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.
The Mountain
KT Tunstall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A pick-pocket city in darkness
Bodies shifting, I am drifting
Through the sodium light
Mind feels like an alarm
Heat like it's trying to harm me
Body twitching, something missing in my soul tonight
Scream of a siren
Bow my head as another one goes down
Gotta get gone
Gotta get gone
Gotta get gone
You will find me
On the mountain
Where the ground is
Welcome in the sky
There is paradise
In the loneliness
But I'm counting on you coming by
Driving in my car
Sound of the city is fading
I am trading in this tension
For the dying light
Wanna see the stars
Wanna feel the radiating nature
Of a place where I am
Out of sight
No more trying
To go against the flow of what I need
Gotta get free
Gotta get free
Gotta get free
You will find me
On the mountain
Where the ground is
Welcome in the sky
There is paradise
In the loneliness
But I'm counting on you coming by
I gotta get gone
I gotta get gone
Oh, you will find me
On the mountain
Where the ground is
Welcome in the sky
There is paradise
In the loneliness
But I'm counting on you coming by
Oh, you will find me
On the mountain
Where the ground is
Welcome in the sky
There is a paradise
In the loneliness
But I'm counting on you coming by
Coming by, coming by
In these lyrics, the singer is describing a city at night. They mention seeing the city out of the corner of their eye, implying that they are not fully immersed in it. The reference to a "pick-pocket city in darkness" suggests a sense of danger and mistrust in this urban environment. As the bodies shift and the singer drifts through the sodium light, there is a feeling of detachment and unease.
The lyrics also convey the singer's internal state. They describe their mind feeling like an alarm and the heat as if it's trying to harm them. This could represent feelings of anxiety and discomfort. The line "something missing in my soul tonight" hints at a deeper emotional longing or emptiness that the singer is experiencing.
The mention of a siren and another one going down suggests violence or tragedy happening in the city. The singer bows their head, perhaps in sadness or in a gesture of submission. They then express the need to escape, to "get gone." This sense of urgency is repeated multiple times in the chorus, emphasizing the desire for freedom from this unsettling city.
The second verse introduces a shift in perspective. The singer is now driving in their car, distancing themselves from the city. They describe how the sound of the city is fading as they trade in the tension for the dying light. This can be interpreted as a choice to leave behind the chaos and busyness of city life in search of a quieter and more serene environment.
The desire to see the stars and feel the radiating nature implies a yearning for connection with something greater than themselves and a longing for tranquility. The mention of being "out of sight" might suggest a desire to be unnoticed, to blend into the natural surroundings and escape from the pressures of the city.
Throughout the song, the chorus repeats the lyrics "You will find me on the mountain, where the ground is welcome in the sky, there is paradise in the loneliness, but I'm counting on you coming by." This chorus encapsulates the central theme of the song, which is the singer's longing for someone to join them on their journey to find solace and peace. The mountain symbolizes a place of refuge and escape from the chaos of the city, a place where they can find paradise in solitude. However, they express their hope and reliance on someone else to come and share this experience with them.
Overall, "The Mountain" is a song about feeling disconnected and uncomfortable in an urban environment and the longing for escape and tranquility. The lyrics explore themes of loneliness, the desire for freedom, and the hope for companionship on a journey towards finding peace and paradise.
Line by Line Meaning
See out the side of my eye
Observing the surroundings with peripheral vision
A pick-pocket city in darkness
A city filled with crime and deceit concealed in shadows
Bodies shifting, I am drifting
People moving and changing, while I feel detached and aimless
Through the sodium light
Amidst the artificial illumination of streetlights
Mind feels like an alarm
My thoughts are racing and causing anxiety
Heat like it's trying to harm me
An intense sensation of discomfort and threat
Body twitching, something missing in my soul tonight
Physical restlessness combined with a deep sense of emptiness
Scream of a siren
The piercing sound of an emergency vehicle's alarm
Bow my head as another one goes down
I lower my head in sadness and resignation as another tragedy occurs
Gotta get gone
I must escape from this current situation
You will find me on the mountain
I seek solace and refuge in a place of elevation and tranquility
Where the ground is welcome in the sky
A location where earthly elements harmoniously coexist with the heavenly
There is paradise in the loneliness
Despite feeling alone, there is beauty and serenity to be discovered
But I'm counting on you coming by
I anticipate and rely on your presence and companionship
Driving in my car
Traveling in my vehicle
Sound of the city is fading
The urban noise is gradually diminishing
I am trading in this tension
Exchanging the stress and strain for something better
For the dying light
Referring to the twilight, a fleeting period of transition
Wanna see the stars
Longing to witness the celestial wonders
Wanna feel the radiating nature
Desiring to experience the vibrant energy of the natural world
Of a place where I am out of sight
In a location where I can be hidden and unseen
No more trying
No longer attempting to resist or struggle
To go against the flow of what I need
Ceasing to resist what is necessary for my well-being
Gotta get free
I must break free from my constraints
You will find me on the mountain
Once again emphasizing the desire for solitude and peace
I gotta get gone
It is imperative for me to leave
Oh, you will find me on the mountain
Reiterating the search for solace in an elevated space
But I'm counting on you coming by
However, I still rely on your presence and support
Coming by, coming by
Hopfully, you will visit me soon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KT Tunstall, Nick McCarthy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind