Katy B

Katy B
Katy B performing in 2011
Background information
Birth name	Kathleen Anne Brien
Also known as	Baby Katy
Born	(1989-05-08) 8 May 1989 (age 24) London, United Kingdom[1]
Genres	Breakstep, dubstep, R&B, UK funky, electronica, UK garage, house
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2009—present
Labels	Rinse, Columbia
Associated acts	Magnetic Man, Ms. Dynamite, Mark Ronson, Jessie Ware
Website	www.katybofficial.com

Kathleen Anne Brien[2][3] (born 8 May 1989), better known as Katy B, is a British singer-songwriter and a graduate of the BRIT School.[4] She is a dubstep, R&B, funky, house and UK garage singer[4] and has also performed under the name Baby Katy.[5] She released her first single with the label Rinse in 2010. The same year, she completed a degree in Popular Music at Goldsmiths, University of London. She was nominated for the 2011 Mercury Prize.[6]

Life and career

Katy was born in Peckham, South London in 1989, and attended Lyndhurst Primary school, Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College[citation needed] and the BRIT School.

Katy featured on many tracks before and during the release of her album, DJ NG's song "Tell Me", on which she featured as Baby Katy,[5] was released on a white label and later signed to Ministry of Sound.[7][8] Katy B has collaborated with Geeneus to cover the Kevin Saunderson produced "Good Life"[9] and the track "As I".[10] She also provides vocals on the track "Hold Me" for The Count & Sinden's debut album Mega Mega Mega[11] and features on Magnetic Man's tracks "Perfect Stranger" and "Crossover".[12]

Geeneus, with whom Katy B collaborated, works for Rinse FM.[13] Following the official recognition of the station in June 2010 (formerly a pirate radio station),[14] Rinse presented Katy B's first single, "Katy on a Mission", which was produced by Benga and was released on 22 August 2010.[15][16] The single reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Indie Chart. Katy B performed at the London Jazz Festival in 2009 with Ms Dynamite,[17] who also featured on Katy's second single, "Lights On" which was released in the United Kingdom on 19 December 2010, and debuted at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Her third single "Broken Record" was released in March 2011, and peaked at number eight. The fourth single "Easy Please Me" was released on 3 June 2011. Her fifth single "Witches' Brew" was released on 28 August 2011. Katy's debut album On a Mission was released on 4 April 2011, and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

Katy B supported Tinie Tempah on his tour during Spring of 2011. On 30 April 2011, Katy embarked on her debut concert tour throughout Europe until September, then the UK in October.[18] In 2011, Katy B and Mark Ronson teamed up for the song "Anywhere in the World" created as an advert for the Coca-Cola and the 2012 Summer Olympics, which was released as a digital download on 13 May 2012. She's now working on new material with songwriter/producer Guy Chambers. She released the first promotional single from her upcoming second studio album in May 2013, which is named 'What Love is Made Of'.

Discography

Studio albums

• On a Mission (2011)

EPs

• Danger EP (2012)

Tours

• On A Mission Tour

Awards and nominations

Katy B has received two nominations at both the BT Digital Music Awards and the MOBO Awards. She was nominated for Best Push Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2011. She has received six nominations at the Virgin Media Music Awards and one nomination for the iTunes Rewind 2011.

References

1. ^ UK Funky Live (16 August 2009). Katy B Interview (Webcast). YouTube. Retrieved 20 July 2010. 
2. ^ "Series 2 Episode 67 Freshly Squeezed". Freshly Squeezed. Series 2. Episode 67. 2010-12-14. 2:17 minutes in. Channel 4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfdnQxoZ8ds. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
3. ^ "Live from London – A Taste Of Sonar, The Roundhouse: Katy B (Rinse FM, London)". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 29 July 2012. 
4. ^ a b "The Gaymers Camden Crawl 2010: Artists: Katy B". The Camden Crawl. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
5. ^ a b "BBC - 1Xtra - Footloose". BBC 1Xtra. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
6. ^ "Katy B, Roundhouse, London The Independent 25 July 2011". Independent.co.uk. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 
7. ^ "Addicted to Bass Collection (6CD)". Ministry of Sound. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
8. ^ "Clubbers Guide Summer 2008". Ministry of Sound. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
9. ^ Rees, Thomas (22 May 2010). "Good Life". XLR8R. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
10. ^ "Benji B, RBMA Special". BBC 1Xtra. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
11. ^ "The Count & Sinden: New Album: Mega Mega Mega Free Album Mix". Domino Records. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
12. ^ Lester, Paul (9 July 2010). "New band of the day – No 822: Magnetic Man". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2010. 
13. ^ Fallon, Patric (5 February 2010). "Download a Free Mix From Geeneus". XLR8R. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
14. ^ Hancox, Dan (18 June 2010). "Rinse FM finally gets the recognition it deserves". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
15. ^ "Katy B – Katy On A Mission". Rinse FM. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
16. ^ "Annie Mac Presents: Katy B – On A Mission". Annie Mac Presents. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
17. ^ "Ladies Unplugged: Ms Dynamite + Katy B + Yolanda Brown + Shola Ama • Events • London Jazz Festival". London Jazz Festival. Retrieved 15 July 2010. 
18. ^ "Rinse FM – Katy B — Lights On feat. Ms Dynamite — OUT NOW!!". Rinse.fm. Retrieved 2011-09-26. 

External links

• Official website