In Conversation with 

Katherine Crowe

July 2007

A little background: 

This is one of those nice, straight forward interviews 

That seems to fall into place just like that. 

Some of you may know this, but I recently 

set up an alternative myspace.com page to 

my main myspace.com page on 

(http://www.myspace.com/andynpoetry) 

just to showcase my poetry and in a short

burst decided to invite as many people 

as possible to read my poems.

One person that I did end up inviting

And then listened to her music as well and

Really enjoying was ‘Isle of Man’

Piano based singer songwriter, Katherine

Crowe, Katherine describes herself

In her profile as ‘I was always a plonker –

used to play piano and make up tunes 

since I was 8 years old. When I was 

20 I decided that music was my thing 

and went to music college. After that 

I sent lots of demos away and was signed 

to Positive Records an Indie Label in 

Colchester where I recorded my Debut Album – 

Missionary Girl.

The Album was made and then released but 

due to no promo nobody new it was out 

there or who I was. As a result I had 

no funds and needed to work to get by 

and so moved to the Isle of Man with my 

hubbie to find work.We both found jobs 

and got on with our lives and Missionary 

girl was forgotten. I continued to gig 

my songs and covers and am still playing 

gigs in the Isle of Man which I now 

earn my living from.’ 

Certainly when I first heard her, I was struck

By the usual comparisons for this sort of

Genre, Tori Amos, Kate Bush (both of

Which I love) and even Beverley Craven

(who I don’t like atall) but listening to

her music, there was for me a skilfulness

and a rare honesty in the tunes which

were quite touching to hear, so of course

I dropped her a quick e mail back

And the enclosed interview soon

Followed suit.

Thanks to Katherine for the interview

And fingers crossed you don’t have

Any more problems with your health.

For more information please visit

Her on myspace.com account which is

http://www.myspace.com/katherinecrowe

Regards

Andrew N 

Setting Sun: 

How are things and what’s happening at the moment?

Katherine Crowe: 

Things are real good - after a pretty scary year I am 

at last on the  up - No More Chemo - No more 

Radiotherapy - no more broken bones -  here's to a 

more fortunate time ahead.  I have started recording 

the  next album with my hubby - just simple vocals 

and a piano in our  living room when the kids are 

in bed - so it's all pretty tough to do  but we will 

get there.

Also some radio stations are starting to play my 

music – and a few  interviews have come forth 

which is fab and my album Missionary girl  is starting 

to find its' feet –  hoorah I say to that one.  All I can 

really say is thanks to everyone that is doing there 

bit to help - it  really is overwhelming and fantastic.

Setting Sun: 

Next, can you tell us a little bit about the history of 

your music  or as I like to say sometimes – who fired 

the starting pistol?

Katherine Crowe: 

Well I really have always played piano - I just loved

to play from a  tiny dot - but never learned to read music – 

still don't - just liked  making it up.  My Dad always played 

loud music in the house and so I  figure I got the passion 

from him - I just learned to love music in  all it's glory.

Setting Sun:

What are your influences music wise and who 

are you listening to at the moment?

Katherine Crowe: 

My influences are hard to define cos I have a varied 

music collection  - I love Tori Amos , Beverly Craven 

and Kate bush - James Blunt and  Daniel Beddingfield – 

Norah Jones and Eva Cassidy - James Morrison -  

and then there's people like Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, 

Nancy Sinatra, Mowtown - The White Stripes – 

The pussy Cat Dolls - The list is endless - but I would 

say more recently I have been listening to  

Regina Spector and many new artists on myspace – 

such as Adriana  Thorpe - Colbie Calat - Oh too many 

too list but you get the gist -  a  bit of everything.

Setting Sun: 

Do you play concerts out of interest? If so, how do they 

compare  to your music or if you don’t – do you have 

any idea how you would approach it? 

Katherine Crowe: 

Yes I do play concerts - Just me and a 

piano - all my songs work  pretty great in 

the raw - cos thats how they all start -The next  

album will be just that.

Setting Sun: 

I have being enjoying your songs on 

myspace.com, but the  one that I think I have 

enjoyed the most is ‘Missionary Girl’ ? 

Can you tell  you us a little bit more about 

this song etc?

Katherine Crowe: 

This song wrote itself - one of those that took 

about 5 minutes from  start to finish - it just happened

 in a flash - I often give too much  away about the way 

I write and what I write about so without sharing  

my entire life with the world - all my songs are real 

people or  situations that have happened in 

my life - I like to get inside and  become the character

 so as I portray them right and Missionary girl  was

 themed on an ex partner of my Man at the time – 

I'll let you work  the rest out.

Setting Sun:

What plans do you have next, music wise? Do you 

have any  recordings or gigs planned at the moment?

Katherine Crowe: 

Both - I am just starting gigs again and am recording 

my next album  with my hubby at home.  No more 

record company help - cos they seem  to hinder 

instead of help - I'll do the leg work this time.

Setting Sun: 

Where are you from out of interest? What’s the 

music scene like were you are from? Have you

being to any good concerts recently?

Katherine Crowe: 

I was born in Kent but have lived all over the Uk 

ending up in Wales from the age of 14 to 21 and 

then finally coming to rest in the Isle  of Man.  

I love the music scene here on the Isle of Man – 

there are  some very talented artists over here – 

who could do with more exposure.

The last concerts I went to see were in 

the Villa Marina in Douglas  -  Joan Armatrading  - 

and before that Daniel Beddingfield - they  were 

both amazing to see live in a such an intimate space -  

astounding would be a better word.

Setting Sun: 

What do you do when you are not being 

a rock and roll star?

Katherine Crowe: 

I am very rarley a rock star and more often a mum to my 

beautiful  babies who are aged 2 and 4 - but I have just recently 

gone back to  work in the bank 3 short days a week - which is 

a nice break in the  routine.

The rock star bit happens at night when my babies are 

safely tucked up in bed and Daddy gets to babysit - if of course 

he is not being a  rockstar himself.

Setting Sun: 

Anyway, a few light hearted questions to finish off 

with, firstly what would you like to be doing when 

you are 60?

Katherine Crowe: 

At the moment I'd like just to be alive at 60 - but 

presuming my  cancer does not return - I would like to be 

living in the french  pyrynees - sipping on a glass of 

Red wine at the end of a hot hazy  beautiful day spent 

with my family feeling truly satisfied that I   loved and 

lived my life the best way I could - with light heart and  

spirit.  That is a lovely thought for the future.

Setting Sun: 

Lastly, what do you think you will be doing 

when you are 60?

Katherine Crowe: 

Same answer as number 9.