Kate Nash Brings Her Two Loves Together

So if you have been paying attention (and there's a 50/50 chance you haven't) you might have noticed the rash of female singers who have fallen back in love with the Supremes and other girl groups of the 60's. The latest is Kate Nash. Kate Nash is a young British singer who has an affinity for both the Motown girl group sound and Riot Grrrl inspired punk rock. Believe it or not, she is able to seamlessly blend to the two on her latest disc, "My Best Friend Is You". Nash keeps the melodies flowing without sacrificing her own independence. Make no mistake, the tunes may remind you of Leslie Gore but Kate Nash won't be crying at anyone's party anytime soon!

While on the road in support of her latest disc, I got a chance to check in briefly with Kate and we chatted about broken legs, her punk band and dealing with exhaustion on the road! As you get towards the end of this interview, you might notice that it ends rather abruptly. Sometimes that's what happens when you get a hold of an artist in the middle of a tour, a slew of interviews and ten minutes to spare! Having said that, feel free to check out my interview with Ms. Nash and don't be surprised if you feel yourself wanting to become, her best friend.

David Carr: Kate how did you come up with the idea for the sound on your latest disc?

Kate Nash: I had the idea of doing something like this for a while now. I love the 60's girl group sound and I am a fan of punk rock. I love classic pop and I am a fan of the whole Riot Grrrl thing.

DC: You got into music at an early age. Are your parents musicians?

KN: My folks are not musicians but we always had music playing. There was a lot of music around me. I can remember the journeys to my grandmother's house and there would be music playing non-stop. I was also a bit of a day dreamer. That helped!

DC: So the story seems to be you got into music after breaking your leg? Is this true?

KN: HA! Well, I had learned to play a little guitar, mainly acoustic. My dad bought me a white, electric guitar. I had applied to a few universities and I had not gotten accepted anywhere! I was having a very emotional day and I fell down a flight of stairs! That's how I broke my leg! I was supposed to go out that night and I did! I went to a play and by the time it was over I could barely move and my leg was twisted in a round about way.

DC: Wow! None of that sounds like a good time at all!

KN: I threw myself a serious pity party...I drank so much wine! I was laid up in bed for three weeks and I just decided I was going to spend the time learning the guitar, writing songs and getting ready to play a gig. That was the goal!

DC: Looks like it was a resounding success! So on top of your new disc out and going on tour, you have a punk rock side project called The Reeceders and you are a founding member of the organization, The Featured Artists Collective. First, tell me about The Reeceders.

KN: Well like I said, I love punk rock and being in a punk band is something I always wanted to do. I get to play bass in the band and it has been really fun! The Featured Artists Collective is a not-for-profit organization set up to protect the rights of musical artists, particularly in the new digital age. The goal is for the artist to be at the forefront of all deals that have to do with their music. We are trying to ensure that the artist has a direct line to their music and has final say in what happens to his or her music.

DC: At the end of your last tour it was reported that you had a bit of an emotional breakdown. As you begin this tour now, are you confident you will be able to handle the rigors of the road this time around?

KN: I am dealing with it ok, so far. With the last tour I just didn't have a day off. I was performing, interviewing, rehearsing, and just going non-stop. The schedule was intense and it was just something I wasn't used to. This time I am making sure that I am surrounded with friends and family who care about me. This can be a tough industry to be in...I just need to make sure I surround myself with people I love when I am on the road.

DC: You recently became a vegetarian. How's that working out for ya?

KN: It has been ok...it's kind of rough, actually!

Sadly, Kate had to be whisked away before we could really get into a "burger vs. tofu" verbal show down. Make sure you check out Kate Nash's latest disc "My Best Friend Is You" and if you see her on tour, give her a hug, get her a veggie burger and let her know you are in the running, to be her best friend.

Kate Nash Tour Dates:
April 26 - Toronto, ONT - Mod Theatre
April 28 - Boston, MA - Great Scott's
April 29 - New York, NY - The Bowery
May 1 - Williamsburg, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 3 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
May 5 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
May 7 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
May 8 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
May 11 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey