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Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with London based artist Kathy Muir to find out more…

Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I am from Edinburgh. When I was much younger, I enjoyed singing the folk hymns at church. I then picked up a guitar and decided I wanted to sing and play those anytime I wanted.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up, I loved listening to Fleetwood Mac, Carole King, Billy Joel and Aretha Franklin to name a few.

How would you describe your sound?
It’s always hard to describe your sound, but I would see ‘lyric-driven songwriting with a pulse meets cinematic mood swings’. I write in various genres, but principally acoustic pop/rock. However, I’m increasingly writing pieces that involve orchestras and are ambient in sound.

What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
NOW was written when I needed to stop reaching for the past, or the future, and learn how to stay within the present, some songs don’t just tell a story – they help you live through one. NOW is part of the ‘Double Take Series’ which is a nod to the double a-side singles that came out in the 60s. There was no b-side just two lead tracks sharing the spotlight. So I adapted it. With the ‘Double Take Series’, one song is given two lives: two arrangements with the same heart, the same attention and the same weight.

What’s your local music scene like?
London is bulging with opportunities for doing gigs. I like performing at places where folks are really listening because of how the venue sets up the stage.

What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I am about to record five songs, but I’m going to continue on my journey of trying to release songs. I’ve already recorded on a regular basis. At some point I need to decide out of 20 songs I’ve recorded which would go well being wrapped as an album or wrap as an EP. I’ll be speaking with my co-producer while in the States. I also feel I’ve got a good body of work now to look much more into Sync Licencing so I’ll be focusing my efforts much more on that.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
I’m happy already with those I collaborate with. And that is more to do with exploring the cinematic, ambient side of my songwriting.

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I was doing an outdoors gig in France last year and was speaking in French throughout the hour-long show. It came time to perform my song entitled ‘HUSH’. I wanted to say the name of the song and what it was about. I realised I didn’t know how to say ‘HUSH’ in French. So as I tried to describe the song in French by making a ‘shhh’ sound and putting my finger to my mouth as if to show that this is about being quiet. Unfortunately, the audience thought I was asking them to be quiet and people in the front rows turned to people behind them and put their fingers up to their mouth to ask them to be quiet. I said (in French) “No, no that’s not what I mean, that’s the name of the song, the song is called Hush!’ (in French, now know it’s called ‘chut’). Laughter erupted. They enjoyed ‘HUSH’ after all that 🙂

Do you have any upcoming live dates and performances?
I’ve been preparing to come to the States to do recording, so gigs have been on the back burner. I do, however, have a gig in Connecticut while I’m here. Otherwise I’m fairly regularly performing at the Royal George, London.

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
That I’m authentic and that I have a way with words.

You can find out more about Kathy on her website or via Apple Music, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, TikTok or YouTube.