KT Tunstall Biography and Profile

Description: Folk-rock singer/songwriter

Comparisons: On her rockier songs, KT Tunstall can sound similar to rockers like , PJ Harvey, and Patty Smith. Some of her funkier and quieter tunes call to mind Michelle Shocked, Suzanne Vega, or Ani Difranco. Either way, chances are fans of each of the aforementioned women would appreciate Tunstall's work.

KT Tunstall Trivia: Tunstall was adopted by her Scottish parents and took the name KT as an abbreviation for her full name "Kate Tunstall."

Starter CDs: It's still relatively early in KT Tunstall's career, but both of her CDs come highly recommended: Eye to the Telescope (Virgin, 2006). Acoustic Extravaganza (Virgin, 2007).

KT Tunstall Biography: KT Tunstall was born in June, 1975, in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was adopted by a physicist (father) and school teacher (mother), and raised with two brothers. She started making music early on, according to her official biography, "after her older brother discovered the joys of hair metal." She studied flute and piano, eventually deciding to try her hand at singing, and picking up guitar at 16. After high school, she headed to the States, where she studied at the Kent School in Connecticut and started writing songs for her band.

After school in Connecticut, she headed back to Scotland, and eventually to London, where she began to hone her musical skills even further. While in her 20s, Tunstall had the opportunity to meet her biological mother, who informed her that Tunstall's birth father was a folksinger. This brought a new inspiration to KT's music and she eventually went solo, busking on the streets, winning battles of the bands, and eventually releasing her solo debut Eye to the Telescope in 2004 in the UK. The album wasn't released in the States until early 2006.

Her "big break" came when rapper Nas was scheduled to appear on Later With Jools Holland, and had to cancel due to a family emergency. Tunstall was given a day's notice that she would be performing solo on the show in Nas's slot, and the performance proved to be a breakthrough in the singer/songwriter's career. Eye to the Telescope was soon re-released, eventually making it to number 3 on the UK charts.

Since then, Tunstall has received a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize for Eye to the Telescope, three Brit Award nominations, and received a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007 for her song, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." Her songs have appeared on several American television shows and movie credits, and Tunstall is currently working on an album with rock band Travis, as well as another solo album. Both are slated for release in 2007.