Katie Melua | World Hunger Day 2012

We are pleased to announce that Katie Melua will be joining us for World Hunger Day 2012 Celebrations 28 May. Book Tickets | Royal Albert Hall

Katie Melua’s Biography

When Georgian-born Katie Melua signed with Mike Batt’s independent record label Dramatico in September 2002, no-one could have imagined that by the release of her third album, ‘Pictures’, in 2007, she would be the biggest-selling UK-based, female artist in the world. Her first two albums, ‘Call Off The Search’ and ‘Piece By Piece’ both became international number ones with singles such as ‘The Closest Thing To Crazy’ and ‘Nine Million Bicycles’ becoming airplay hits around the world.

The story was to continue with the album ‘Pictures’ securing Katie’s place as one of Britain’s most successful artists of the new millennium. Katie was on an exciting, record-breaking rollercoaster ride involving several massive world tours, numerous awards and many special moments – like playing on stage for Nelson Mandela with the band Queen, dining at Buckingham Palace with the real Queen, becoming a British citizen, performing a gig at the bottom of the North Sea, walking the Great Wall of China and playing at London’s vast O2 Arena.

The release of ‘Pictures’ preceded a natural break in Mike and Katie’s writing relationship. “We knew it was the last album we would write together, at least for a while”, said Katie at the time. “We both felt three was enough and I need to go and further explore my identity as an artist, and Mike has other projects he wants to do, too. These albums have very much been a double act – a trilogy of collaborations if you like. A chapter in our ongoing relationship.”

Katie’s focus for the first half of 2009 was America where she embarked on an acoustic tour performing with just her guitar and piano for accompaniment “sometimes it’s nice to strip the songs back. That’s how you know whether a song is good or not — when it can survive without such protection.” Reunited with her band, a summer of outdoor shows around Europe concluded the tour before Katie settled down to start work on her fourth album.

Recorded at Air Studios in London, the new album was produced by William Orbit and saw Katie writing on her own and with Guy Chambers, Rick Nowels, Mike Batt and singer-songwriter and long-time friend Polly Scattergood. The resulting album, entitled ‘The House’, was described as sonically epic, adventurous and dramatic and on its release in May 2010 garnered some of the finest notices of her career and topped Billboard’s pan-European charts. The first single ‘The Flood’ was described by Radio 2’s Janice Long and the Daily Telegraph as “the best thing she’s ever done.” Meanwhile the Sunday Express declared “Four albums in, Melua has made her masterpiece” and the Mail on Sunday wrote “She proves herself to be a songwriter of subtlety and depth”. Q Magazine called ‘The House’ “A mighty leap forwards” and The Times described it as “Her best yet”.

Katie’s scheduled European tour in autumn 2010 was postponed due to illness “I had a bit of a breakdown so needed to take time off.” In February 2011, after a few months off, Katie returned to work starting with a concert for Radio 2 and then the rescheduled sold out dates. A pan-European tour, from April until June, showed that Katie was back where she belonged….“It was great to be back on the road, playing with the band again and I was really moved by the amazing support from my fans.”

March 2012 will see the release of Katie’s fifth studio album ‘Secret Symphony’ an exquisite collection of songs that perfectly showcases that unique, instantly recognisable voice. “On this record I simply wanted to find beautiful songs and to really sing my heart out.

Those songs include ‘All Over The World’ (Françoise Hardy), ‘Gold In Them Hills’ (Ron Sexsmith), ‘Nobody Knows You’ (Jimmie Cox) and ‘Moonshine’ (Fran Healy).  Katie’s own song ‘Forgetting All My Troubles’ “represents who and where I am today” and she teams up with manager and producer Mike Batt on ‘Heartstrings’ & ‘Lone Wolf’. Batt also contributes title track ‘Secret Symphony’, ‘The Walls Of The World’, ‘Better Than A Dream’ and ‘The Bit That I Don’t Get’ “I like the way he writes about love from different point of view. His choruses soar and I love singing them.”

“Once I knew I wanted to record this album it was the simplest, and most natural, decision to have Mike produce it.” With Batt at the helm Katie returned to Air Studios in London where she recorded her last album ‘The House’ “it is such a special place to record and to sing.” The result is a collaboration that imbues the songs with a distinct personality that could only be the work of this creative team. The record allows Katie’s distinctive voice and the songs to truly shine.

Katie Melua & World Hunger Day

We are absolutely delighted that Katie Melua will perform as part of World Hunger Day 2012 celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.

The World Hunger Day Concert, 28 May will be led by legendary singer and UN FAO Ambassador, Dionne Warwick and will also feature the full orchestra of Southbank Sinfonia.

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