Kate Nash Keeps It Real
For British musician Kate Nash, falling down the stairs and breaking her foot was a blessing in disguise.
During her recovery, Nash, who was already an acoustic guitar player, began playing the electric guitar as a remedy for her boredom. Nash also penned lyrics, intertwining poetry and ordinary conversation.
By keeping it simple and not skirting around the truth about life and love, the 20-year-old discovered an interesting formula -- one that other women from her generation could relate to.
"It was about getting into spoken word and punk music. It happened really naturally," Nash told The ShowBuzz about writing her racy, bitter, comical and sometimes-vulgar lyrics.
"When you think about it, it's really tough to do, so I just really stopped thinking. The whole punk thing is really simple and basic." Nash said. "I found it really grounding and passionate -- with people wearing their heart on their sleeves and speaking out about what they care about, and I was, like, well I am going to do that."
There was a lot of Internet buzz for Nash's hit song "Foundations," which bumped up the release of her album "Made Of Bricks," which hit No. 1 on the U.K. charts.
Photos: British Music Awards
Like many other up-and-coming artists, Nash was able to use her MySpace page to create a solid platform to introduce and establish her music as well as create a dialogue with her fans.
"It's the tool of our generation really. It's what everybody uses now. It speeds things up a bit," Nash said. "Some people can have weird lives on the Internet and it never crosses over, but with 'Foundations' it was clear that it was transferring to real life and real people. It's a really great tool to get in touch with your fans."
Nash felt relieved to finally have a complete album after receiving so much press from "Foundations." With an album to boot, she felt more settled and able to define herself as an artist.
Her album "Made of Bricks" is a funky compellation of cool beats, rhythms and sound effects incorporating guitars, violins, keyboards and piano. The sounds are accompanied by Nash's London accent, which is overly emphasized to put a dramatic spin on the spoken word.
Born and raised in London to an English father and an Irish mother, Nash's upbringing exposed her to different genres of music. Her musical influences include Regina Spektor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Carol King, as well as Celtic folk music such as The Dubliners, indie and punk music such as Bikini Kill and John Cooper Clarke, and hard-core punk music such as Gallows.
Despite her tell-it-like-it-is lyrics, Nash stays grounded by living at home with her family.
Nash said fame has "been really bizarre. It's been really rich, it's a weird thing to adjust to. You create a team of people around you who make you feel safe and know what's going on business-wise."
Nash's typical routine is eating dinner with her family, watching "The Simpsons," fighting with her sister and doing laundry. Nash's sisters also pitch in by doing her photography and make-up.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, there have been rumors circulating that Prince wanted to meet Nash after hearing her album.
"I read that as well, but I don't know if that's true," Nash said with a chuckle.
Nash is still getting acquainted with the U.S. music scene, having just performed a couple of shows in New York City, but she said that there's a positive movement going on in the U.K. music scene.
In the U.K., what once used to be a negative music scene is now a place where everyone is really supportive of each other, Nash explained. Within the amateur scene exists a "punk-ethic" and a network of people who aren't as concerned about getting signed by a record label as much as they are with the music they're creating.
Nash is often compared to British singer Lilly Allen, who also uses strong intonation with her London accent. Allen has supported Nash by adding her demos to her MySpace page.
Although Nash respects Allen as an artist, she thinks that it's important to recognize that each artist has their own identity and individuality, instead of categorizing up-and-coming artists as "mini-Allens."
Nash also says there's a double standard in the music industry for men and women. She says there's only temporary room for female artists, but that there's always room for the boy band set-up.
"I think there's a lot of sexism in the music industry," Nash said. "Women are always in fashion."
So, what should we expect next from Kate Nash? A U.K. tour, a European tour, an American tour and a Japanese tour.
"I find it a little bit daunting because America is so huge," Nash said.
Nash will also be interviewing her favorite artist, Regina Spektor, for The NME, a British music magazine.
She also just released "Mouthwash" from her album "Made of Bricks" on Oct. 1.
Following the "natural progression" Nash said that she will continue writing songs for her second album, which will have elements of the first.
"I like story-telling," Nash said. "It's like cracking open the walnut and showing people what you are saying and communicating with your fans."
By Melissa Castellanos