KAT HEALY

Genre: Acoustic, Folk, Singer-songwriter

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Discography: Be Still Gentle Kind (2012), When You Are Gone EP (2014), Wolf EP (2016)

Record Label: Independent

Website: http://kathealymusic.com/

I first met Kat when she played at the Harrison in London and I was immediately impressed with her songwriting and vocals. She also has the kind of stage presence that instantly wins you over. The video above 'Frozen Smile' is probably one of my favourite songs from Kat and it was chosen by STV Edinburgh for a live performance.

Kat released a full length album ‘Be Still Gentle Kind’ in 2012 and her EP ‘When You Are Gone’ EP in 2014, both receiving excellent reviews and establishing her as distinctive songwriter with style and a unique vocal ability, as striking as any of her female contemporaries. It earned her the well deserved and favourable reputation in the music scene as a notable folk/singer/songwriter.

Kat's songs are filled with catchy hooks and phrases that stay with you long after you’ve stopped listening; mixing vulnerability with good humour, whilst still allowing her voice to stand out. They have the ability to touch even the hardest of hearts.

Kat notable support performances include Passenger, The Staves, Rachel Sermanni, The Mastersons, Steve Poltz, Rose Cousins, Amy MacDonald, Maeve O'Boyle, Sharon Corr, Robyn Hitchcock, Colin Hay, Paper Aeroplanes, Sam Brookes, Nick Harper, John Power and JJ Gilmour among others.

Kat’s presence abroad has also been well established with performances on prestigious stages such as the Berlin Pop Komm Festiva, The Ruby Sessions (Dublin) and the Sydney Songwriters Live concert.

At the beginning of this year, reeling from the sudden loss of her father in early 2015, Kat decided to take a break from her touring and recording schedule, choosing instead to focus on her health and heart-ache, allowing grief to slowly settle in. Following this emotionally crippling and consuming experience, and a need to find solace amidst the chaos, Kat has produced her latest release ‘Wolf’.
 
Wilfully created in the quiet solitude of Germany’s Schwarzwald, under the wintery haze of its enduring mountain range, the songs were carefully pieced together and brought home; to be recorded live over two days with long time friend and collaborator Garry Boyle, at Slate Room Studio in Pencaitland. Recorded in this way, away from the guitar, and with a focus on piano and cello, the sessions were stripped back, intimate and raw – helping to create a vulnerable tone, carefully woven throughout each of the songs. It is this disquieting vulnerability which lies at the heart of ‘Wolf’, and this latest release demonstrates Healy’s continued ability to write with an affecting, honest tone, showcasing her powerful and unique voice, steeped in raw emotion. The end result is a beautifully haunting, and emotionally charged collection of songs.

"Nothing short of enchanting" (FATEA Magazine)

"There's a fragility and vulnerability to her voice that brings with it this endearing wave of emotion that scoops you up and washes you away to a distant land of folk and romance... it's femininity encapsulated." (Sophie Porter, Female Arts UK)

Kat Healy is a singer songwriter from Edinburgh UK and has been described as a combination of well-crafted songs, beautiful voice and delightful stage presence, with a striking ability to take an audience on a heartfelt journey with her music... "equal parts soulful, sweet and soothing...Kat mostly evokes thoughts of a raw Joni Mitchell or Bon Iver (Stu Lewis, The Tidal Wave of Indifference)