Katie Melua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katie Melua
Melua in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Ketevan Melua
Born	(1984-09-16) 16 September 1984 (age 40) Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Origin	London, England
Genres	Blues folk-pop jazz easy listening
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Dramatico BMG

Ketevan "Katie" Melua (born 16 September 1984) is a British singer and songwriter. She was born in Kutaisi, Georgia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. She grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and later in London, England.

Katie Melua signed with the small Dramatico record label. This happened under the guidance of composer Mike Batt. She started her music career in 2003. Within three years, she became the best-selling female artist in the United Kingdom. She was also the highest-selling female artist in Europe.

In November 2003, Melua released her first album, Call Off the Search. It quickly became number one on the UK album charts. It sold 1.8 million copies in its first five months. Her second album, Piece by Piece, came out in September 2005. It has sold over four million copies. Her third album, Pictures, was released in October 2007.

By 2008, Katie Melua had earned a lot of money from her music. She was one of the richest British musicians under 30. She has a singing voice known as a mezzo-soprano.

Early Life and Moving to the UK

Katie Melua was born Ketevan Melua on 16 September 1984. Her parents are Amiran and Tamara Melua. She was born in Kutaisi, Georgia. At that time, Georgia was part of the Soviet Union. She also has some Canadian and Russian family background. She was baptised into the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Katie spent her early years with her grandparents in Tbilisi. Then, she moved with her parents and brother to Batumi. Her father worked there as a heart specialist. She remembers having to carry water up many stairs to their flat. She often thinks about those days when she stays in nice hotels now.

In 1993, her family moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was after a difficult time in Georgia. Her father, a heart surgeon, got a job at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The family lived near Falls Road until Katie was 14. While in Northern Ireland, she went to Roman Catholic schools. These were St Catherine's Primary School and Dominican College, Fortwilliam.

Later, her family moved to Sutton, London. After that, they moved to Redhill, Surrey. In 2008, Katie moved from her parents' home to an apartment in Notting Hill. She turned a spare room into a recording studio.

After finishing her GCSEs at Nonsuch High School, she went to the BRIT School for the Performing Arts. This school is in Croydon, London. She studied music there.

Becoming a British Citizen

On 10 August 2005, just before her 21st birthday, Katie Melua became a British citizen. Her parents and brother also became citizens. The ceremony took place in Weybridge, Surrey. This meant Katie had held three citizenships before she was 21. She was first a Soviet citizen, then Georgian, and now British.

After the ceremony, Katie said she was proud of her new nationality. She said her family was lucky to find a happy life in the UK. She feels they belong there. She still sees herself as Georgian because of her roots. She visits Georgia every year to see her family. But she is also proud to be a British citizen.

Katie's Personal Life

Katie Melua speaks English very well. She also speaks some Russian. She can speak her native Georgian fluently. However, she has said she cannot write songs in Georgian.

Katie has been described as someone who enjoys exciting activities. She likes roller coasters and funfairs. She has also taken flying lessons.

In September 2010, Katie Melua had to stop working for a few months. Doctors told her to rest after she needed a break for her health. She was in hospital for six weeks. All her tours and promotional events were put on hold until the next year. Years later, Katie said this experience helped her. It made her realize that being a successful musician didn't mean she could do anything. She said it was a big wake-up call.

In January 2012, Katie Melua announced she was engaged. She was going to marry World Superbike racer and musician James Toseland. They got married on 1 September 2012. The wedding was at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London. In 2020, Katie confirmed that they had divorced.

In August 2022, Katie announced she was expecting her first child. Her son, Sandro, was born in November. In March 2023, she said that she should not have to choose between her child and her career. Sandro would join her on her European tour.

Music Career

Starting Out in Music

After growing up in Georgia during difficult times, Katie Melua first thought about becoming a historian or a politician. This changed in 2000 when she was 15. Katie took part in a talent show on British TV called "Stars Up Their Noses." It was part of a children's show called Mad for It. Katie won the contest by singing "Without You" by Badfinger. Her prize was £350 in store vouchers. She used them to buy a chair for her father.

BRIT School and Meeting Mike Batt

After finishing her school exams, Katie went to the BRIT School for the Performing Arts. She studied music there. While at the school, Katie started writing songs. This is where she met Mike Batt, who would become her manager and producer.

Mike Batt saw Katie perform at a BRIT School showcase. He was looking for a singer who could sing jazz and blues in an interesting way. After hearing Katie sing "Faraway Voice," he signed her to his record company, Dramatico. Katie was 18 at the time. Mike Batt produced her first three albums. He also produced her fifth and sixth albums.

Working with William Orbit

For her fourth album, The House (2010), Katie worked with producer William Orbit. She said it was a very exciting experience. She felt like she was skydiving for the first time. She wanted the music to be inspired by the future. She also wanted it to keep the good parts of music from the past. Katie worked with William Orbit again in 2022 on his album The Painter.

Katie Melua's Albums

Melua at a signing in 2004

Call off the Search (2003)

Katie Melua's first album, Call Off the Search, came out on 3 November 2003. It included two songs written by Katie herself. "Belfast (Penguins and Cats)" was about her time in Northern Ireland. "Faraway Voice" was about the singer Eva Cassidy. The album also had cover songs by other artists. Most of the other songs were written by Mike Batt.

It was hard at first to get the album's first song, "The Closest Thing to Crazy", played on the radio. But then a producer at BBC Radio 2 heard it. He played it on a popular breakfast show. This helped Katie become more known. When Call Off the Search was released, it entered the top 40 UK albums chart. The song "The Closest Thing to Crazy" reached number 10 in the UK. After Katie appeared on the Royal Variety Show, the album became even more popular. It reached number one in January 2004.

Call Off the Search sold 1.9 million copies in the UK. It was number one for six weeks. Other songs from the album were not as successful. "Call Off the Search" reached number 19. "Crawling up a Hill" reached number 41.

Katie released a special 20th Anniversary Edition of the album on 3 November 2023.

Piece by Piece (2005)

Katie Melua's second album, Piece by Piece, was released on 26 September 2005. The first song from the album was "Nine Million Bicycles". It came out a week before the album and reached number three in the UK. The album had four more songs written by Katie. It also had four more by Mike Batt, including "Nine Million Bicycles." There was one song they wrote together. The album also featured new versions of other great songs. The musicians on this album were the same as on her first.

The album went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart in October 2005. This album helped Katie become popular across Europe. It sold 1 million copies in Germany alone. It also reached number one on Billboard's "European" albums chart.

On 30 September 2005, the song "Nine Million Bicycles" received some attention. A scientist named Simon Singh questioned some of the lyrics. The lyrics said: "We are 12 billion light-years from the edge. That's a guess – no-one can ever say it's true." This led to a discussion about science and artistic freedom. Katie and Simon Singh even appeared on a BBC radio show. They joked about changing the lyrics to be more scientifically accurate. Katie said she "should have known better" because she used to be in an astronomy club at school.

A single with two songs, "I Cried for You" and a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven", was released in the UK. It reached number 35. "I Cried for You" was inspired by a meeting with a writer.

A third single, "Spider's Web", was released in April 2006. It reached number 52 in the UK. Katie went on a concert tour to support Piece by Piece. Later in 2006, she released the songs "It's Only Pain" and "Shy Boy". Both were written by Mike Batt.

Pictures (2007)

Melua at Cambridge Corn Exchange, part of her 2006 UK concert tour

Katie Melua's third album, Pictures, was released in the UK on 1 October 2007. This was planned to be her last album working closely with Mike Batt as the main writer and producer. The album also featured Katie's friend Molly McQueen as a co-writer. Katie also worked with Andrea McEwan on the album. She wrote lyrics for some songs. The album included a cover of "In My Secret Life" by Leonard Cohen. Katie said this song was about how people have big dreams but often end up following others.

Katie released four songs from the album as singles. These were "If You Were a Sailboat", "Mary Pickford", "If the Lights Go Out", and "Ghost Town". "Mary Pickford" was about the silent film star Mary Pickford. "Ghost Town" was Katie's first song with a reggae sound.

The version of the album on iTunes included a bonus song. It was a cover of the Prince song "Under the Cherry Moon".

The House (2010)

Katie Melua's fourth album, The House, was released on 24 May 2010. Songwriters on this album included Lauren Christy, Guy Chambers, and Rick Nowels. William Orbit produced the album.

Three songs were released before the album. The first was "The Flood", released on 17 May 2010. The second, "A Happy Place", came out in July. The third and final song, "To Kill You With A Kiss", was released in November.

Secret Symphony (2012)

Katie Melua's fifth studio album, Secret Symphony, was released on 5 March 2012. It also debuted high on the UK album chart. Mike Batt produced and arranged this album. Katie said this album was her "singer's album." She had always wanted to sing other people's songs. She felt it brought out something new in her voice.

Ketevan (2013)

Zelt-Musik-Festival 2016 in Freiburg, Germany

Katie Melua's sixth studio album, Ketevan, was released on 16 September 2013. Mike Batt and his son, Luke Batt, produced it together. Both of them also wrote songs for the album, sometimes with Katie. Katie performed a full orchestral version of the first song, "I Will Be There," at a special event for Queen Elizabeth II in July 2013. This song was described as a gentle and warm song. It featured Katie's beautiful voice and a grand orchestral sound. Mike Batt composed the song.

Ketevan entered the UK charts at number 6. With this, Katie joined a small group of female artists. This group includes Madonna and Kate Bush. They have all had six albums in a row reach the top 10 in the UK. Ketevan also reached the top 10 in France, Poland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Wonderful Life (2014)

Katie Melua recorded a cover of Black's "Wonderful Life" in 2014. It was for a BBC Radio 2 album. Luke Batt produced the song.

On 25 August 2015, the cover was released as a charity single. It raised money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Sheffield Children's Hospital. The song was also used in an advertisement campaign for Premier Inn. The song reached number 73 on the UK singles chart.

In Winter (2016)

Melua with the Gori Women's Choir, 2018

Katie Melua's seventh album, In Winter, was released on 14 October 2016. For this album, Katie went back to her home country of Georgia. She recorded the album with the Gori Women's Choir. This is an all-female singing group from Georgia. Katie shared that her work with Mike Batt had ended after her last album. Their agreement was for six albums.

In 2017, she released a cover of "Fields of Gold". This was the official song for Children in Need, a charity event.

Album No. 8 (2020) & Aerial Objects (2022)

In June 2020, Katie Melua supported the Georgian Red Cross Society. She helped their efforts to assist people in Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic. She performed a live charity concert. She sang songs that her followers asked for on social media.

Katie released her eighth studio album, Album No. 8, on 16 October 2020. The first song from the album, "A Love like That," was produced by Leo Abrahams. It was first played on BBC Radio 2 on 30 June 2020. The music video for the song featured British actor Billy Howle. It was directed by Charlie Lightening. The second song, "Airtime," came out on 24 July 2020. Its video also featured Billy Howle and was filmed around Herne Bay.

In the summer of 2022, Katie Melua announced a new album. It was a collaboration with Grammy award-winning sound engineer Simon Goff. The album, Aerial Objects, was released on 15 July 2022. Simon Goff said making the album was about discovery and giving each other space. Katie also went on a 10-date concert tour in 2022. During this tour, she announced her first pregnancy.

Love & Money (2023)

In January 2023, Katie Melua announced her new album, Love & Money. It was released on 24 March 2023. Leo Abrahams, who worked on Album No. 8, produced this record too. Love & Money was recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in the summer of 2022. Katie was pregnant with her first child at the time.

Katie went on a 27-date spring tour across Europe and the UK. It was called the Love & Money Tour. She performed at the Royal Albert Hall. The first song and video from the album, "Golden Record," came out on 12 January 2023. Katie said writing "Golden Record" helped her feel at peace with changes in the music industry. Other songs released from the album included "Those Sweet Days" and "Quiet Moves."

In September 2023, Katie released a new version of the album song "14 Windows." This was a charity single for the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund. Katie said the song was a dedication to a doctor who helped her through a difficult time. All money from the single goes to the charity.

Katie recorded an English song called "End of Summer." It was for the soundtrack of the Polish film The Peasants. She worked with Polish rapper L.U.C and the Rebel Babel Film Orchestra. The song came out on 25 January 2024. In March 2024, Katie performed at the 35th anniversary of Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia. She also performed in Sydney and Melbourne. These were Katie's first shows in Australia in 19 years.

Other Work and Achievements

Acting and Modelling

Katie Melua appeared in a part of the 2007 film Grindhouse. This film was written by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Katie was in a fake movie trailer called "Don't". It was made to look like a 1970s horror film trailer.

In 2009, Katie Melua became the new face of the French cashmere designer, Éric Bompard.

World Record Holder

On 2 October 2006, Katie Melua set a new Guinness Book of Records record. She played the deepest underwater concert ever. It was 303 meters below sea level. This happened on the Norwegian Statoil's Troll A platform in the North Sea. Katie and her band had to pass many medical tests and training before going to the rig.

Katie later said it was "the most surreal gig I have ever done." Her concert is remembered in the DVD Concert Under the Sea, released in June 2007.

Charity Work

In November 2004, Katie Melua took part in Band Aid 20. She joined other British and Irish singers to record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" This raised money for people in Africa. In March 2005, Katie sang "Too Much Love Will Kill You" with Brian May from Queen. This was at the 46664 concert in South Africa. It was for Nelson Mandela's charity that helps people with HIV. Katie had loved Queen since she was a child. So, performing with Brian May was a dream come true.

Later in 2005, Katie became a goodwill ambassador for Save the Children. She went to Sri Lanka. She saw the work the charity was doing for children there. In 2006, Katie gave all the money from her song "Spider's Web" to the charity.

On 7 July 2007, Katie performed at the German part of Live Earth in Hamburg. In December of that year, Katie released a cover of the Louis Armstrong song "What a Wonderful World". She sang with a recording of the late Eva Cassidy. All the money from this song went to the Red Cross. It reached number 1 on the UK singles chart in December 2007.

Katie has visited Oxfam charity shops for many years. She often buys her clothes there. She says this is because she doesn't like spending a lot of money or being too fancy. It also shows her support for the charity.

Katie is a supporter of Fair Trees. This group works to stop unfair treatment of cone pickers in Ambrolauri, Georgia. These workers collect cones from tall fir trees for the Christmas tree industry in Europe. Before Fair Trees, these workers were paid very little. They had no safety equipment or health insurance. People were often hurt or even died doing this work. Fair Trees grows and sells the only fair trade Christmas trees in the world.

Katie also supports the Manx Cancer Help charity. This charity helps people with cancer on the Isle of Man. She attended a fundraising event for them in 2013.

Katie released a re-recorded version of her song "14 Windows" to support the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund. This charity helps doctors, medical students, and their families. All the money from the song goes to the charity's work.

Musical Inspirations

Katie Melua has said that the rock band Queen was a big influence on her when she was young. She remembers her uncles playing music by Queen and Led Zeppelin. She performed with Queen at the 46664 concert in South Africa in 2005.

In November 2006, Katie appeared on a BBC show. She said Paul McCartney was her choice for Britain's greatest living icon.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Call Off the Search (2003)
• Piece by Piece (2005)
• Pictures (2007)
• The House (2010)
• Secret Symphony (2012)
• Ketevan (2013)
• In Winter (2016)
• Album No. 8 (2020)
• Love & Money (2023)

Collaborative Albums

• Aerial Objects with Simon Goff (2022)

Appearances on Soundtracks

Acting Roles

Awards and Recognition

• Katie Melua was the best-selling UK female artist in 2004 and 2005.
• In 2006, a tulip flower was named after her.
• According to VH1, Call Off the Search is the 87th best-selling British album in history.
• An asteroid, 25131, was named Katiemelua.

See also

In Spanish: Katie Melua para niños