KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria Tunstall, better known as KT Tunstall (born 23 June 1975 in … Read Full Bio ↴Kate Victoria Tunstall, better known as KT Tunstall (born 23 June 1975 in Edinburgh, Scotland), is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. She broke into the public eye with a live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland. She has enjoyed commercial and critical success since, picking up three nominations before winning a BRIT Award, and a Grammy Award nomination. She is also the recipient of an Ivor Novello Award.
Recording and performing career
She started her career in 2000. Throughout her twenties, she played in indie bands including Elia Drew and Tomoko, and focused on songwriting, as well as performing with members of the fledgling Fence Collective including work in the Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra with King Creosote, who recently supported her UK tour. She also lived with Gordon Anderson (The Beta Band and The Aliens), whom the song Funnyman, on the album Drastic Fantastic, is about. She toured with the Klezmer band Oi Va Voi, and guested on their album, Laughter Through Tears.
Music career
Eye to the Telescope (2004–2006)
Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, was released in late 2004. Tunstall's style of music varies from folk to pop. In Edinburgh and St Andrews, she played in a band called Red Light Stylus, which was regarded as one of the better bands to emerge from the limited Fife scene.
Tunstall's first appearance of note was a solo performance of her famed blues song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland.[10] The performance was notable as she had only 24 hours to prepare after scheduled performer Nas cancelled. Her performance caught the eye of many viewers, although she had previously performed it on French television only some weeks before, upstaging more established acts such as The Cure, Embrace, and The Futureheads; she then went on to top the post-show poll on the website for that episode.
Shortly after the "Later" appearance, Eye to the Telescope was re-released and shot up the UK charts, eventually peaking at #3 (on its first release it had entered at #73); it was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. It was released in the U.S. on 7 February 2006.
Tunstall's North American break came when American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee contacted her asking to use "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" as her choice for a Billboard-themed week. At the time, the song was #79 on the Billboard charts. Tunstall had not been shy with her opinions regarding shows like Idol saying "The major problem I have is that it's completely controlled... they're told what to say. They're told how to sing." She chose to license the song as she felt that "no one on that show told Katharine McPhee to sing my song because no one knew it" Tunstall's belief was correct—the song was suggested to McPhee by Billboard columnist and author Fred Bronson. The song immediately jumped to #23 on the Billboard charts the week following McPhee's performance. She has later said "My status as a musician in America is pretty much cemented by Katharine McPhee, which is really interesting and funny for me because I've never been polite about how I feel about shows like that."
KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza (2006–2007)
Tunstall released a new acoustic album in May 2006, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza, which was first only available via mail order from her website. The album was re-released in stores worldwide in October 2006.
Tunstall sang with Scottish band Travis on their 2007 album "The Boy With No Name", on the track "Under The Moonlight", a song written by Susie Hug (late of Katydids).
Drastic Fantastic (2007–2008)
Tunstall's third album, Drastic Fantastic, premiered on 3 September 2007 in Scotland, followed a week later on 10 September 2007 with the London release for the UK and 18 September 2007, in the US. In its first week, Drastic Fantastic reached #1 on the Scottish Album Charts, #3 on the UK Charts, and #9 on the U.S. Charts. The album's lead single "Hold On" was released in August 2007, debuting at #34 in the UK, before peaking at #21 in the United Kingdom. The song was also very successful in certain European nations peaking at #19 in Italy, #19 in Norway, #26 in Switzerland and #39 in Ireland. The album's second single "Saving My Face" was released in December 2007. The song did not make the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, but however did managed to peak at #50 on the UK Singles Charts, managing 3 weeks on the UK Charts. Despite missing the UK Top 40, the song made the Top 40 in Italy, making #23 and in Switzerland peaking at #93. The album's third single, and final worldwide single, "If Only" was released in March 2008, becoming the second single from the album not to make the UK Top 40, it managed #45 in audition.
On 5 October 2007 the U.S. discount department store chain Target, in association with NBC, released a special KT Tunstall Christmas EP on CD. Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection contains six exclusive tracks:
* "2000 Miles"
* "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
* "Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas In Hawaii)"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "Fairytale of New York"
* "Lonely This Christmas"
On 10 December 2007 it was released in Europe through Relentless Records as a digital download only, under the title Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas.
In 2008 KT Tunstall recorded a song for the album Songs for Survival, in support of the indigenous rights organization Survival International. In a video for Survival International, she speaks of music as being a force for good, and about what she has learned about tribal people on this project. She also discusses various issues concerning our culture of consumption and greed, our relation to the earth and the importance of indigenous rights in the world today.
Tunstall also worked with Suzanne Vega on her 2007 album Beauty & Crime, singing backup on songs "Zephyr and I" and "Frank and Ava". It was revealed in the booklet by Vega that the two had never met during the process of making the album.
Tiger Suit (2009-present)
On February 11, 2010 The Daily Record reported that, " 'KT TUNSTALL has recorded her new album in Berlin's famous Hansa studio. The studio, beside the site of the Berlin Wall, was used to make legendary albums including David Bowie's Heroes and U2's Achtung Baby. Kt said: "I had an amazing three weeks recording in Hansa in Berlin in January and am finishing it all off in London." The Scots singer, who has been quiet of late, reassured fans she has been busy. She added: "I am still very much alive and have every music-making limb and muscle working in my laboratory of fierce-new-album-ness." Before her album comes out, KT will be playing a stripped-down set at the Haiti fundraising gig at the Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday February 25. She hopes to jump up with her old pal Seasick Steve for a song or two. Kt added: "My shizzle will feature some new faces and definitely some new songs, so come and have a listen and chuck some dough at a good cause." '
According to her website, Tunstall has finished recording her third studio album. The album has been titled Tiger Suit.
Recording and performing career
She started her career in 2000. Throughout her twenties, she played in indie bands including Elia Drew and Tomoko, and focused on songwriting, as well as performing with members of the fledgling Fence Collective including work in the Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra with King Creosote, who recently supported her UK tour. She also lived with Gordon Anderson (The Beta Band and The Aliens), whom the song Funnyman, on the album Drastic Fantastic, is about. She toured with the Klezmer band Oi Va Voi, and guested on their album, Laughter Through Tears.
Music career
Eye to the Telescope (2004–2006)
Her debut album, Eye to the Telescope, was released in late 2004. Tunstall's style of music varies from folk to pop. In Edinburgh and St Andrews, she played in a band called Red Light Stylus, which was regarded as one of the better bands to emerge from the limited Fife scene.
Tunstall's first appearance of note was a solo performance of her famed blues song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland.[10] The performance was notable as she had only 24 hours to prepare after scheduled performer Nas cancelled. Her performance caught the eye of many viewers, although she had previously performed it on French television only some weeks before, upstaging more established acts such as The Cure, Embrace, and The Futureheads; she then went on to top the post-show poll on the website for that episode.
Shortly after the "Later" appearance, Eye to the Telescope was re-released and shot up the UK charts, eventually peaking at #3 (on its first release it had entered at #73); it was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. It was released in the U.S. on 7 February 2006.
Tunstall's North American break came when American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee contacted her asking to use "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" as her choice for a Billboard-themed week. At the time, the song was #79 on the Billboard charts. Tunstall had not been shy with her opinions regarding shows like Idol saying "The major problem I have is that it's completely controlled... they're told what to say. They're told how to sing." She chose to license the song as she felt that "no one on that show told Katharine McPhee to sing my song because no one knew it" Tunstall's belief was correct—the song was suggested to McPhee by Billboard columnist and author Fred Bronson. The song immediately jumped to #23 on the Billboard charts the week following McPhee's performance. She has later said "My status as a musician in America is pretty much cemented by Katharine McPhee, which is really interesting and funny for me because I've never been polite about how I feel about shows like that."
KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza (2006–2007)
Tunstall released a new acoustic album in May 2006, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza, which was first only available via mail order from her website. The album was re-released in stores worldwide in October 2006.
Tunstall sang with Scottish band Travis on their 2007 album "The Boy With No Name", on the track "Under The Moonlight", a song written by Susie Hug (late of Katydids).
Drastic Fantastic (2007–2008)
Tunstall's third album, Drastic Fantastic, premiered on 3 September 2007 in Scotland, followed a week later on 10 September 2007 with the London release for the UK and 18 September 2007, in the US. In its first week, Drastic Fantastic reached #1 on the Scottish Album Charts, #3 on the UK Charts, and #9 on the U.S. Charts. The album's lead single "Hold On" was released in August 2007, debuting at #34 in the UK, before peaking at #21 in the United Kingdom. The song was also very successful in certain European nations peaking at #19 in Italy, #19 in Norway, #26 in Switzerland and #39 in Ireland. The album's second single "Saving My Face" was released in December 2007. The song did not make the UK Top 40 Singles Charts, but however did managed to peak at #50 on the UK Singles Charts, managing 3 weeks on the UK Charts. Despite missing the UK Top 40, the song made the Top 40 in Italy, making #23 and in Switzerland peaking at #93. The album's third single, and final worldwide single, "If Only" was released in March 2008, becoming the second single from the album not to make the UK Top 40, it managed #45 in audition.
On 5 October 2007 the U.S. discount department store chain Target, in association with NBC, released a special KT Tunstall Christmas EP on CD. Sounds of the Season: The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection contains six exclusive tracks:
* "2000 Miles"
* "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
* "Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas In Hawaii)"
* "Sleigh Ride"
* "Fairytale of New York"
* "Lonely This Christmas"
On 10 December 2007 it was released in Europe through Relentless Records as a digital download only, under the title Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas.
In 2008 KT Tunstall recorded a song for the album Songs for Survival, in support of the indigenous rights organization Survival International. In a video for Survival International, she speaks of music as being a force for good, and about what she has learned about tribal people on this project. She also discusses various issues concerning our culture of consumption and greed, our relation to the earth and the importance of indigenous rights in the world today.
Tunstall also worked with Suzanne Vega on her 2007 album Beauty & Crime, singing backup on songs "Zephyr and I" and "Frank and Ava". It was revealed in the booklet by Vega that the two had never met during the process of making the album.
Tiger Suit (2009-present)
On February 11, 2010 The Daily Record reported that, " 'KT TUNSTALL has recorded her new album in Berlin's famous Hansa studio. The studio, beside the site of the Berlin Wall, was used to make legendary albums including David Bowie's Heroes and U2's Achtung Baby. Kt said: "I had an amazing three weeks recording in Hansa in Berlin in January and am finishing it all off in London." The Scots singer, who has been quiet of late, reassured fans she has been busy. She added: "I am still very much alive and have every music-making limb and muscle working in my laboratory of fierce-new-album-ness." Before her album comes out, KT will be playing a stripped-down set at the Haiti fundraising gig at the Roundhouse in Camden on Thursday February 25. She hopes to jump up with her old pal Seasick Steve for a song or two. Kt added: "My shizzle will feature some new faces and definitely some new songs, so come and have a listen and chuck some dough at a good cause." '
According to her website, Tunstall has finished recording her third studio album. The album has been titled Tiger Suit.
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KT Tunstall Lyrics
03 Miniature Disasters Don't wanna be second best, Don't wanna stand in line, Don't…
07-Black Horse & The Cherry Tree (Two, three, four) Well, my heart knows me better than I…
09 Beauty Of Uncertainty I need a mirror, In the eyes of a man, I need…
1000 Years A thousand years is a long, long time Even for a…
2000 Miles He's gone 2000 miles It's very far The snow is falling down …
4. Suddenly I See Her face is a map of the world Is a map…
Alchemy Hanging, hanging by one arm Been this way for hours Starting…
All The Time I notice it as the coffee burns my tongue I feel…
Another Place to Fall Are you blind? Blind to me trying to be kind? Volunteering f…
Ashes I am a pain, in you're ass And I'm wondering how…
Backlash & Vinegar I carved a hole in the sun Black edges Easy to get…
Barbie If I could do the splits I would do them all…
Beauty of Uncertainty I need a mirror, In the eyes of a man, I need…
big black horse and a cherry tree Two, three, four (Woohoo, woohoo) (Woohoo, woohoo) Well, m…
Black & White Under my feet Miles of nothingness Testing my senses Strange…
Black Horse Two, three, four (Woohoo, woohoo) (Woohoo, woohoo) Well, m…
Black Horse And A Cherry Tree Two, three, four (Woo, hoo, woo, hoo) (Woo, hoo, woo, ho…
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree Two, three, four (woo-hoo, woo-hoo) (woo-hoo, woo-hoo) Wel…
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree (Radio Version) (Woo hoo, woo hoo) Well, my heart knows me better than…
Black Horse In A Cherry Tree Two, three, four (Woo, hoo, woo, hoo) (Woo, hoo, woo, ho…
Boo Hoo If I was lookin' for you Would you be easy…
Brain In A Jar I told my family Keep my brain in a jar They told…
Canyons Hey, what do you say? We don't chase the rabbit Down undergr…
Carried Oh tell me how to let it go Just like this? In…
Change The wind is cold tonight, Or so I am told.…
Chimes Somewhere behind us We went the way of the White willow whal…
Christmas The snow's coming down I'm watching it fall And lots of peop…
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) The snow's coming down I'm watching it fall Watching the peo…
Come On The snow's coming down I'm watching it fall And lots of peop…
Come On Get In Come on, come on, come on, Get in, oh baby! Well I…
Crescent Moon I'm a crescent moon Looking for a place to lay my…
Dark Side of Me Seldom do I tell you That I need you in the…
Darkness On The Face Of The Earth The mornin' that you left me, was just another day, How…
Dear Shadow Oh-oh, oh, oh Oh-oh, oh, oh The first day that we met I…
Demigod Wonder fits you like a glove Along with the lace and…
Deportee I Don't wanna hear you got a boyfriend Sometimes You're bett…
Difficulty Isn't much more I can do for you Isn't much more…
Everything Has Its Shape Head to head with a demon in my dreams Fight to…
Evil Eye Say you don't listen to every word that I say Kind…
Fade Like a Shadow You grew wings on your heart But you let it out…
Fairytale Of New York It was Christmas Eve babe in the drunk tank An old…
Fall Are you blind? Blind to me trying to be kind? Volunteering f…
False Alarm I'm trying to put this thing to bed I drugged it…
Feel It All I'm growing like a seed Rain's been falling on me I've been…
Float I'm gonna fall Headfirst and fast like an avalanche Maybe I'…
Funnyman Locked inside your head Do you realize the things you said…
Girl & The Ghost The girl and the ghost Sit in the corner The girl and…
Girl and the Ghost The girl and the ghost Sit in the corner The girl and…
Glamour Puss Long legs, taking you somewhere Catch your reflection in a w…
Golden Age Put your hands on the wheel, Let the golden age begin. Let…
Golden Frames It was the middle of the night When she found something On…
Gone To The Dogs Since you've been gone Gone to the dogs In a roundabout way …
Hard Girls Hey! C'mon You soft girls Trying to be hard girls You know …
Heal Over It isn't very difficult to see why You are the way…
Hidden Heart Down, down cut me down So I can lie on familiar…
Hold On Say you to me You're a bird with an eye for…
Honeydew All I want is to be everything to you You keep…
Hopeless Hopeless Everybody says it's just another decay Of the soul …
How You Kill Me How you kill me I keep filling up with greatness Find myse…
Human Being I wanna be everything for you all the time But I'm…
I Am The Pilot Tranquillized and I'm tired I wanna be an outsider Being the…
I Don Show me what it is you've done, Pull the covers off…
If Only Walking around in a daze after days now its been Talking…
In This Body Something keeps happening to me And I just realized it This …
Invisible Empire I thought the candles gonna go out The wind was blowing…
It Took Me So Long (Hey yeah, hey yeah-ah-ah) I took it all, all on my…
Journey Sometimes I just wanna keep walking Get me into the mountain…
kin Kin, you're my kin Kin, you're my kin Here comes the wave…
Lay Down Low You are the up, my darling, and I am the…
Leather You twist my time And I don't want you to 'Cause I…
Let's Stick Together Now, the marriage vow is very sacred The man has put…
Little Favours I slip softly through Your slim fingers Leaving traces I emb…
Little Red Thread I know you know You know I know The feeling isn't easy…
Lonely This Christmas It'll be lonely this Christmas Without you to hold It'll be …
Lost Following my nose A detective with no lead Only my dreams kn…
Love Is An Ocean Limited time on my mind Slipping through days Staring at wh…
Madame Trudeaux Shimmy down and bail out The side room of your hotel Seems…
Made Of Glass Fire me in an oven Until I go hard enough To deal…
Maybe It's A Good Thing All this choosing-wrongs losing ground Often feeling lost, h…
Mele Kalikimaka Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say On a bright Hawaiian…
Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say, On a bright Hawaiian…
Minature Disasters Don't wanna be second best, Don't wanna stand in line, Don't…
Miniture Disasters Don't wanna be second best Don't wanna stand in line Don't…
Night Like Pepper Don't come near me I'm not the one to save your…
No Better Shoulder There's no better shoulder There's no finer place But one wo…
Old Man Song Oh we are fighters in our prime And as I look…
On My Star If it happened And our feet fell away From familiarity…
One Day One day, you'll be on your own You won't have a…
Other Side of the World Over the sea and far away She's waiting like an iceberg Wait…
Out of Touch I dreamt I divided myself Into pieces you could taste Where …
over side of the world Over the sea and far away She's waiting like an iceberg Wait…
Paper Aeroplane Well this stone that I have swallowed Isn't going down so…
Patience Dare I say no, when you look at me so Are…
Poison In Your Cup Callous as you were I can't believe your kin I thought you'd…
Private Eyes Head's too close to the ceiling of a basement bar You're…
Push That Knot Away May you always, may you always walk in hope And may…
Quiet Now I'm standing on the edge And the area's oh so…
Riptide Well I'm feeling stupid, thick and tired Faking through and …
Run On Home It was better To keep my mouth shut And not say anything Lik…
Saving My Face See the look on my face, From staying too long in…
Scarlet Tulip Isn't there a phrase that says don't be a stranger Danger…
Shanty of the Whale There's a jar of salt water, sits behind my eyes If…
Silent Sea I was happy in my harbor When you cut me loose Floating…
Skinny Lou Skinny Lou You used to be that I couldn't see…
Sleigh Ride Just hear Those sleigh bells Jingle-ing Ring ting Tingle-ing…
Someday Soon I think it's time to put myself away, Seek out a…
Stoppin So you think it's funny That you've been calling me all…
Strange Sight Strange sight You stand in the light You're wrong but you're…
Suddenly I See Well her face is a map of the world Is a…
Suddenly I see live at live earth 070707 Her face is a map of the world Is a map…
Synapse Yeah, yeah, yeah I take a step Out over the edge It feels…
Telephone Bill Well, call this number now Even though I'm feeling low mysel…
The Entertainer You Write your songs of love Like the channel of the century…
The Girl and the Ghost The girl and the ghost Sit in the corner The girl and…
The Healer Count one, count two You'll see what you wanna see Count thr…
The Mountain See out the side of my eye A pick-pocket city in…
The Night That Bowie Died All the pain and the fear designated There's a number of…
The Prayer Lord give me grace and dancing feet And the power to…
The Punk Let's go for a walk in your garden of Eden You…
The River I'm holding on To something I don't want To hold on to I'm…
Three Time can show me Never wholly Be the picture that I wanna…
Through the Dark As I walk away I look over my shoulder To see what…
Throw Me A Rope I want you between me and the feeling I get…
Tiny Love How long have I gone Without thinking of you? Without thinki…
Trumpets Of Love Well it's you I adore And I want everyone to know That…
Turned A Light On There was only black space Life lived in negative Couldn't f…
Two Way If you feel you have the time Come and spend a…
Under the weather Under this national rain cloud I'm getting soaked to the ski…
Universe A fire burns Water comes You cool me down When I'm cold insi…
Universe and U A fire burns Water calms You cool me down When I'm cold insi…
Uummannaq Song Oh, oh, oh, oh Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Hold your fire I'm co…
Waiting on the Heart Circling, Spinning my way apart Losing my pieces all over No…
Weirdo Now I know, I took for granted That things would…
White Bird White bird with a black tail, Eyes Dark and face so…
Yellow Flower Still the pulse survives The conscious candor of our convers…