KT Tunstall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids KT Tunstall
Tunstall performing in October 2023
Background information
Birth name	Kate Victoria Tunstall
Born	(1975-06-23) 23 June 1975 (age 49) Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres	Alternative rock folk rock pop rock indie rock folktronica
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Relentless Blue Note Universal Caroline Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall (born 23 June 1975) is a talented Scottish singer-songwriter and musician. She became well-known in 2004 after a solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on the TV show Later... with Jools Holland. This performance, where she used a loop pedal to create music by herself, really caught people's attention.

KT Tunstall has released eight studio albums. Some of her most famous albums include Eye to the Telescope (2004), Drastic Fantastic (2007), and Nut (2022). In 2023, she also released a special album called Face to Face with American musician Suzi Quatro. Her songs have been featured in popular movies and TV shows, like "Suddenly I See" in The Devil Wears Prada.

Growing Up and Learning

Early Life in Scotland

KT Tunstall was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. When she was just 18 days old, she was adopted by a loving family in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Her adoptive father, David Tunstall, was a physics lecturer at the University of St Andrews. Her adoptive mother, Rosemarie Tunstall, was a primary school teacher. They already had an adopted son, Joe, and later had another son, Dan. KT remembers her earliest childhood days in California, where her father worked for a short time. Her parents always supported her love for music. She even asked for a piano when she was only four years old!

School Days and College

KT grew up in St Andrews and went to Lawhead Primary and then Madras College. She also attended the High School of Dundee. For her final year of high school, she studied in the United States at the Kent School, a boarding school in Kent, Connecticut. During this time, she enjoyed playing music on the streets, known as busking, in places like Burlington, Vermont. She later studied Drama & Music at Royal Holloway, University of London, graduating in 1996. In 2011, she received an honorary degree for her work on environmental issues through her music.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out in Music (2000–2004)

In her twenties, KT Tunstall played in various indie music bands. She spent a lot of time writing songs and performing with other musicians. She even toured with a klezmer band called Oi Va Voi. A British record company called Relentless Records was interested in her music. At first, she thought about signing with a bigger US company, but when that didn't work out, she decided to join Relentless. The co-founder of Relentless, Shabs Jobanputra, saw her talent and believed in her voice and songs. They took their time to help her develop her career.

Eye to the Telescope and Big Success (2004–2007)

Tunstall performing live at the 2005 Cambridge Festivals

KT Tunstall's first studio album, Eye to the Telescope, came out in late 2004. It slowly climbed the music charts. Her big moment came when she performed her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" solo on Later... with Jools Holland. She had very little time to prepare, but she amazed everyone by performing as a one-person band using her guitar, a tambourine, and her special loop pedal.

After this TV appearance, Eye to the Telescope became very popular in the UK, reaching number 3 on the charts. It was even nominated for the 2005 Mercury Prize. The song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" also became a hit in both the UK and the US. Another song, "Suddenly I See", became famous when it was used in the opening of the movie The Devil Wears Prada and in TV shows like Ugly Betty.

In 2006, KT released an acoustic album called KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza. Her music gained even more attention in North America when American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee sang "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on the show. This helped the song jump up the charts.

Drastic Fantastic and Tiger Suit (2007–2012)

Tunstall performing at AIR Studios, London 2008

KT Tunstall's second album, Drastic Fantastic, was released in 2007. It did very well, reaching number 1 in Scotland and number 3 in the UK. The main song from the album, "Hold On", was also successful in Europe. The album cover photo was inspired by the rock star Suzi Quatro.

In 2007, KT released a special Christmas EP called Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection. She also worked with other artists, including Suzanne Vega and Neil Finn's 7 Worlds Collide group, recording a charity album for Oxfam.

Her third album, Tiger Suit, was recorded in Berlin's famous Hansa Studios, where many legendary albums were made. It was released in 2010. KT also appeared on the BBC comedy music show Never Mind the Buzzcocks as a guest.

Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon (2013–2014)

Tunstall performing live in 2014

In 2013, KT Tunstall announced her fourth album, Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon. Many critics consider this one of her best and most thoughtful albums. The album's songs were inspired by personal changes in her life. The album was released in June 2013, with the lead single "Feel It All".

After this album, KT moved to Los Angeles and started working on music for movies. She composed and performed songs for films like Winter's Tale and the Disney movie Million Dollar Arm. She also contributed songs to the UK version of Disney's Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast.

Album Trilogy: Kin, Wax, and Nut (2015–2022)

Tunstall performing at Troubadour, October 2023

In 2015, KT Tunstall went on a small tour in the US. In 2016, she released the Golden State EP before her fifth studio album, Kin, which came out in September 2016.

KT announced a special project: a trilogy of studio albums exploring the themes of soul, body, and mind. Kin was the first, focusing on the soul. She released the second album, Wax, in 2018, which explored the theme of the body. She also contributed songs to the Pete the Cat children's album.

In 2020, she began recording the third and final album of the trilogy, focusing on the mind. In 2021, she adjusted her touring schedule due to hearing problems she had developed. Her seventh studio album, Nut, which completed the trilogy, was released on 9 September 2022.

Recent Projects (2023–Present)

In August 2023, KT Tunstall released a duet album called Face to Face with rock legend Suzi Quatro. They discovered they were fans of each other's music and decided to collaborate. In November 2023, it was announced that KT Tunstall would contribute to a new musical version of the movie Clueless. The musical premiered in the UK in February 2024 and will come to London's West End in 2025.

Her Unique Style

KT Tunstall is known for her powerful voice and exciting live performances. She often uses her Akai E2 Headrush loop pedal, which she playfully calls "Wee Bastard," to create layers of sound when she performs alone. She also performs with a full band, including drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards.

She has performed on many famous TV shows and at large concerts and festivals around the world. These include the Hogmanay Edinburgh Concert, the Glastonbury Festival, and the Live Earth concert. She even performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2007.

Personal Life Notes

Family Connections

KT Tunstall's first name is Kate, but she uses "KT" (pronounced "Katie") to stand out. She once said that "KT" also reminds her of the K-T impact, a geological event. Her adoptive father was a physics lecturer, and the title of her first album, Eye to the Telescope, was inspired by her childhood experiences in his laboratory.

Health and Well-being

KT Tunstall has faced some health challenges. In 2007, she had surgery for a kidney issue. More recently, she has experienced hearing problems, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Because of this, she has adjusted her touring schedule to allow for more rest between performances, prioritizing her health.

Discography

• Eye to the Telescope (2004)
• Drastic Fantastic (2007)
• Tiger Suit (2010)
• Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon (2013)
• Kin (2016)
• Wax (2018)
• Nut (2022)
• Face to Face (2023, with Suzi Quatro)

Awards and Recognitions

Awards Overview

KT Tunstall has received many awards and nominations throughout her career. In 2005, her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" won the Best Track award from Q magazine.

In 2006, she won a BRIT Award for Best British Female Artist, which is a very important award in the UK music industry. She also won the European Border Breakers Award, which celebrates artists who sell well outside their home country. Her song "Suddenly I See" won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song in 2006, an award for songwriting and composing.

She was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree". In 2016, she was recognized as the Inspirational Artist of the Year at the Music Week Awards.

List of Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: KT Tunstall para niños