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The pure sounds of Kate Rusby
For a decade now, Barnsley's Kate Rusby has been a major figure on the British folk scene.
Her popularity has grown massively in the decade since she released her first solo album, and she's even ventured into other fields, performing the theme for the sitcom, Jam and Jerusalem, working with indie figure, Roddy Womble, of Idlewild, and even scoring a top-10 duet hit with Ronan Keating on All Over Again.
"It's always lovely when different things come along, and so far they have all been very enjoyable," says the 33-year-old.
"I have been very lucky in that sense. I have been able to make the music I want to make, and every now and again I get asked to be part of really exciting things. They are all such lovely people to work with and I am very honoured to be asked. It doesn't distract from what I do, it's a lovely change without having to change my own music."
Right now, her own music is front and centre as she releases her eighth album, Awkward Annie, and prepares for a big tour to support it. This time, following a split from partner John McCusker, she's produced the disc herself.
"John came and played lots on it though, he's such a great musician and lovely fella. I missed having him involved more, but also loved producing it. So this record was going to sound a little different, not vastly, because it's still me singing my songs, of course."
The recipient of four BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Kate came to folk music through her parents, who "were always playing and singing around the house and in the car".
She performed at festivals, joined the all-female group the Poozies, then recorded a duet album with Kathryn Roberts.
But when she started her solo career, she took a daring path and set up her own label, Pure.
"Pure, apparently, is the Greek meaning of the name Kate, that's why we chose it," she explains.
"My mum works for us, doing the accounts, and my sister, Emma, does the PR among other things, and my brother, Joe, is my sound engineer, both live and in the studio, so quite a family affair, really."
She brings a very intimate, contemporary feel to traditional music, and her concerts have the warmth of a living-room session.
"I just find songs and write songs and sing them. And as for concerts, I am just a natterer, I can't stop talking."
But she's also received acclaim for her own writing, although she says "they just seem to pop out of my head late at night, it's very strange".
Has fame gone to her head? Not at all. At her concerts, she says, "I do wonder sometimes, 'Do they all know what they've come to? Do they know it's a lass from Barnsley singing songs?' The support I've had is very humbling. I am a very lucky girl."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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