words//cady drell
Notoriously snarky British singer/songwriter Kate Nash hit immediate success with her first album, Made of Bricks. Three years after a #2 hit with “Foundations” and platinum album sales in the UK, Nash returns with her sophomore album, My Best Friend is You. At the start of a North American tour, Nash talked with Artist Advocacy about the difficulties of success, her inspirations, and what she’s doing differently the second time around.
So you’re fresh off the release of My Best Friend is You. How do you think American audiences are responding so far?
Well, I did my first gig the night before last. But American audiences have been really welcoming and really nice so far, so I’m looking forward to that.
Is it true you don’t like to play singles from the last record, like “Foundations,” during your recent live sets? If so, why is that?
Well, I just did some warm-up shows recently and I didn’t really want to play too much of the first record, just because it was about giving the fans the new record before anybody else heard it. And I kind of wanted to make it really intimate; it was at, like, 200 capacity venues. It was purely for people that wanted to hear the new record and respect me as an artist, rather than just like me because they heard a song on the radio. I mean, I played “Foundations” the other night and I’ll play it when I feel like it, but there are times when I just don’t really feel like it’s appropriate.
Your lyricism has a very, almost slam poetry element to it, in the sense that it’s very fast and real and, at time, very harsh. Where did you develop that style?
I think it’s always been my style. I studied theater at college and that’s when I got really into music, and all the artists I respect write really honestly, and some of their stuff is quite brutal. I was really into punk music and, like, spoken word. It’s about the experience, as well as the other side that likes fiction and likes to invent.
You’re also very autobiographical, to the point where your listeners are almost voyeuristic. Are there any topics you won’t touch or is it more full-disclosure?
Well I wouldn’t share personal details about certain things. But I can still talk about things that are private by making them a little more cryptic or less obvious.
Between Made of Bricks and the new record, there’s a very palpable change. What have you done differently between these two albums?
I think I just probably grew up a bit. I’ve had more life experiences… different things to say. I wanted to change my sound, and I want to do that on the third record as well. [This record] represents who I am at the moment, and I have changed, but just through… life.
Made of Bricks was really successful, but it’s reported that you had what you’ve called a “breakdown” after all the touring for it. What was the catalyst for that?
[Laughs] Well I don’t know if I would say… I mean, a breakdown sounds like such an extreme thing. I think I said something to somebody in an interview along the lines of, “I feel like I’m having a breakdown…”
And it got blown out of proportion?
I think so. I really don’t think I had a “breakdown,” but as a person sometimes you’re just pushed to the edge a little bit and you’re pushed to extremes and you can’t handle it. I mean, we’re human beings. We can’t do everything and feel good all the time. I was exhausted, I think, really was what it was. And that made me emotional and stressed. It was a lot of pressure, because I was young and it was the first time that this had ever happened to me or to anyone I’d known. It was just kind of insane. I don’t remember it as a breakdown but I was definitely in a strange place for a while. By the end of [touring], I thought I needed to be away from it and get back to enjoying creativity and not be around the industry anymore. It wasn’t as though I had to go to, like, the Priory or rehab or see a psychiatrist or anything. I just needed to have some time off and get away from the whole music industry. I wanted to enjoy being creative again.
Do you think your record shows that enjoyment?
I think it does. At least, I would like to hope that shows.
Just in terms of the success you’ve already had at such a young age, you’re definitely a “success story.” What advice can you give other young people as far as your own experience with the music industry?
I can definitely say to concentrate on the songwriting, and be proud of what you’re doing. You’ve got to really believe in it, because you’re going to have to do so much of it that it’s going to be difficult. So really believe in what you do and then it all seems worth it, somehow. And work on your live shows, and if you do end up touring, make sure the people you’re with are people you trust and who love and respect you. Because they’re the people you’re really going to need to lean on when things get tough. But I’m serious about the songwriting.
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To see more from Kate, check out her official website and MySpace page.
