Steve Schiltz – Downtown Magazine

Singer/songwriter CAT — also known as Catherine Pierce — first turned heads as one-half of the band The Pierces. The Pierces made five full-length releases — starting with 2000’s Sony-released self-titled album — before calling a hiatus in August 2015. In those 15 years, The Pierces notably were labeled a Rolling Stone Breaking Artist, had the theme song to Pretty Little Liars, and toured with the world with Coldplay.

January 2017 brought the debut single from CAT, “You Belong To Me,” which premiered via CLASH. Downtown spoke with Catherine shortly after “You Belong To Me” came out, prior to the release of her second single “Hard To Be A Woman.” Catherine chatted about New York living and what’s coming up for her. CAT can be followed via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

When did you first move to New York?

Cat: I moved to New York City the summer of 2001. The attacks on the World Trade Center happened a few months later. My mom called me in a panic the morning of 9/11 and I watched from the window of my apartment as the second plane hit. My parents begged me to come back to Alabama, but I had already fallen in love with the city and wasn’t leaving.

Where was the first gig you ever played in Manhattan? What do you remember about it?

Cat: The first gig I played in NYC was at The Mercury Lounge. Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes was in the audience and he had someone send me a rose with his phone number backstage. We went on to date for five years and we were engaged for a bit. It didn’t work out due to us both being young and insane and partying too much, but we are still friends now and both living healthier lifestyles. So yeah, it was a memorable gig!

Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?

Cat: Lil Frankie’s has a special place in my heart.

A year and a half ago, you and your sister announced that The Pierces were going on a hiatus. Did you immediately know that you would be putting out solo material?

Cat: Yes! As much as we loved being in a band together, we have both been dying to put out solo records for years. We are both excited that it’s finally happening.

Does a professional hiatus like the one you and Allison have at all affect your family relationship? I’d sure hope not!

Cat: We have actually become much closer now that we’re not working together. It’s tough being in a band with your sister no matter how much you like each other. It’s so nice to support each other in our solo endeavors too.

You just released your first single as a solo artist. How did you know your collaborators Jason and Leggy? Were they long-time friends?

Cat: I’ve known Jason Lader for a long time. I met him when he was doing Julian Casablancas’ first solo record. We reconnected in Los Angeles and started making music together. Leggy Langdon is my husband! He’s incredibly-talented and he and Jason work really well together. They both bring an incredible skill set but also have very different aesthetics. Somehow, the combination of the three of us made a little bit of magic.

New single aside, what else is coming up for you?

Cat: I’ve got about 20 songs in various phases of completion. I’m gonna roll out a few more singles and then an album later in the year. I’ve also been working on some cool visuals with Antony Langdon. There are videos on the way, too.

Any chance we’ll see you collaborate again with Steve Schiltz in the future?

Cat: Steve! I haven’t seen Steve in ages, but yes, I’m down!

When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?

Cat: Oh, I like to do lots of things. I’m currently designing a deck of tarot cards, which has been a long but really fun process. I’ve been making homemade lip balms and lotions too. I really enjoy dabbling in psychedelics. I think it’s good for the soul and the collective consciousness. They tap you back in to what’s important and true. I’d like to heavily dose our current president and rip open that sad, little mind.

Finally, Cat, any last words for the kids?

Cat: Turn on, tune in, and drop out.

Close to a decade after she earned a degree from London’s prestiguous university Royal Holloway, KT Tunstall finally hit it big with 2004’s Eye To The Telescope. KT’s debut album — which took off in the U.K. in 2005 and then in the U.S. in 2006 — sold platinum in four countries. First single “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” was the Q Magazine Awards’ Best Track honor, also earning a Grammy nomination, while third single “Suddenly I See” took the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song. More success followed with 2007’s gold-selling Drastic Fantastic and additional charting singles like “Hold On,” “If Only,” and “(Still A) Weirdo.”

KT took a break after 2013’s Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon, moving to California and taking on work as a film composer. However, she returned to form with 2016’s KIN, as produced by Tony Hoffer. Released on Sept. 9 via Sony/ATV, first single “Maybe It’s A Good Thing” — which came out in July — is an admitted “pop song” from the Scottish native. KIN also features a rare duet for KT as she sings with English singer/songwriter James Bay on “Two Way.”

In support of KIN, KT Tunstall makes a return to Irving Plaza on Monday, Sept. 19. She spoke to Downtown about KIN, what to expect at her downtown Manhattan show, and plenty more. KT can be visited online at www.kttunstall.com and followed on both Twitter and Facebook.

What do you remember about the first gig you ever played in New York? Where was it?

KT Tunstall: Oh wow! I think it was at Hotel Cafe — if I remember rightly, the Broken Social Scene guys and girls were in town and they let me crash there for the night. I couldn’t believe I was actually playing a show in New York City. It was like a waking dream.

Beyond being a great song, one thing I find interesting about “Suddenly I See” is the long life it had. It came out as a single in 2005, then later was in movies, TV, commercials and video games over the next few years. When you wrote the song, did you know it was going to be a single?

KT: I had NO idea! It was one of those crazy quick songs that I wrote in about half an hour. Turned out to be one of the best 30 minutes of my life! I was living in a dingy basement flat in North London, looking at the cover of Patti Smith’s Horses. I wrote the song the same as I would any other. I knew it was catchy, but I had no inkling of what was about to happen.

Some artists love performing their hits because it perks up the crowd. Other artists don’t like performing hits because they like focusing on their newer material. How do you feel?

KT: Well, I like both of those things and at the moment I’m getting to enjoy all of it! I’m glad I didn’t become famous off the back of depressing songs, or even slow songs, that would make it a lot harder. It’s pretty amazing seeing someone’s relationship with your song play out right in front of the stage and then just grin back at them.

Do you have a favorite song to perform live?

KT: At the moment, my favorite song to perform is a new one called “It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am.” It’s the emotional mission statement of my new album, and is very uplifting — a real sing-along song. I teach the audience the chorus beforehand and they belt it out and dance along even though they’ve never heard it before. I’ll miss teaching it to everyone once the record is out!

I’ve read that you moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a soundtrack composer. Where did the idea for that come from?

KT: I had wanted to get involved with film music for many years but never found time. My main inspiration for film scoring came from hearing The Life Aquatic by Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO. It was the first time I’d heard a brilliant mixture of contemporary experimental, sometime-humorous modern music married with orchestral arrangement. Brilliant.

You’re putting out a new album, KIN, in September. Is your plan for the future to split time between composing and your solo career?

KT: Thankfully, there is room for both simultaneously as I tour. I recently contributed towards the score for the Mila Kunis movie Bad Moms alongside great composer Christopher Lennertz, and it was very liberating to know that all I needed was my laptop, headphones and a mic.

Do you have plans to co-write for other artists? Or is that something you’ve already done?

KT: I actually haven’t done it much, and I’m really into the idea. I haven’t had the head space to do it in the past. But it does really appeal now, flexing some different creative muscles!

How did your collaboration with James Bay on the new album come about?

KT: We met on the Jools Holland Hootenanny last New Year’s. I was about to start recording the album, and I had read that he was a fan of my music. He absolutely blew the roof off at Jools. A few days after the show, I remembered this song I had half-written that I wanted to be a duet. I dropped him a line and said, “I know you’re busy owning the planet right now, but do you fancy writing some writing and singing a song on my new album?” He was bang up for it! We had a great time recording that song, and I really love his performance and writing on it.

Any chance of a future collaboration with former tourmate Steve Schiltz from Hurricane Bells on a future recording?

KT: Ahhh, Steve! We love Mr Schiltz. What a talent. He’d be a great person to collaborate with, for sure.

When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?

KT: With my love, surrounded by nature! Or in a movie theatre with very large bags of peanut M&M’s and popcorn. I’m also a really keen skier and try and get out for a week or two in the winter. But living in Venice Beach has changed my life, I love my downtime just chilling with the palm trees and riding my bike.

If you have a free moment while in town for your Irving Plaza show, is there a place you must go to?

KT: I love the Frick Collection. It’s such a beautiful, tranquil space with some really diverse art, and after taking that in I can pop over the street for a stroll in Central Park.

Finally, KT, any last words for the kids?

KT: Yeah! You are enough! Don’t waste any of your precious, beautiful life on anyone who tells you otherwise! And also, come to my show. I’ll rock your socks off.