When I first met Katy B she was dead tired, her miniature frame marsupially sunk into a large hoodie in the basement of the Red Bull Music Academy. It was February 2010, I had no idea who she was – but she struck me firstly with her jaded level-headedness, in the face of a bunch of Flying Lotus-jocking teenage pupils, and secondly, the direct consequence of this, for being strangely hot, in her unconfectioned, make up-free way. This style has endured, and when we speak it is clear that the hype has not spoilt her.
While Katy Bs moment of glory came with the Katy on a Mission track, which charted at number 5, but she began the crossover game in 2008 with her underground hit, Tell Me, with DJ NG. UK Funky is one of the genres Katy feels the most, having grown through her teens with a huge love for r&b and an obsession with groups like Destiny’s Child and the neo soul bracket.
Then pop dubstep blew up. Magnetic Man took on Katy as their singer, spawning a legion of fans – and detractors: “People saying dubstep’s lost its credibility with Magnetic Man? I don’t understand what they’re talking about. I wasn’t singing pop music before that – I’ve done drum & bass, I’ve done grime!”
Commercial or no, Katy has now signed to Columbia Records, which Magnetic Man are on too. Her flagship Katy on a Mission features her trademark ravey coos, faintly reminiscent of the 2001ish trend for summery vocal drum & bass – Shy FX, DJ Marky hold your hands up.
Ms Dynamite features on a newer song Lights On: “I loved working with Ms Dynamite – It was a humbling experience – It was before Katy on a Mission took off – she came into the studio and didn’t know who I was – Zinc said ‘Do you want to jump on this track?’ and she just did it. I was honoured; I like the way she keeps it underground.”
Ms Dynamite is a good role model for Katy – if she can keep it credible, keep the A&R vultures at bay, she could avoid turning into another Estelle. And she’s grounded enough – “listen we’re not saving anyone’s lives here”, she says – and good enough to make that happen.
Where: Nunhead, London
What: The Shirley Bassey of surly bass
Unique fact: Katy used to play the French horn
Get three songs: Tell Me [DJ NG], Lights On feat Ms Dynamite, Katy on a Mission
Clash Magazine 01/2011
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