The conversation is between Karen Edmond from the Scottish Music Network and Kate Couriel, a musician, along with Seb Lowe.
Karen starts by saying she wants to have a “wee sit down chat” and asks Kate a few questions, acknowledging that Kate and her band are very busy. Karen says she had not heard of Kate’s music before, but came to see the set and thought it was “very energetic” and she “loved” Kate playing the violin, which she described as a “strange inclusion” that “certainly works.”
Kate explains that when she started incorporating the violin, she wasn’t sure where it was going to fit, but it ended up working well. Karen agrees, saying the violin fits in really well and the crowd was very engaged, with a lot of “foot tapping,” “nodding,” and “dancing.” Karen notes this is Kate’s first time performing at this particular TRNSMT festival.
Karen asks Kate to describe her music to someone who hasn’t heard it before. Kate says it’s a “bit of a very kind of general umbrella” with “a lot of variations” and “a lot of voices.” She describes it as “theatrical” with “a lot of character” and says the lyrics have a political awareness.
Karen comments that most music has some political element to it. Kate agrees, saying the political and social awareness is “everywhere” in her music. She says her sound is “a bit of everything” and they “try everything from one to the one.”
Seb then chimes in, saying he didn’t know what to expect from the festival stages, but knew the Glasgow crowds would be great, as they always are. Kate agrees the crowd was “great” and mentions the festival is well-known, with acts like Gerry Cinnamon playing renowned sets in previous years.
Karen notes that this year the festival is using a drone camera, which provides a wider, more comprehensive view on TV compared to previous years. Kate is excited that her band will be featured on BBC iPlayer, which is a first for her.
Seb reveals he has previous TV experience, having been on a children’s show called “The Four O’Clock Club” when he was younger. Kate jokingly says she auditioned for that show but didn’t get in, implying Seb got the part she wanted.
Karen asks about the highlights of Kate’s career so far, and Kate says the recent tour was amazing, with the Glasgow show being a particular standout due to the incredible energy of the crowd.
Karen then asks about Kate’s latest single “Personality Test” and Kate says it did surprisingly well, even getting on some playlists, which is uncommon. She notes the song’s political relevance around election time.
Towards the end, Seb shares some advice, saying the hardest part is just getting started and having the confidence to get out there, even if you don’t feel fully ready. Kate agrees, saying it’s often less scary than you think to just go for it.
Kate also emphasizes the importance of staying true to why you started making music in the first place and not getting too bogged down in the difficult business aspects. She believes this authenticity shines through and is appreciated by her listeners.
Overall, the conversation provides a detailed look into Kate’s musical journey, her creative process, the success of her latest release, and the band’s experience performing at the popular Scottish festival.
Interview by Karen Edmond
