This passion led musician based in London with her talent and constant improvement on her musical style, has been putting music out via social media channels for all to hear.
Katie is hoping to start performing live this year, the main thing that stands out for us is that Katie has been practising constantly for just over a year on her guitar skills alone, so we thought we would help her to spread her music far and wide for all to enjoy.
We once met her on a windy afternoon in Greenwich and since then have realised that Katie is definitely one to watch out for, she has a fantastic work ethic and killer sense of humour, which, let's face it, in the music business is a must.
We caught Katie at a Hot Dog stand outside the 02 Arena (Millennium Dome) and whilst we were waiting for a new bottle of ketchup, we asked her some questions….
Welcome Katie, hope you’re well, let’s jump straight in, can you tell the readers a little about yourself? Sure, I am Katie & the Queue, an artist of many forms, who has devised Katie & the Queue to fill the gaps in the music industry. It was started on the sole emphasis of my own frustrations with the direction of music and how it’s become an industry, I feel the balance is too far towards money making and not so much about experiences anymore, I therefore write music that is story telling orientated and has a nostalgic feel, it’s the kind of music you put on as a soundtrack, a road trip, a dinner party.
Social Media has been a big ally for you, how has this helped to get your music out to the masses? Social media is a massive benefit to anyone who wants attention, musicians, artists, sales, even those who want to show off their guns and pecs (muscles) – it immediately draws an audience, it’s a free marketing tool which is global, without it I’d only be reaching audiences who can physically come and see me. Personally, I am drawing attention from all over the globe and it’s helping me in building relationships as well, everyone is useful and has purpose, I could be talking to an amazing musician in America and then I could be talking to someone in Hull who tells me the ins and outs of what is going on out there, information is powerful.
Your guitar playing is pretty impressive, how many hours do you practise and what gets you through those moments of self-doubt? Thank you, I put the hours in – I have only really committed to guitar playing a year ago, at first I didn’t get it, it hurt my fingers and it sounded awful, upon tuning my guitar a strong snapped and nearly took my face off, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, however, the feeling of a resonating guitar against my chest was too much of a positive experience for me to dismiss, so I cracked on with it, I practise all the time, I do what’s easy for me, I’m not amazing nor do I know everything, but I work hard at what I do know, it is important to approach things with a sense of organisation, at the beginning of Katie & the Queue, I became emotional and cut off, I was becoming an artist who was strange and self involved, great and refreshing as everyone loves someone who is 100% committed, however the music wasn’t healthy and nor was I, so I took a step back and approached it in a more industrial way, I take breaks, I stay focused and I enjoy the process. Keeping away from self doubt is a lifestyle thing, I remove negatives, people, situations etc. and I replace them with empowering individuals and great life experiences, not only am I happier, but I am less selfish and I want to deliver a service now, I don’t want to be a performer who is egotistical and self rewarding, I want to be hands on and work hard.
Is there a quote out there that has stuck with you up to today? Yes – ‘Whether you believe you can, or whether you believe you can’t, you are right!’ Henry Ford.
What are the top three gigs you have attended?
Simon Says - Camden
Foxes – Madame JoJo’s & Supporting act for Marina and the Diamonds
Faithless – V Festival
If you would have to describe your music as a movie or TV character who would it be and why? I’m a little out of date in terms of movies and TV, I’m obsessed with World War Two documentaries, however if my music had to be translated to a movie or TV character, I’d imagine the setting to be dusty, sunset, desert, wooden, very American, I write visually so it helps to imagine things in an environmental setting.
If you could choose any musicians to be in the Queue, who would they be? Dave Stewart, Sister Bliss & Jimmy Hendrix. I definitely think it would be like tripping on magic mushrooms.
Who would you like to know has your music on their MP3 or iPod? Anyone, I’m not a social snob, if one person has a song of mine on their MP3 or iPod I will be the happiest person alive, especially if it brought them joy.
Do you have a party trick, if so what is it? I don’t mean to do this, but I try to do an impression of a Jamaican singing and it comes out Chinese, perhaps it is because I am trying really hard, however it always has people in bits.
Is there a song you wish you had written? What is it and why? White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, it’s brilliant on the back of the lyrics being simple and perfectly timed with the psychedelic electric guitar in the background, it’s complicated and simple, which is pretty much me in a nutshell.
What’s the latest track you’ve been working on? Can you tell us what it’s about? Sure, it’s called ‘Laura’ – It’s strange, it’s weird, but I like that, I’ve been listening to a lot of Lou Reed recently and I love the late 1960’s, Woodstock, Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, I liked the idea music wasn’t always constructed so perfectly and predictable, I liked it when musicians would go up and literally play some weird hook and then have some weird singers mumbling, I like the freedom in that, it’s become too boxed and precious, too much focus on perfection and things being timed for the purpose of radio, I like the underground scene because they do what they want and low and behold, that’s the time you have great experiences. I like things to be ad-hoc. I wrote Laura about someone I know who funnily enough is called Laura, the moment I saw her I knew she was going to be trouble, I knew we’d be up to mischief and my life would be affected, now and again you meet people who turn your head into a different direction and make you live life a different way, almost and bit Thelma and Louise, like two best friends meeting and you think ‘Uh-oh, I’ve met my match here and I’m going to be part of something’. It’s a dedication.
Do you think we can ever live in a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned? I don’t think we can ever live in a world where anyone can do anything without their motives questioned, we’re a race which thrives on change and momentum, in doing that we question everything and everyone.
You have helped many people in business, but do you find it difficult to ask for help in your musical life? I do in a way because I am new, I don’t trust anyone, well I find it hard to trust people, outside of work I am extremely professional and help a lot of people grow, but I advise people in what I know like the back of my hand, I grow business and make money and it comes from a place that has experience, I am a newbie to music. When I was a photographer I was too naive, I arrived onto a club scene and attracted some vile people, I found it hard to get out, my ideas were gone, I was suffocated, there was some real predators who wanted to make money on me, people who I thought were friends were using me in different ways, I am very guarded and reluctant in letting this happen again, in fact I know it wont happen again, I’ve become the tough nut.
What’s your favourite word? It’s a swear word – I swear a lot, my first word was a swear word. It begins with 'F' and ends in 'UCK'.
What’s your plan for 2014, an EP? If so any ideas on a name and how many tracks? Ok, so I’m out there and accessible, I’m working towards an EP and have some recording sessions coming up, I will be releasing independently, my biggest challenge is gigs, I am incredibly shy, the first impression from most people is that I’m loud and very confident, I actually talk too much and have butterflies if someone approaches me I don’t know, I manage it through acting normal however it can come across cocky – I’m working on this, the last thing I want to do is get up there and the first thing I say is inappropriate and offensive – I can see it happening.
The ketchup was taking its time so we had a quick debate on whether we should apply American or English mustard to the 'dogs', whilst Katie was deciding, we unleashed some quick fire questions on her….
Coffee or Tea? Both
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Holidays/Vacations – Beach or ski-ing? Beach
Meat or Vegetables? Vegetables
CD or Vinyl? CD
Car or Motorbike? Motorbike
Cat or Dog? Dog
Acoustic or Electric? Electric
Cooked Breakfast (bacon/eggs/mushrooms/toast etc) or Cereal? Cooked
So there you have it folks, all the information you could possibly ask for about Katie & The Queue, you've read this far, could I please ask you to check out Katies social media sites? they're all listed below and I assure you, it'll be well worth your time.