By Daily Press staff
At 19 years old, musician Katie Melua has done what many musicians can only dream of.
Her album, “Call Off The Search,” already has sold 1.2 million copies in the UK alone, stealing the top spot on the charts from Norah Jones. On June 10, Melua brings her bluesy, jazzy, soulful brand of talent to LA at the Roxy in West Hollywood.
Melua, (pronounced mellow-a), was born in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and grew up with a diverse background of musical influences from Georgian folk music to Queen. Growing up on the Black Sea Coast, Melua described her life in the former soviet republic as “not without a lot of freedoms.” Melua moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, about 10 years ago and finally settled in the south of London where she attended the Brit school, a music standard famous for developing young talent.
Melua’s big break came when London DJ Terry Wogan — who is noted for breaking in the late Eva Cassidy — played her single “The Closest thing to Crazy.” Shortly thereafter the switchboards became complete insanity.
With the BBC playing her tunes, Melua was invited to perform for the Queen on the Royal Variety show, the UK’s most prestigious annual TV show. The Queen told Melua, “I’ve heard your record on the radio, it’s great isn’t it?”
Melua’s music is groundbreaking in the modern age of an industry that is highly driven by mass produced, and manufactured lyrics and beats. Her style takes listeners back to a time when mellow blues and heartfelt jazz was the standard. The comparison to Norah Jones can’t be helped, although Melua insists on the importance of developing her own sound. Melua favors “melodies and lyrics that are good without production.” She succeeds in her own brand of comfort music with a sultry, soulful edge.
Along with a voice mature beyond her years, Melua’s sense of identity and humility is incredible.
“I strongly believe that great artists are artists who are original and talented in their music and performance,” she said. “Music should be performed live. It is offensive to the audience if you mime. I always get a warm feeling when I see someone holding a guitar case or a violin case on the street — it’s like I know I’d get on well with that person and I always smile or say ‘hi.’”
Melua’s album “Call Off The Search” is set to be released June 8 by Dramatico/Universal. Doors for the June 10 show at the Roxy are open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 and available through the box office at (310) 278-9457.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.