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J: "When did you start singing seriously?"
K: "I have been singing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I was 19 that I actually sang in public... I was at a karaoke with a boyfriend and just decided to try it. Everyone reacted really well and I won a bottle of champagne... after that, I was hooked!"
J: "Have you been in any other groups or recorded anything before?"
K: "I haven't been in any other 'bands' strictly speaking... I was in a kind of show with 'The Madness Crew' when I was about 19 or 20... and we just did covers - but it got me used to using a microphone."
"I was then given the opportunity to record in a studio with a guy called Mark Newton. It was a fantastic experience and opened up all sorts of opportunities."
"I went on to develop my song/lyric writing with a friend of mine called Ross and as we’d met through Mark we ended up recording these songs in his studio."
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J: "Tell us about the band then Kate?"
"The band I have joined is called 'Mermaid Kiss'.... I think it's a great name... We want to draw subtle attention to the 'dark side' that is within everyone and everything... Mermaids are beautiful, alluring... partially innocent... but can also be quite deadly if you succumb to them..." (Ed, sounds good to me, what are you up to later Kate J ).
"The band started in early 2000 and was made up of Evelyn Downing, Jamie Field and Andy Garman. When Evelyn left to go to University the distance started to make things difficult and eventually Jamie and Andy began their search for a new vocalist. This led to an advert on the internet, then auditions in October – and that’s how we came to meet. Evelyn is still going to be part of Mermaid Kiss. She will be playing the flute on the next album and will hopefully do harmonies at live gigs. I can't wait to meet her :)"
J: "How would you describe the music?"
K: "Hmmm, that’s a good one and I’m not going to cop out but I think I need to phone a friend!" (Ed wasn’t that a cop out) This is what Jamie Field says about it: “…The first album was reviewed in everything from a trad folk mag, though rock and progressive magazines, on ambient and celtic sites right through to a Heavy Metal magazine in Poland - it crosses a lot of genres. The content of the songs tend to dictate the style we do them in rather than us trying to cram every song into a specific style. A lot of the music creates atmospheres. People have said the music paints pictures in their head. The best way to decide about it is probably to go and listen to it.”
J: "What plans do the band have?"
K: "We have big plans! We aim to release the EP (working title of 'Salt on Skin') before Christmas... or failing that, early next year. This will consist of 2 songs with Evelyn’s vocals on them to promote the first album and 4 songs with my vocals to introduce me as the new Mermaid Kiss singer. We hope to have the new album ready by the middle of next year. We have a website: www.mermaidkiss.co.uk and there's a link on the front page where you can send your email address to receive the Mermaid Kiss newsletter."
J: "What was the audition like, was it nerve wracking/exciting?"
K: It certainly wasn't nerve wracking... which is a good thing as that would've made my voice clam up! lol! It was exciting because I felt that we were / are on the edge of something amazing... We did a bit of recording at my audition and even managed to get a great 'live' recording from one take of 'I go to sleep' - which was a song I'd never heard before... Jamie played it through twice and then we recorded it. This live version will probably go on the ep. In short - I loved the audition. It just all felt 'right'."
J: "OK Kate I guess I've got to ask you about your job, no pressure at all – do you like it?"
K: "Firstly, the people I work with are all great and a joy to work with. We have a giggle – especially when the Directors are off in their meetings (maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that)"
"With regards to my role: I like talking to lots of different people... well - the truth is - I love talking full stop! I'm surprised that anyone manages to get a word in edgeways... I must listen a little more! Some people jest about this :) I like searching for new clients... - I am ‘results driven’ so the targets that I’m given bring out the best in me work-wise. I also like the fact that the services we offer as a company are things that companies actually ‘need’. So it feels ethical to me to be selling what we do. I am quite prolific with the 'notes' that I make from my phone calls - and this seems to go down well with the Directors ;)"
J: "And finally Kate give me a paragraph that would describe you to a group of strangers?"
K: "Okay... I'm an extremist that likes to analyse, to get 'down to the core' of a person... I hate small talk! I need to channel my energy, especially my creative energy, otherwise it can manifest itself in other (negative) ways. I love to sing, to talk, to walk out in the wilderness, to spend time around like-minded people - but also to have time alone. I love animals - especially cats, and I'm interested in mystical things... astrology... auras... what ‘makes people tick'. I'm a walking oxymoron really - lol! (Ed, oxy what J ) One side of me is a girl that likes bears (fluffy ones) whereas the other side of me is a kind of Lara Croft personality that works out and likes killing opponents on X-box beat-up games!!!! Oh, and I'm a 'closet show-off'.... it's the Moon in Leo that does it!"
J. "So there we go; it might not be Rolling Stone or NME but when Kate hits the big time, remember, I was there first………Thanks to Kate and Mermaid Kiss. Good luck with wherever the music and the inspiration takes you."
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