Right said Red: Hot Press Interview with Katy B

Growing up in Peckham, south east London, Katy B’s mother encouraged a love of pop music from an early age, bringing her daughter to the local branch of Woolworth’s every week to pick up the latest number one.

Now, the flame-haired singer and her mother have a number one record to be chuffed about, as Katy’s second album Little Red has just done the chart topping business in the iTunes hit parade. What’s more, she seems a dead cert to top the official UK albums chart.

“I’ve finally been given a physical copy, so I’m ridiculously excited,” Katy gushes to Hot Press." I just held it my hand and went, ‘Wow!’ It’s been worth all the blood, sweat and tears just to have that warm and fuzzy feeling.”

The 24-year old, named on her passport as Kathleen Anne Brien, loves the touch and feel of an LP, despite her career prospering in the age of the download.

“I like being able to put it on a stereo and have it on when you’re doing the cleaning or washing up,” Katy remarks. “I also love little things like reading all the credits, who wrote what song, the musicians who were involved - all those kind of details. I vividly remember buying an album and always enjoying the ritual of reading the lyrics on the bus home.”

One name that stands out on the credits of Little Red is songwriter Guy Chambers. Best known for co-writing ‘Angels’ and some of Robbie Williams’ biggest hits, Chambers has also worked with Kylie Minogue, The Wanted, Example, Miles Kane and pitches in on the forthcoming second album from London Irish rapper Maverick Sabre.

“I learnt so much from him,” Katy reveals. “Guy is someone who writes and works on songs every single day of his life and he’s been doing it for such a long time. He gave me a lot of space to do my thing. At the same time he made some incredible suggestions.”

The results are Little Red, a very emotional and daring album Katy is justifiably proud of. The title refers to the little red light flashing on a BlackBerry device (remember those?) and how it arouses the suspicions of a girl who wonders who on earth might be contacting her boyfriend.

“It was a song that didn’t actually end up on the album, even though I liked it,” Katy explains. “I also thought the phrase described me really well. I’m short and have red hair. I feel quite red when I’m listening to it, because it has feelings of love, lust, danger and jealousy. Little red is like a metaphor for love and all those emotions.”

On the subject of her hair colour, as a fellow proud ginger, does Katy find being a redhead a help or a hindrance?

“My hair colour at the moment is dyed a much deeper red. I was auburn growing up,” Katy clarifies. “I wasn’t bright ginger. I always liked being different. I read somewhere that redheads don’t have to try quite as hard to be interesting, because they already are! Also, old ladies come up to me and say that my hair is lovely, which is brilliant. I’m not sure if brunettes or blondes get that so much.”

The album’s second single ‘Crying For No Reason’ has been tearing up the charts, debuting at number five and striking a chord with listeners.

“I got a phone call from my friend who was really upset,” Katy says of the song’s genesis. “She told me about how she was driving in her car and when she was stopped at traffic lights, just burst into tears. She had absolutely no idea why she was crying at that particular moment. She was thinking about it later that day, and realised it was because she split up with her boyfriend a few months beforehand. She hadn’t really dealt with any of those deep emotions. She just bottled it up and got on with her life, which is what we all do. It all caught up with her. I related to that.

“We all sweep stuff under the carpet,” Katy says. “You have to go to work or sort other things out in life. All of these issues are put on the back burner. It’s really important to address them and have conversations with people and figure it all out. A few people got in touch saying the song helped them realise that they needed to talk about something, which is absolutely amazing.”

Katy B was a hardcore clubber before her career took off. Does she still enjoy an odd night on the tiles?

“I used to go out three or four times a week, sometimes more. I like dancing and being with my friends, having a laugh and catching DJs that I love. It’s really therapeutic.”

Unsurprisingly for a girl named Kathleen Brien, Katy has Irish roots.

“My Grandma is from Dingle,” she says. “She was called Kathleen so I’m named after her. My Dad’s great grandad is an O’Brien. The O got lost along the way. He couldn’t get a job with that name because there was so much anti-Irish discrimination in England in those days. I could have been Katy O, but I’m Katy B!”