Aussie song bird Kate Miller-Heidke is softly spoken and sweet – traits that warm every track of her platinum album ‘Curiouser.’
I catch a busy Kate in the mix of things, while she’s in the UK supporting Ben Folds Five.
“I’m so nervous. I have to perform ‘You Don’t Know Me’ with Ben Folds and I have to sing Regina Spektor’s part. Big shoes to fill.”
Curioiser has shot to #2 on the ARIA charts, and #1 on the Itunes chart, but Kate’s attitude remains humble, while she speaks honestly about ‘Curioiuser’s ever increasing commercial support.
“It’s the first time I have ever had mainstream airplay. So I guess it has all happened backwards for me. Really though, I’m not going to argue with it, it’s a great thing and I’m stoked.”
The key to this success remains the fearless influence of Kate’s husband/collaborator/guitarist, Keir Nuttall.
“We were inspired by a lot of FM radio pop. Most pop music is by definition tailored to sound good on the radio, and that’s something we definitely thought about.”
The formula has proved a success for Kate, and the couple made history as the first Australians to win the prestigious International Songwriting Competition grand prize, with the emotional ballad ‘Caught In The Crowd.’
The song was handpicked from more than 17,000 entries to woo judges including Tom Waits, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Neil Finn and The Kinks’ Ray Davies.
It’s the first time Kate’s opened herself up to co-writing and although the results are inspiring, it was a strange process for Kate.
“Songwriting was always too personal and I felt too self-conscious to collaborate. But after a certain point with Keir, I just lost my inhibitions. We still song write in separate rooms, it’s too daunting otherwise.”
Kate discovered her signiture vocal abilities at a very young age, “I think I was one of those people who sang before they spoke, and I don’t think that’s very rare, but I kept on singing. I have sung every day of my life.”
Does this mean Kate Miller-Heidke also sings in the shower? “Of course! There is actually a scientific reason why people sing in the shower though, the steam coats your throat and plumps up your vocal folds and makes your voice easier.”
Kate’s dress sense has as much quirk as her voice and the self confessed vintage shopping junkie, who now resides in London, shuns the idea of being donned a ‘style icon’ by Australian glossies.
“I don’t have anything to do with that world; I only wear second hand clothes.”
True to her environmentally friendly values, Kate wore a 1920’s second hand wedding gown when she said ‘I do’ to hubby Keir. “There was something mystical about wearing it, something romantic about the love of a generation passed.”
See the beautiful Kate Miller-Heidke when she performs at Hellenic Club, Canberra on Tuesday 17 November.
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