Emerging as one of the most prominent artists from the UK music scene, BCMA nominee Katy Hurt has won accolades such as the UK Country Music Spotlight Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year, Best EP, Best Song and Best Video and played major festivals such as Country 2 Country at the O2 Arena, Pilton Party on Glastonbury’s famed Pyramid Stage and the Isle of Wight festival. Katy spent time in Canada, which she considers her second home, writing and recording a host of songs including her latest single “Sounds Good In A Bar”, which went to Number 1 on the UK iTunes charts on the day of release and was subsequently added to rotation on CBC and Sirius XM and play-listed on Amazon Music. The track which was produced by Juno Award-winning producer Murray Pulver (Doc Walker, The Bros. Landreth) marks the first single from her debut album.
Her songs straddle the line between Southern Rock, Modern Country and Americana and are upheld by buoyant and agile vocals reminiscent of her musical icons. With nearly a million global streams, Hurt garnered the attention of Canadian-based music group, Johnson Talent Management (JTM) which recently led to the signing of a worldwide management deal.
Thank you for taking this interview! How has the New Year been for you so far as an artist?
This year has been great so far thank you!! I’ve been out on the road again and I have a new single out so there are lots of exciting things happening at the moment. Can you tell us how you've transformed from the beginning to now as an artist?
Of course, I started performing when I was really young, so I’ve been on stage for most of my life. I think with every year that goes by I learn something new about the craft of being on stage and how to interact with the crowd. When I first started out I was definitely still figuring out what kind of artist and performer I wanted to be so I tried a lot of styles and made a lot of mistakes before becoming comfortable and confident on stage. I found my band about 5 years ago and that certainly changed things for me because it was no longer just me on stage but I had to learn how to work with a unit. I’m very lucky to have worked with some of the most incredible musicians who I can now call my best friends and working with them has definitely transformed me into the artist I am now. How did you come up with your latest project?
I’ve been putting out music since I was about 13 years old but it’s only ever been singles and EPs, I was waiting until I had enough stories to tell and had figured out who I wanted to be as an artist before putting out an album and I feel like that time is finally here. In January of 2020 I flew out to Winnipeg, Canada to work with Murray Pulver at Stereobus Studios, to begin the recording process for my album. We finished recording by the end of February and were planning on putting it out in 2020, but the world had other plans and everything was a little delayed. I’m finally in a place now where I can start to be on the road again and life is returning to normal and it’s time for these songs to see the light. My latest singles are the first two tracks from the album which will be coming out soon!! Where are you from originally?
I was born in London, England but I actually spent the first few years of my life growing up in Northport, Long Island. Where do you live now?
Now I live back in the UK, I moved to Liverpool during the pandemic so it’s been fun getting to know a new city. Do you think where you live impacts how your music is made?
I’ve spent a lot of time collaborating with some incredibly talented musicians who live all over the world. I’ve enjoyed being able to travel to find the right people to suit the songs. My last EP was recorded in Winnipeg Canada but I also had a single out last year that everyone recorded from home and we put together virtually. I think musicians are really lucky to be able to create in a world that has so much technology which defies borders. I think as long as you are willing to travel or create unique solutions you can make music from anywhere. What was the inspiration to make music your career?
I started singing when I was about 4 years old and honestly never really considered doing anything else. It never really felt like an active choice to make music my career, it was just who I was! How do you want to shape your career?
I’d love to be the kind of artist that brings people joy, whether it’s putting on a song at home, or choosing to spend a Saturday night at a show! I want to be out on the road as much as possible, I love playing live and meeting new people and seeing how music connects us. Choosing music as a career is unpredictable, so as long as I can keep doing it, and hopefully make a living from it, I’ll follow it wherever it takes me. Do you work on a tight timeline always or do you go with the flow when it comes to your music?
It really depends on the project. When it comes to writing songs I don’t think that can be forced, so I’m much happier to jump on an idea when it comes and chase it rather than force myself to write everyday. When it comes to touring that requires a lot more planning! I definitely try to stick to a schedule but I also take it with a pinch of salt and just expect things to pop up or change because that’s how the industry is. How did your latest title of your music come to be?
My last single which was released on May 20th is called “Wish I Could Give You Up”. It’s a very honest and personal song for me, written alongside Gab Zsapka and Murray Pulver. I was complaining about the unpredictability of music and how much easier life would be if I could give it up and do something else, but that it’s also something I could never imagine my life without. Writing it felt very cathartic and truly made me accept and understand this journey that I’m on. We actually wrote it from the perspective of someone who is singing to another person that they love, that drives them crazy, that they could never give up. So whichever perspective you view the song from it speaks to that fleeting moment of doubt we all have about our choices. Is it hard to let go of the music when it is done?
Absolutely. I spend so much time with these songs before they ever see the light, making sure they say exactly what I want them to say, making sure that I present them in the best way I know how. Once they are out in the world people put their own spin on them, they cover them, they become theirs and that’s always such a strange and incredible feeling. These songs are like my kids but when they are done and released they belong to everyone. Do you feel an emotional attachment with your music?
100%. These songs are basically my journal. They are the tales of not only my life but the lives of the people around me, my friends and family. I make music with my best friends and with musicians that I admire, so I feel an incredible attachment with the art that I create. I think that’s what makes it so fun to share with people too, because I feel like my fans really get to know me better with every song. How would you describe your music in one word to someone who hasn't listened to it yet?
That’s an incredibly hard question but if i have to choose just one word … HONEST. Where do they go to listen NOW?
Everywhere you would usually find music!! It’s out on all the digital streaming platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Tidal etc. You can also find it on Youtube, my website www.katyhurt.com and on physical copies available either on my website store or at a live show. What has been the best fan reaction to your music?
I’ve been really blessed to have such wonderful fans so far, I love seeing people do covers of the songs but my favourite moment actually happened recently when I was just doing soundcheck and a little girl, couldn’t have been older than 6 or 7, came up to me and said “My mom told me I could tell you that I really like your outfit and that I’m allowed to stay to hear you sing, I’m so excited”. I was honestly a little shocked, she was so cute and it really made me realise that I’m also in a position now to potentially inspire kids to love music too, just like my favourite artists inspired me. Is there anything exciting coming up for you?
I just came back from Canada where I played a showcase at Canadian Music Week, and now I’m back in the UK. I have a few festivals lined up for the summer and then fingers crossed some more singles on the way too. Are you performing the song anywhere LIVE?
Yes absolutely, I’ll be playing it at every show and festival this summer for sure! Give us all your socials and links so fans can link up with you! Thank you for this interview! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katy_hurt/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KatyHurtMusic/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/KT_Hurt13 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/4HEe2JbfPBeqJslmARtdCL?si=1d16ef5cbf894bc4 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/KatyHurt Thank you so much!!