A Conversation with Katy B – HuffPost 9.30.11

Mike Ragogna: Katy, how are you?

Katy B: Doing very well, Mike. Thanks so much for having me.

MR: My pleasure. On A Mission is your first album as “Katy B,” right?

KB: Yeah, it is.

MR: Can you share with us how you came to get your record deal?

KB: Well, I did a lot of random tracks with a lot of people that I knew. I did one with my friend’s brother and a few others. I tried to do lots of different things with lots of different people–you know, just going to their house and writing and recording tracks. Nothing ever really happened with anything. I remember one day, one of my songs started getting played on pirate radio. In London, there are a lot of pirate radio stations…I guess in the US you don’t really have pirate radio. Then a couple of my tracks got played on Rinse FM, which also happens to own a label, which is where I signed. They do a lot of club-based music. They basically wanted to put together this album where they got all the DJs together that they produced and put together a kind of showcase of their music, but they wanted me to sing over all the tracks to sort of link them all together because they were going to be from all different genres, you know? But over time, the process kind of changed and it turned into my own album and we kind of zoned in with the Magnetic Man. That’s kind of it in a nutshell.

MR: Now, you have so many UK hits on this album such as “Katy On A Mission,” which was your first big single, right?

KB: Yeah, actually. It was really weird because we did the video for it, and it didn’t really cost that much money. Then we put it on the internet and it just kind of went boom, you know? I was on holiday at the time and I didn’t have my phone on and I got back and it had a following and was getting played on the radio.

MR: One of the singles that you did with Magnetic Men was “Perfect Stranger,” and technically, that was their single, right?

KB: Yeah, that was their single, but they very kindly let me have it for my album as well.

MR: I also see you did worked with DJ NG that featured a certain “Baby Katy.” (laughs) Can you tell us about that person?

KB: (laughs) I was doing some tracks and performing in a club and they told me that my name didn’t fit–Katie Brien was just too boring. So, they came up with Baby Katy. But you can’t be a baby forever. (laughs) You’ve got to grow up someday.

MR: (laughs) Nicely put. Can you tell us a little bit about the differences that see between the dance music scene here in the US versus the scene in the UK and Europe?

KB: Well, it’s hard to say because dance music is such a massive umbrella term, isn’t it. It’s got so many different genres within it, and to be honest, I don’t even know because I haven’t been out to a club that plays that type of music in the US, so I can’t really comment too much.

MR: You’re right in saying that dance as a genre of music has so many genres within it. It kind of takes a bit of schooling to know what you’re listening to, doesn’t it.

KB: Yeah. It’s quite weird, you know? I feel like every day, I’m learning how much history and heritage there is in dance music. It’s very interesting.

MR: Your fame in the UK and Europe happened almost instantly soon to be followed, I’m sure, by tons of fame in the US. How does all of that feel? How does all of that compare to your time as a “starving artist”?

KB: I don’t know. I mean, music has always been kind of a pivotal part of my life. I went to University to study and have always surrounded myself with it–it’s still like that now as well. I still feel like my life is the same but I’m going to different places, you know, and being a bit more busy I suppose.

MR: Yes, of course. Have you found that you still have time to sit down and be creative?

KB: No, not as much as you would think. But I definitely feel like when I’m in a van or a car traveling, I’ll get an idea for a song and my mind will just run off on a long tangent…I’ll just sort of get carried away. I don’t think I’ve had as much time to write more songs, though I will be taking some time off to do that soon. I have been writing some stuff here and there, just not as much as I’d like.

MR: Now that you have such a collection of international hits off of this first album, do you have a couple of songs you hope are just as good in your back pocket for the next album?

KB: Yeah, definitely. The great thing about my first record is that even though it took a while to make, I got to go to the studio once or twice a week and was able to just go about living life as normal in between and I had a lot of things to write about. I kind of wanted it to be the same kind of vibe as normal life, just going to the studio and writing about what was happening in my life. It’s better than taking three weeks off and going into the studio and knowing you have to create an album in that time.

MR: Yeah, it’s very tough, although there are some artists who thrive on having nothing to write about when they go into the studio to start an album.

KB: Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes, that is really good because you can start with a clean slate. For instance, when I was working on the song, “Disappear” on this album, we went into the studio at 10:00pm and didn’t come out again until almost 6:00am when we finished. When we went to go and mix the song, it didn’t actually need that much work, it’s really strange, but sometimes, it works that way, you know?

MR: Does it feel more like you’re getting out of your own way when you work like that creatively?

KB: Yeah, definitely. I like recording in the night as well because there are no distractions and your phone isn’t ringing. You can just lift yourself away and focus.

MR: Right. Katy, you have had some incredible hits from this album in the UK, is there one in particular that you love a little more than the others?

KB: I really still love performing–“Perfect Stranger.” I don’t know what it is about that song. I think it’s because it’s so diverse; it’s so slow, then it’s fast, very calm, and then it goes into the chorus which is fast and busy. It’s just a really nice song to sing because the mood changes so swiftly.

MR: Are there any songs on this album that have a particularly interesting story to you behind them?

KB: I don’t know. The song, “Lights On” was actually inspired by the lights coming on in the club one night while I was a bit drunk on the stage with a friend of mine after everyone had left the club. (laughs) Working with Magnetic Man was also pretty insane…they’re like proper party animals. One of the guys came to the studio and suggested we go and get a drink one Friday night, and that night he drank and entire bottle of Sambuca, and then went on to do a radio show somewhere, which was pretty insane. (laughs) So, I’m having a lot of fun.

MR: Any thoughts about how this next year will go as you gain more exposure in the US?

KB: I don’t know. I’ve been to Austin and New York and just really enjoyed getting to know the music scenes. I’d just love to see so much more of it, so who knows. I love being here and being a tourist and seeing the sights and meeting the people. The show that I did in New York was incredible because I got to do it for such an amazing audience, so who knows.

MR: Do you have any advice for artists just starting out?

KB: I would just say that you have to work hard and take every opportunity that comes your way. If you like it, don’t take anything for granted. At the same time, don’t do anything that you feel uneasy about, stay true to yourself.

MR: Are you going to be touring more in the US soon?

KB: I’m not too sure right now. I’m going to be coming back in January and doing some more club-based shows. Then hopefully, I will get to come back in the summer and play some festivals.

MR: That would be great, we hope to see you here. Katy B, thank you so much for taking time out to talk to us. Best of luck to you.

KB: Thank you very much, Mike. It’s been lovely talking to you.

Transcribed by Evan Martin