INTERVIEW FOR JACK BOOTH  July 2011
Q – Okay, firstly, tell us a bit about you and the band, what you’re about, your inspirations…basically a summary of you.

My name is Katy Carr, I am a singer, performer and songwriter. I play the ukulele and piano amongst a selection of keyboards. My group is called ‘Katy Carr and the Aviators.’ We are currently a trio but have had up to 16 members. Having released three albums on my own label called Deluce Recordings since 2001, my recent album ‘Coquette’ 2009 procured no less than 4 out of 5 star reviews in the mainstream music press here in the UK.

Q How and when did you know you wanted to sing and when was the band formed?
‘Katy Carr and the Aviators,’ was formed in 2009 for the International Memphis Folk Alliance music conference. We had been awarded a PRSF Performance Rights Society Foundation grant to play our music for the first time in the USA and we needed to create a group to do so. Previous to that I was a solo artist performing gigs with session musicians. I knew that I wanted to be a singer when I was 6 years old having won several singing competitions in my then local area, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands.
Q What are your inspirations?
I am hugely inspired by history especially events of World War 2 and the 1930s and 1940s. In fact on my last album I wrote a song called ‘Kommander’s Car’ about Polish boy Scout Kazimierz ‘Kazik’ Piechowski’s daring escape from Auschwitz concentration camp in June 1942. This year I was awarded an Arts Council England grant and was able to not only to bring Kazik to Britain for the first time but also tour my music with my group the Aviators  in‘The Escapologist Tour. ’ Through the creation of a 23minute documentary entitled ‘Kazik and the Kommander’s Car’ dir by Hannah Lovell – where I present Kazik with my song, ‘Kommander’s  Car ’ we were able to share his story with the British Public.
Q Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
I firstly trust that I am strong and healthy and still making music! In addition I would like to have lived somewhere other than the UK and have always had a dream of living in America. I love Chicago due to it being the second largest city with regards residents of Polish decendence  and also the southern states such as Georgia.  So I hope that after the next subsequent albums that I want to make here in the UK in the next 3 to 4 years I trust I have had the opportunity to live in the United States for a while.
Q What would you be doing if you weren’t making music?
I would probably have entered the Royal Air Force as a pilot. It was only after going to art school and doing a music degree at university did I decide to opt out of a military life. Prior to university I had achieved a RAF flying scholarship where I learnt to fly RAF military airplanes. However discovering a love for music composing and songwriting I turned my aspirations to a more creative and civilian  lifestyle.
Q Who are your musical influences?
I have varied musical inspirations. However my main passions lie with listening to British and Polish folk music as well as listening to Classical music in particular that of Mozart.
Q Other than music, is there any other artistic/creative way you express yourself?
I like to dance all night long to drum and bass music as well as to my favourite DJs including DJ Nick Luscombe who plays left field electronica and DJ Chris Tofu who is hugely inspired by gypsy and electro swing. I also love to tap dance and lindy-hop.

Q What is one thing that would surprise people about you?
Most people assume that I have come from Irish decent – which is probably true due to my name – Carr however I am half Polish and very proud to be connected with Poland or Polska which is such a beautiful and artistically diverse country.
Q What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative, musical and determined.
Q Do you have any gigs/festivals lined up for this year?
Yes, having just finished my ‘Escapologist tour’ funded by the Arts Council England but I am also supporting the Great British Barbershop Boys on their UK 2011 tour. I am also playing at various other summer festivals and events. For more info check out www.katycarr.com
Katy Carr’s Concerts

JUNE
Jun 22nd ‘The Escapologist Tour’ at Exeter Fringe Festival, Exeter, Devon
Jun 23, ‘The Escapologist Tour’ at Exeter Fringe Festival, Exeter, Devon
JULY
Jul 2, POSK , Hammersmith
Jul 3, Katy Carr supports the Great British Barbershop Boys in Stockport
Jul 4 Katy Carr supports the Great British Barbershop Boys in Stevenage
Jul 15, Katy Carr and the Aviators perform at Arteria, Polish Festival
Jul 25, 2011 Katy Carr performs at Deadline Festival, Kings Cross, London
AUGUST
Aug 5th : KATY CARR performs at BIG CHILL Festival
Aug 13, Katy Carr supports to the Great British Barbershop Boys, Porthcawl, UK
Aug 14, Katy Carr and the Aviators perform at The Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire
THANKYOU FOR THIS INTERVIEW KATY AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR MUSIC!

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