- Words Notion Staff
- Photo Credit Joe Campbell
Get to know Liverpudlian musician, Katy Alex, as she explains her school nickname, pet peeve and current obsessions.
Having grown up in the thriving Liverpool music scene, Katy Alex is an artist for the city to be proud of. She was playing shows from the age of just 16, before hitting the stages of Liverpool Pride and Sound City with her unique brand of sparkling pop.
Katy’s latest single ‘Sad Songs” is the perfect lead to her newly released debut EP ‘Glow’. An uplifting tune that reflects the singer’s bouncy personality, she’s discussed the process of healing as having been aided by the songwriting. It outlines the emotional dialectic of “feeling all the familiar emotions of wanting someone, waking up and going to sleep thinking about them, but at the same time being totally aware you still don’t want a relationship”.
She may be an independent artist on an independent label, but Katy has amassed over 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. If 2022 is anything to go by, if you haven’t heard of Katy Alex yet, now is your chance to get acquainted. We chat about her current obsessions, biggest pinch-me moment, her party trick, and more.
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Queue jumpers! I’m not the most patient person myself, but even I know it’s just plain rude pushing in front of people. And it’s the ones who try acting all innocent when they’ve been caught slowly schooching they’re way in, WE ARE ALWAYS ONTO YOU.
How can an artist stay original nowadays?
I think just being your genuine self is the best way to be original. There’s only one copy of you, so stay true to who you are. I find it so much easier to fall in love with artists when I feel like I can relate to them because I’m getting to see the real person behind the name, not just a copy of someone else.
What are you currently obsessed with?
Parks and Recreation on Netflix. Amy Poehler is absolutely hilarious. I’m on season four right now and I feel like every character is growing into their own, especially the relationship blossoming between a certain two main characters, but I don’t want to give too much away. I’m just full-on obsessed with how cute they are. I genuinely cackle at this show, it’s a must-watch! I genuinely look forward to a good Parks and Rec binge at the end of the day.
What has been your biggest pinch-me moment so far?
Waking up the first morning on Miami Beach for Miami Music Week. I was out there in March this year to do some writing sessions with Roger Sanchez, Kristen Knight, and Matador. The first morning the jet lag kicked in at 4am so I sat on the balcony drinking a coffee soaking in the reality of being thousands of miles away from home to do something I love. Then…the sunrise started peaking through the palm trees above the horizon. I remember feeling so lucky in that exact moment.
What’s your party trick?
Words can’t describe it, I’d have to send a picture, maybe I’ll tweet it if someone asks. I have double jointed knees which means I can bend them in weird ways, so every time at a family party it gets brought up, then my Mum shouts at me saying I’ll regret it one day when I have sore knees, but whatevs, I’ll cry about it when that day comes.
Finish the sentence: I feel happiest when…
I’m out on a long walk with my pups. I feel most relaxed when I’m outside playing with my dogs, my heart melts seeing their little faces so happy. Loyalty is one of the most important traits for me in people, and dogs just have that in abundance, so I don’t understand how anyone can “not be a dog person”, it’s just weird behaviour in my opinion.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Honestly, I never do karaoke. I don’t know what it is, but I get so shy when people try to get me up to do karaoke. The last time I did it I was 15 on holiday, my uncle and I sang Elvis’ ‘Suspicious Minds’, he loved it way more than I did. If I really had to get up now, I’d probably go with something super disco, like Anita Ward’s ‘Ring My Bell’, or maybe even Tina Turner’s ‘Simply The Best’. You have to choose something that gets everyone up on their feet.
Which celebrity would you love to be friends with?
Andy Robertson, Liverpool’s left-back. I’ve watched so many videos of him terrorising the rest of the team, he’s hilarious. Plus, he loves the club and the city. I have so much love and pride for my hometown, so anyone who feels the same goes right up in my books. I can imagine you’d be constantly laughing in his company, and who doesn’t love a good laugh.
Wildest thing that’s happened to you lately?
I have a collaboration in the bag with a DJ who’s music got me through the anger that came with grieving as a teenager. Really loud, banging EDM. What’s wild about it though, is I had a conversation with my manager the day before the opportunity landed in my inbox, about needing to redo a “Scouse anthem”, kind of like how ‘Show Me Love’ (Robin S) has been adopted by music lovers in Liverpool. We went back and forth with some ideas, and then the day after it’s like the Universe was listening, and now I have a release coming with someone who not only unknowingly got me through some bad times, but is a bit of a Liverpool legend. I can’t wait to announce it.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
This is a hard one, I think any meal for the rest of your life would get boring, maybe I’ve not come across something I couldn’t live without yet. As sad as it sounds, pizza. If there’s one thing I’ve eaten more than anything in my life it’s pizza. I was actually known by my friends parents in high school as “Pizza Kate”, I suppose it made it easier to remember which Katy I was since it’s quite a common name.
Biggest goal for 2022?
The music industry can be so unpredictable, so it’s hard to make goals these days when you never know what’s just around the corner. I’m more of a “go with the flow” kind of gal, and I’m enjoying writing more than I ever have so my plans are to just collaborate as much as I can. If I could reach one million monthly listeners on Spotify or land on a Radio One playlist, that would be huge, a real pinch-me moment.