Kathryn Williams

2001年，她以獨立發行的第二張專輯《Little Black Numbers》，獲水星音樂獎(Mercury Music Prize)提名年度最佳專輯。最后沒得獎，惹得一堆媒體為她叫屈。原來在一年前專輯剛發表的時候，她便被譽為長久以來最令人興奮的新生代詞曲創作人∶MOJO以“無止盡的感動”形容之；Time Out更以“天才”稱之。甚至早在99年她初試啼聲之作《Dog Leap Stairs》，NME就已經盛贊她的作品散發出“簡直叫人掉下巴、不敢置信的美感”！ 她出生于28年前，這成長于民謠家庭家庭的利物浦女孩一度想當藝術家，直到朋友坦言不諱，她才真正放下畫筆，正視自己寫歌演唱的才華。但空有一箱子美好的旋律，她卻從沒想過要發表， 好不容易在朋友鼓勵下登臺演唱，也立刻吸引了唱片公司注意，卻又碰上錄完試唱帶后便沒了下文的鳥事。此舉反而刺激了她，于是她成立自己的廠牌CAW自己發行，從此這拿著吉他彈唱的女孩便步上了掌聲不斷的坦途。除了受邀出席向Nick Drake致敬的演唱會，與Bernard Butler等人同臺依舊搶盡風采之外，還參與了Lee Hazelwood歷年金曲的翻唱計劃。一切來得突然，就像之前英國樂壇挖到David Gray那顆寶一樣；這回發掘到的是Kathryn Williams這塊已然發著光的玉。 當然，這年頭宣稱自己受Nick Drake影響的恐怕超過兩打，而期望著自己有天能如Bob Dylan與Nina Simone般長青的Kathryn Williams，她清新甜美的民謠吉他彈唱究竟如何突出，恐怕不是那些外在的名聲解釋得了的。因為那些潛藏在歌中，常有些似霧既纏繞又迷離，甚至夢般抽象的氣質與聲調，肯定是要聽進了心底才能感悟。於是她被拿來與Stina Nordenstam、Beth Orton相提，與Suzanne Vega、Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies的女主唱)并論，彷佛企圖整理出那些流竄于她們之間，總難用言語描繪出的景致。 2002年，她仍然在自己的廠牌CAW，發表第三張專輯《Old Low Light》。有她擔任精神科醫護人員的吉他手朋友David Scott跟她共譜了幾曲；PJ Harvey近期的混音班底Head坐鎮制作并上場秀了一段豎琴；出身古典，目前已是師字輩的Laura Reid再度統籌弦樂部分，鋪陳著孤寂遠眺的背景；老搭檔Jonny Bridgwood沉厚探底的Double Bass引著爵士樂入場，跟著現身的亦是混跡爵士樂圈多年的Graham Hardy吹奏的小號，在”Daydream And Saunter”中展現她簡直可比Joe Henry后來的內斂氣度。 不得不這樣說，Kathryn Williams總是令人驚嘆。 Often compared to Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake — quite favorably, no less — singer/songwriter Kathryn Williams was born in Liverpool in 1974. Her father was a folksinger and, as a child, Williams studied piano and guitar while listening to such '60s icons as Bob Dylan. Later, while attending art college in Newcastle, her songwriting prowess began to outpace her dexterity with a paintbrush. She began writing songs in private, citing a diverse array of influences including Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, the Velvet Underground, and Nick Cave (whose "Into My Arms" played at her wedding). Fed up with music labels who did not return her phone calls, Williams released her debut, Dog Leap Stairs, on her own Caw Records. Co-produced by PJ Harvey associate Head, the album reportedly cost a mere 80 pounds to record (with some sources quoting as little as 75). Williams used her art school education to self-design the album cover's arresting image, setting a tradition that would be repeated on most of her subsequent releases. Dog Leap Stairs received praise for its spare arrangements and unique perspective on British folk, and Williams began to assemble a devoted following. That September, she played before an audience of 2,500 when she appeared as part of "English Originals," the Nick Drake tribute night at London's Barbican. Her performance of "Saturday Sun" was heralded as one of the highlights of the charity event; it also led to the invitation to provide backing vocals to Drake friend John Martyn's 2000 release Glasgow Walker.