] Later the same month she was given a European Border Breakers Award, which recognises the top-selling European Union artists outside their home country.[34] Also, in 2006 she won the Ivor Novello Best Song Musically and Lyrically for "Suddenly I See",[35] along with Scottish Style Awards "Most Stylish Band or Musician".[36]

She gained more nominations in 2007 and 2008: a 2007 Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" (eventually going to Christina Aguilera for "Ain't No Other Man"),[37] and another BRIT nomination for British Female Solo Artist — the same accolade she had won in 2006.[38]

Personal life

Although her first name is Kate, she chooses to go by KT as her first name, saying "[Kate] just makes me think of a buxom lass baking bread for her man working in the fields. I have no problem with that, but it's just not really how I pictured being a rock star."[4] Also, Tunstall spells her first name KT (as opposed to Katie) to differentiate herself from fellow singer Katie Melua.[39]

Tunstall sparked some controversy in 2005 when she publicly criticised singer/songwriter Dido, stating that the artist "can't [expletive] sing" after several fans compared the two musically. Tunstall later apologized, stating that she did not want to be involved in a public feud.[40] Later, she denied rumours or assumptions concerning her sexual orientation[41] by expressing gratitude to her gay and lesbian following,[42] and said the rainbow patterned suspenders on her debut record cover[43] were not intended as a statement of identity or politics as she was unaware of the symbolism at the time.[42]

In April 2007, Tunstall underwent surgery to correct an undersized kidney, a problem caused by a childhood infection.[44]

In 2003 Tunstall began dating Luke Bullen, the drummer in her band.[42] On Christmas Day, 2007, Bullen proposed to her at her parents' home in St Andrews, Scotland,[45] and the couple were married on 6 September 2008 at the Flodigarry Country House Hotel on the Isle Of Skye in Scotland.[46]

In September 2008 Tunstall joined the Disko Bay Cape Farewell expedition to the West Coast of Greenland. Cape Farewell is a UK based arts organisation that brings artists, scientists and communicators together to instigate a cultural response to climate change.

In 2010, Tunstall publicly disowned her stepfather, David Orr, because of Orr's decision to run as a British National Party candidate in the general election for Livingston.[47] Orr is the husband of Tunstall's half-Chinese birth mother, Carol Ann Orr, who gave her up for adoption just days after she was born.[48]

Tunstall recently publicly criticised pop artists such as Shakira for using sexy images to sell music. Tunstall singled out Shakira's video, She Wolf, saying that, "The Shakira video actually shocked me and I am not easily shocked. I was like, 'You are shoving your lady bits in my face. I didn't ask for that'. It is shocking but it seems they need to shock to get attention."[49] However, soon after the report was published, KT claimed that the article was a fake, saying on her Twitter, "Hi crazy Shakira fans! I think she's incredibly talented. Guess what? Tabloids try & cause bitch fights. Dont believe everything u read...". [50]

Discography

Albums

References

  1. ↑ Jacqui Swift (2007-08-24). "'I didn't want to be a pop star'". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2006140003-2007390324,00.html. Retrieved 2007-08-30. 
  2. ↑ Montgomery, James. "KT Tunstall Outdoes The Cure, But Label Still Won't Trust Her". mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1527185/20060328/tunstall_kt.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-12-17. 
  3. ↑ Fiona Shepherd (2005-60-11). "KT Tunstall: Live and Proud". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1020&id=640172005. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tim Blanks (September 2005). "KT Tunstall". Interview (magazine). Archived from the original on 2005-12-01. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_11_35/ai_n15950795. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  5. ↑ Planet Rock Profiles - KT Tunstall
  6. ↑ Mark Guarino (Sep/Oct 2007). "KT Tunstall: Never Going Home". Harp. http://www.harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=6170. Retrieved 2007-08-30. 
  7. ↑ Thomason, Carmel "KT's got one eye on the future", Manchester Evening News, 10 March 2005 Accessed 24 February 2008]
  8. ↑ SoundStage (2008-07-10). Tunstall, KT (2008-07-10). Statement during 10 July 2008 broadcast of SoundStage.
  9. ↑ Elia Drew
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "Interview With Shabs Jobanputra". HitQuarters. November 13, 2005. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_ShabsJobanputra.html. Retrieved Jun 22, 2010. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "KT ecstatic at Brit Award success". BBC News. 2006-02-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4719272.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  12. ↑ Barry Didcock (2005-05-01). "Almost Famous: By the end of the summer KT Tunstall will be huge". Sunday Herald. Archived from the original on 2005-05-01. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050501/ai_n14610204. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "KT Tunstall: Grey’s Music Mainstay". greysanatomyinsider.com 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Chris Rolls (2007-08-26). "KT Tunstall: Slightly More Esoteric". MP3.com. http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/10018.html. Retrieved 2007-09-05. 
  15. ↑ Fred Bronson (2008-03-14). "He's Just Seen A Face". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/chat_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003725821. Retrieved 2008-04-04. 
  16. ↑ Fergus Sheppard (2007-02-17). "'KT breaks into US market to become an American Idol'". The Sun. http://news.scotsman.com/music.cfm?id=258872007. Retrieved 2007-09-03. 
  17. ↑ KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic Home
  18. ↑ "KT Tunstall - Hold On - Music Charts". Acharts.us. http://acharts.us/song/27319. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  19. ↑ "KT Tunstall - Hold On". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=33334. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  20. ↑ "KT Tunstall - Saving My Face - Music Charts". Acharts.us. http://acharts.us/song/29932. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  21. ↑ "KT Tunstall - Saving My Face". Chart Stats. 2007-12-15. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=33552. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  22. ↑ "KT Tunstall - If Only". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=33707. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  23. ↑ Songs for Survival - Survival International
  24. ↑ "Will.I.Am. Teams Up With KT Tunstall And Bruce Parry For A New Fundraising Album | AHN". Allheadlinenews.com. 2008-09-18. http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012343584. Retrieved 2010-05-04. 
  25. ↑ Songs for Survival KT Tunstall - Survival International official youtube channel (video)
  26. ↑ KT Tunstall Official Website. (video) Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  27. ↑ http://kttunstall.com/diary/
  28. ↑ http://www.emimusic.com/blog/2010/kt-tunstall-announces-new-album-details/
  29. ↑ "Official cover art of KT Tunstall’s album Tiger Suit", Loft965.com, 2 August 2010
  30. ↑ "Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2007". nobelpeaceprize.og. http://nobelpeaceprize.org/concert/. Retrieved 2007-12-11r. 
  31. ↑ Joan McFadden (2005-11-05). "What KT did next". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1020&id=2196372005. Retrieved 2007-09-06. 
  32. ↑ "Antony and Johnsons win Mercury". BBC News. 2005-08-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4217140.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  33. ↑ Edward Black (2005-10-11). "KT Tunstall caps year of success with Q award". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1020&id=2070952005. Retrieved 2007-08-30. 
  34. ↑ JH. "Tunstall Breaks Borders". MTV UK. http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/tunstall_breaks_borders_0. Retrieved 2007-08-31. 
  35. ↑ "Tunstall single tops Ivor awards". BBC News. 2006-05-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5017190.stm. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  36. ↑ Scottish Style Awards interview stv.tv
  37. ↑ "Complete list of 2007 Grammy winners and nominees". Baltimore Sun. 2007-02-12. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/bal-artslife-grammylist1207,0,816734.htmlstory?coll=bal-features-specials. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  38. ↑ "Brit Awards British Female Solo Artist". BRIT Awards. 2008-01-14. http://www.brits.co.uk/nominations/38/. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
  39. ↑ "TUNSTALL HATES MELUA COMPARISON". contactmusic.com. 2007-08-24. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/tunstall%20hates%20melua%20comparison_1041625. Retrieved 2007-09-17. 
  40. ↑ "Tunstall Apologies to Dido". contactmusic.com. 2005-08-19. http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/tunstall%20apologies%20to%20dido. Retrieved 2007-08-30. 
  41. ↑ John Dingwall (2005-08-17). "Mercury Is Still Rising on Red-Hot Rocker KT". The Daily Record. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/features/tm_objectid=15865102&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=mercury-is-still-rising-on-red-hot-rocker-kt--name_page.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 PinkNews.co.uk writer (2006-02-28). "KT Tunstall: I'm proud of my lesbian following". pinknews.co.uk. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-439.html. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  43. ↑ "KT's lesbian following". Ananova. http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_1715459.html?menu=entertainment.pop. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  44. ↑ Toby McDonald (2007-04-21). "KT Tunstall has kidney operation". The Scotsman. http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1020&id=612812007. Retrieved 2007-08-30. 
  45. ↑ "KT Tunstall - Diary January 2008". http://www.kttunstall.com/diary/2008-01/. 
  46. ↑ "KT Tunstall weds her drummer boy on the Isle Of Skye". http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1053153/KT-Tunstall-weds-drummer-boy-Isle-Skye.html. 
  47. ↑ "Scots rocker KT Tunstall's fury at BNP election candidate stepdad". http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/election/election-2010-news/2010/04/25/scots-rocker-kt-tunstall-s-fury-at-bnp-election-candidate-stepdad-86908-22210672/. Retrieved April 25, 2010. 
  48. ↑ "KT Tunstall’s stepfather stands as BNP candidate". http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/kt-tunstall-s-stepfather-stands-as-bnp-candidate-1.1022873. 
  49. ↑ "Scots rocker KT Tunstall says raunchy singers are setting bad example". http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2010/07/31/scots-rocker-kt-tunstall-says-raunchy-singers-are-setting-bad-example-86908-22453725/. 
  50. ↑ "KT Tunstall". http://twitter.com/KTTunstall. 
  51. ↑ www.kttunstal.com

External links

Video:

Audio:

KT Tunstall
Studio albums
Eye to the Telescope · Drastic Fantastic · Tiger Suit
Other albums
Acoustic Extravaganza
Singles
"Throw Me a Rope" · "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" · "Other Side of the World" · "Suddenly I See" · "Under the Weather" · "Another Place to Fall" · "Hold On" · "Saving My Face" · "If Only" · "Little Favours" · "(Still a) Weirdo" · "Fade Like a Shadow"
EPs
False Alarm · Live Sessions · Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas · Live from SoHo
Related articles
Discography · Katharine McPhee · "Sing"