| Kate Havnevik | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kate Havnevik |
| Origin | Oslo, Norway |
| Genres | Electronica, Alternative, Pop |
| Labels | Continentica Records |
| Website | KateHavnevik.com |
Kate Havnevik is a singer and songwriter from Oslo, Norway. Her debut album, the critically acclaimed electronica infused Melankton, was released in March 2006 on iTunes and April 2006 (on physical CD) in Norway only, before being licensed internationally later. Havnevik released an EP called 'me' in the fall of 2009, while preparing her second album, 'You', which is to be released on 10 October[1] . Kate is releasing her albums through her own record label, Continentica Records.
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Kate can play the piano, the guitar, and the melodica amongst other instruments, and wanted to be a classical and jazz musician, up until the age of 14, when she joined an all female punk rock band rehearsing and playing at Oslo's illegally occupied club, Blitz. The experience changed her musical horizons, and led her to pursue an interest in classical music mixed with modern electronica. She says she became interested in songwriting at the age of 16 or 17, when she began to write lyrics, as opposed to solely focusing on instrumentation. Her father (who is English) and mother are both classically trained musicians, they both play the flute. When she was 19, she went to Liverpool, England to study music and composition at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, when she graduated she moved to London to further her career in music.
Havnevik set about working with producers to help hone her sound, the most famous of which is Guy Sigsworth, part of Frou Frou, who has also worked with Imogen Heap, Madonna, Jem, Britney Spears, Björk and Alanis Morissette. Havnevik tracked down Sigsworth around five years ago, rang him and left phone messages, until one day he agreed to meet her. The pair have co-written and recorded many songs together, some of which have been featured on Melankton, including "Unlike Me", "Not Fair" and "You Again", and some of which will be included on Kate's second album 'You', including "Disobey", which Havnevik premiered on her official web site. She describes Melankton as "dramatic, beautiful and euphoric", and deemed it the perfect introduction to her music, which is why it is being released first. The album title is from a character in a Norwegian book Havnevik was reading, and also translates to "black rose", which she says is very fitting for the album. Melankton was mastered in Devon, partly mixed in Los Angeles, partly mixed and recorded in London, Bratislava, Oslo, Reykjavík and Los Angeles. The album was premiered online on Havnevik's official web site for 48hours from 11–12 March 2006, and was added to Apple Computer's iTunes music store on 27 March 2006. It was commercially released on CD on 3 April in Norway; a special UK edition, omitting "Someday", and instead including "Travel In Time", was released on 16 October 2006. A special edition, featuring a new song entitled "Timeless," which was featured in season three of ABC hospital drama, "Grey's Anatomy," was released in the United States on 27 March 2007 exactly one year after its iTunes release. Havnevik recorded her second album in Norway & Poland with producer Guy Sigsworth. The album is scheduled for release in 2011. She released an audiophile quality, CD-format only, 5-track EP entitled "Me", in September 2009.
In addition to Sigsworth, Havnevik has also collaborated with Marius De Vries, who has previously worked with Björk and David Gray and Yoad Nevo, famous for his work with Welsh singer Jem. For her future third album - an acoustic project - entitled Embla, which she started recording in May 2005, Havnevik worked with the harpist Rhodri Davies, vibraphonist Orphy Robinson and Lamb bassist Jon Thorne.
A number of her songs have been featured in the television drama Grey's Anatomy:
A song called "Strangelove" was featured in an episode of The West Wing, but is yet to be released. The song "Not Fair" is used on Match of the Day. It plays in the background when the Premiership table is being shown.
On December 5, 2006 she made her first ever UK broadcast media appearance, on Janice Long's BBC Radio 2 show, performing "Unlike Me", "I Don't Know You" and "New Day."
"Take the Challenge: Live the Dream" (1999) Written & Directed by Elisabeth Nord.
Established in the home town of The Beatles, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) has proved itself as a hot-house for young talent. This documentary follows four LIPA students and their creative development as they study to live their dreams, and also includes an interview with founder and ex-Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, in which he explains why his home town was the ideal location for his fame school.
"Map The Music" (2010) Directed by Samantha Hale
Kate appears in concert (and behind-the-scenes), in a documentary by music lover and filmmaker, Samantha Hale. "Map The Music" chronicles a concert studded road trip Samantha embarked upon after the death of her father, discovering the power that music has on people. Through interviews with fans and artists alike, Samantha struggles with her loss, while attempting to unravel the mysteries of music. Artists (besides Kate) include Imogen Heap, Zoe Keating, Tori Amos, Rachael Yamagata, Charlotte Martin and Jim Bianco. "Map The Music" contains unreleased concert performances and behind-the-scenes footage with some of the most unique musicians in independent music today. Released September 7, 2010. Distributed by InSound.
"Sing: The Hotel Cafe Tour Documentary" (2011) Directed by Laura Crosta.
Premiered 7 March 2011 on The Documentary Channel in the USA. Slated for film festivals spring/summer. Features (besides Kate) Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Laswell, Josh Radin, Cary Brothers, Gary Jules, Jim Bianco, Meiko, Holly Conlan, and many more.
As well as her solo projects, Kate has also co-written and provided guest vocals on the tracks "Only This Moment" and "Circuit Breaker" by Röyksopp, both featured on the album The Understanding. Havnevik also contributes vocals to Röyksopp's live EP, Röyksopp's Night Out.
A collaboration she recorded with Carmen Rizzo ("Travel In Time") featured on Rizzo's album, The Lost Art Of The Idle Moment. The track was remixed for the UK version of Melankton and featured on a season 3 episode of the FOX teen drama series "The O.C." and an episode of NBC TV show "Windfall". In 2010, Kate again collaborated with Carmen Rizzo on the track "This Life" on his "Looking Through Leaves" album.
She co-wrote and provided vocals on the track "Crazy", featured on mono band's 2005 self-titled LP, a solo project of former Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan. Working extensively with Guy Sigsworth, she also provided backing vocals, (as a favor), to a Britney Spears track he produced, which was released in late 2005, entitled "Someday (I Will Understand)."
Kate's vocals are featured on the songs "Don't Go" & " The Fire" from the album "Atemlos" by Schiller (band), released on March 12, 2010 on iTunes, Germany. Kate joined the german concert tour of Schiller (band) in May 2010, which was filmed for the 2 DVD + 1 CD box set 'Lichtblick'. "Atemlos" was made available on USA iTunes and elsewhere over the summer, 2010. "Lichtblick" was released, November 2010, in Germany, and includes a new song "Ghost", recorded by Kate and Christopher von Deylen, especially for it.
In 2010, Kate joined the collective "The Dark Flowers" formed by musician/writer/producer Paul Statham who was inspired after reading the "Motel Chronicles" by Sam Shepard and whilst listening to a soundtrack by Bruce Langhorne, from the 70's western film, "The Hired Hand". Brian Eno's "Another Green World" has also played an influence. "The Dark Flowers" collective features, apart from Kate's "Fast Forest Rain", songs featuring vocalist's Jim Kerr, Dot Allison, Peter Murphy, Shelly Poole, Catherine A.D, Helicopter Girl and Remi Roughe. The project is currently seeking a recording deal. (fall 2010)
(Norway edition includes, "Someday" and "Se Meg." U.S. includes "Travel In Time" and "Timeless" - "Someday" and "Se Meg" are removed)
"Me", a 5 track audiophile quality CD . Tracklisting: Show Me Love, Halo, Think Again, Disobey, Soon. Released September 2009.
{{Persondata | NAME =Havnevik, Kate