There is of course an upside to writing on the road. I mean what could be a better inspirational tool for a songwriter than to travel round the world and I've basically done that. I think travelling definitely does open you up, - I think I learned that from the very beginning because I did move around a lot when I was younger and I experienced very contrasting cultures from a very young age and so it does make you very much aware of humanity, and you appreciate the differences.
I'm very proud of this album. I remember thinking when we were making the first album, "Where did this really come from? Why does it seem so easy?" - and I realised about a year later when I listened back to a lot of Georgian folk music, there were a lot of similarities between blues singing, you know that idea of sort of pain in music, - it's represented from a very deep place, from where you sing. Those elements that define blues also define Georgian folk singing and so people listening to it in England and probably a lot of people around the world will think it has gone in a more blues direction and I would agree with them but I know on a deeper level it has actually gone in a more Georgian direction. --Katie Melua
Katie Melua was born in Georgia (former USSR) in 1984 growing up in the capital Tbilisi and later the seaside town of Batumi. The family left Georgia when Katie was 8 and moved to Belfast due to her father?s profession as a heart surgeon. When Katie told this to one of her teachers later on in England he described the move as: "from the frying pan into the fire". She never really viewed it as that because she had a great childhood both in Georgia and Northern Ireland. Katie found the people in Northern Ireland extremely warm and made great friends at St. Catherine?s Primary School and Dominican College, Fortwilliam - Katie went to catholic schools in Northern Ireland while her younger brother went to a protestant school.
The composer and producer Mike Batt paid a visit to the school looking for musicians to form a jazz band. At the last minute Katie decided to perform "Faraway Voice?" and Mike realised that he had found someone very special: ?Artists like Katie don?t come along very often, she is a true original?. Katie signed to Batt?s record label Dramatico but stayed at the Brits to complete her studies - she graduated with distinction in July 2003.
Katie and Mike teamed up in the studio where Mike?s wealth of experience and proven song-writing ability worked brilliantly with Katie?s fresh approach, unique view of life and exceptional voice. The resulting album housed original songs by both Katie and Mike as well as some carefully selected covers.
Her debut album Call Off the Search was released in Britain in November 2003 and in January 2004 hit number 1 in the album charts knocking Dido off the top spot where it stayed for three weeks. Temporarily deposed by Norah Jones, Katie returned to the top spot again where she stayed for a further three weeks.
Piece By Piece will be released in the U.S.A. on June 6th. The release will be supported by a lengthy promotional visit, guest shows with Il Divo in June and July and many TV and Radio appearances.
