KT Tunstall eyes success in America

by Joshua Maloni
Tribune, Dispatch, Sentinel, September 28-30, 2006

KT Tunstall

A star was found this season on “American Idol.”

And her name isn’t Taylor, Katharine or Chris.

No, the beneficiary of the show’s fifth go-around is KT Tunstall, the Scottish singer-songwriter whose infectious “Black Horse and The Cherry Tree” “Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee covered twice in the final rounds. After drawing an average of between 500 and 1,000 fans per night at U.S. shows, Tunstall now finds herself drawing considerably more than that. Since her song was broadcast to more than 30 million people last season, her album “Eye to the Telescope,” has been certified gold in the U.S.

Despite the growth in her fan base, however, Tunstall, 31, wasn’t initially thrilled about having her song used on “Idol,” a veritable music meat factory; a corporate machine that forces its users to sign extensive contracts and participate in hokey theme nights.

“I was trying to work out what it was that kind of gets my goat about it,” she explained in a phone interview. “What it is, is that music, to me, is about not about being told what to do. That’s the whole point, is that you do something that’s your own. You create something from nothing. It’s chaos, and uncertainty. It’s freedom. Where as these shows, you have to sign a (expletive) contract when you audition. It’s just completely controlled. You’re told what to sing; you’re told what to wear; you can’t really speak your mind. It’s kind of the antithesis of what being a free musician is about.”

While she wasn’t crazy about the show, she did appreciate the fact that her song would, in fact, represent a break from the norm.

“I thought about it, and I thought it was actually really cool that she was deciding to sing a new song – because I’ve never seen anyone do that. I mean 99 percent of people watching absolutely, definitely, didn’t know that song,” Tunstall said.

McPhee had been criticized for looking too old and stiff, so she needed to present something fresh and exciting. “Black Horse,” like its creator, is accessible, free-spirited, enjoyable folk-pop.

“It hadn’t been taken up by Hot AC (Adult Contemporary) and Top 40 radio at that point; I think it was just big on AAA (Adult Album Alternative). So, people didn’t know it,” Tunstall said. “She obviously did, and I just thought that was really cool because it was obviously her saying she wanted to do that song because no one on that show in their right mind would advise her to do a song that no one knows.”

The benefits of having her song covered were immediate.

“I just thought, you know, I’d be a fool to not have 40 million people know my tune, when I want a career in the states gigging,” Tunstall said. “So, I went for it, and it’s been quite incredible. And I get people at shows going ‘I saw your song on “American Idol” and I loved it, and so I came to your show and I bought your album.’ And that was the idea. So, it’s worked, which is great.”

Since “Black Horse” was covered on “Idol,” Tunstall’s songs, including “Suddenly I See,” have been cheerfully spun on radio, and featured on the Silver Screen in “The Devil Wears Prada,” and on television during “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”

To date, more than 650,000 units of Tunstall’s record have been sold in America.

“I’m still really trying to get a foothold. The more the music gets out, the easier it is for me to come back and gig,” she said. “It’s hard work when you’re on tour, and you’re doing six hours of promotion beforehand, it completely knocks you out. So, really what I’m trying to work for is being able to come to America, speak to the people who are really interested in speaking to me, and really just do shows. The reason I do this is to gig. It’s really trying to get myself in that situation.”

Of her current status as go-to singer for primetime entertainment, Tunstall says, “It kind of makes me feel a bit tickly inside, I feel, like strange, that people actually know the music. It hasn’t really sunk in that programmers of TV know my album. I’m trying to get it.”

She recently watched “The Devil Wears Prada” and saw her name on the big screen.

“It’s so cool,” Tunstall said. “It just feels like, if I hadn’t worked my (expletive) off for it, it would feel really weird. But it just feels like I’m going to die really happy.”

KT Tunstall performs Friday at the Town Ballroom, 681 Main St., Buffalo. The show begins at 7 p.m. “Eye to the Telescope” is in stores now.