Evolution Weekender headliner Katy B is feeling a little bowled over now she’s seen as a star in her own right. Andy Welch reports.

IN SPITE of launching a successful debut album and tour, Tyneside’s Evolution Weekender star name Katy B makes it clear that she isn’t comfortable yet with thousands of eyes on her. In fact, the longer you speak to the singer born Kathleen Brien, the more it becomes apparent the only thing she’s really interested in is singing.

“I’ve always sung, throughout my life, and done dancing and things. Not seriously, just at the weekend for something to do, and I’ve always really enjoyed it,” she says.

Most of the songs on her album On A Mission, released last month to almost universal praise, are about going out dancing. There are songs about flirting with attractive strangers, the euphoria of dancing to loud music and those fleeting moments of getting lost in the music.

“I started going out when I was about 17, about the same time I met the guys from Rinse FM,” she says, referring to the pirate radio station-cumrecording stable she’s now signed to.

“Dubstep nights, funky house, MCs, whatever. I used to go out really early and I never used to drink or anything either because I was always in work the next day.

“With my own music, I wanted to make something people can dance to, but I also love lyrics as well, so it has to be interesting for me as a writer too. I suppose I’m just describing my experiences. I can understand why people are always singing about clubs and having their hands in the air and all that, but I don’t want to say stuff like that. I just wouldn’t.”

Before her album, which went straight in at No 2, came out Brien was constantly asked whether she felt nervous about its release after around four years of writing and recording.

“I kept thinking ‘Why should be nervous?’ and they’d say ‘You know, reviews and that’ and then of course I was terrified. The thought of people rating it out of five and giving it stars? Scary. But it did all right, didn’t it,” she says. “I remember the first track I ever did being played on Rinse. Sitting in my kitchen, I couldn’t get over the fact that someone in north London might be listening.”

Comparisons have naturally been made to Adele, who kept her album off the top spot, and Jessie J.

Both, like Brien, are London girls who graduated from the Brit performing arts school in Croydon.

It’s lazy, perhaps, but the music industry likes putting artists in boxes. Brien’s typically relaxed about such suggestions, as she seems about most things. “Well I guess I am a girl,” she says. “They’re obviously girls as well, but everyone’s got their own style. It’s fine, I don’t mind comparisons, really.”

Before her own album, Brien had lent her voice to a number of tracks over the past three or four years, most notably Good Life with DJ Geeneus, who runs Rinse FM, and Magnetic Man’s Perfect Stranger. It’s often thought the role of featured artist is an unfulfilling one. Brien, however, would have been quite happy with that career path. “I love singing on people’s records,” she beams. “No offence, but featured artists don’t have to do interviews.

“I’m quite a shy person, so the idea of people quoting what I say is really daunting. I don’t really like having my picture taken. I don’t care what I wear or what I look like. It’s amazing to have the chance to do my own thing, but really I just love singing.”

EXTRA TIME: KATY B

• Kathleen “Katie” Brien was born in Peckham, south London on July 23, 1989.

• She started piano lessons and was accepted to the Brit school when she was 17 on the strength of her playing, although she never really enjoyed the instrument.

• As an 11-year-old she was obsessed with controversial UK garage frontrunners So Solid Crew. “I loved Oxide And Neutrino as well, although I’ve been told now it wasn’t cool to like them.”

• Her diary is packed up for the rest of the year. “I’m touring the UK again in October, but I hope I can get some recording in at some point.”

• Her single Lights On features Ms Dynamite, who was introduced by a mutual friend. “I think people expect her to be a bit feisty because of the gutsy things in her songs, but she was so chilled out and relaxed.”

• The Evolution Weekender Festival runs this Bank Holiday Saturday and Sunday. Katy B appears on the Spillers Wharf stage on Saturday. Day tickets £25, Weekend £35 (plus booking fee). 0844- 248-5086 evolutionfestival.co.uk.

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