Brit and Ivor Novello award-winning ‘Suddenly I See’ singer, KT Tunstall, will be performing at Guilfest on Sunday 6th July at Stoke Park, Guildford. The Scottish born singer-songwriter will be entertaining the masses with her hits both old and new, including the uber cool titled track ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’.
KT was born Kate Victoria Tunstall in Edinburgh in 1975 and will be turning 50 this year with a party like no other! (Read on to find out more!)
She grew up in St Andrews, Fife and spent her last year at school in Connecticut in the States. Following this KT spent her spare time busking around Vermont and returned to the UK to study Drama & Music at the Royal Holloway University in London.
Having sung with various bands and collaborated with members of the Scottish music cooperative band called “The Fence Collective”, KT then signed a solo deal with Relentless Records and released her debut album, ‘Eye To The Telescope’ in 2004.
KT Tunstall’s big break came when she was a last-minute replacement for the rapper Nas on ‘Later… with Jools Holland.’ She then went on to win ‘Best British Female Artist’ at the 2006 Brit Awards and ‘Best Song Musically and Lyrically’ for ‘Suddenly I See’ at the Ivor Novello Awards the same year. More recently she was inaugurated in the “music hall of fame” with her second Ivor Novello Award in 2024 for ‘Outstanding song Collection.’
We got to catch up with the Scottish hitmaker for this exclusive cover star interview, courtesy of Jess and Tony Scott, from the Guilfest. Hope you enjoy reading….
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR HIT DEBUT ALBUM, ‘EYE TO THE TELESCOPE’, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE BEEN IN THE LIMELIGHT FOR TWO DECADES NOW?
KT: I’m feeling extremely grateful for this long career doing what I love. It can’t happen without the support of fans and people continuing to relate to what I’m making, and my favourite thing about all of it is that I’ve made the things I’ve wished to make and have the freedom to keep doing that. I feel very, very lucky in that.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER HIGHLIGHT?
KT: It’s hard to say as there’s been a few, and each has been incredibly special in their own way at that time. The most recent would have to be the Ivor Novello Award for ‘Outstanding Song Collection’. It was so unexpected, and I felt very loved on receiving that! Song-writing craft is the soul of all of this for me, and to be celebrated for that aspect meant a huge amount.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU WHEN WRITING MUSIC?
KT: Nature, memorable phrases, very specific and personal lyrics, stories, memories of moments of emotional intensity, and always struggle and pain; when you can transmute those things into something useful and beautiful, it feels like you’ve done something right.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SONG TO PERFORM LIVE & WHY?
KT: I have to say ‘Suddenly I See’ – it’s such a fun song physically to perform, the swing, the execution of the rhythm, but also looking at all these grinning faces, everyone singing along, looking at everyone remembering what the song reminds them of, where they were, it’s fantastic fun.
WHAT INSPIRED YOUR HIT ‘BIG BLACK HORSE AND THE CHERRY TREE’?
KT: For a long time I had no idea what that song was about, it was just the first words that came to me. I knew it was about choosing between light and dark, a Robert Johnson-esque Devil-At-The-Crossroads blues tune, and over time I realised it was about the anxiety around signing a record deal. All through my 20’s I proactively tried to stay independent, but eventually had to capitulate to signing a deal, and at the time it felt like caving to a system I didn’t want to be part of. Thankfully, they did me proud and we had a hit record!
YOU TURN 50 THIS YEAR WE HEAR! HOW ARE YOU CELEBRATING?
KT: I formed a vision in my mind a couple of years ago of how I wanted to celebrate it. Something epic. As it’s the 20th anniversary of ‘Eye To The Telescope’, I wanted to play the album from start to finish and twin it with my birthday celebrations. My dream venue was the Royal Albert Hall…so that’s what I’m doing! Celebrating with an amazing band and 5000 fans!
WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
KT: After opening ‘Clueless’ on the West End in February which was such a joy, I have another Musical in the works – an adaptation of the very funny Craig Ferguson and Brenda Blethyn 2000 film, ‘Saving Grace’ – it’s in great shape and looking forward to getting that one on stage!
SEE KT TUNSTALL AT GUILFEST
Catch KT Tunstall live on the main stage at Guilfest on Sunday 6th July where the impressive line-up also includes The Jacksons, Dub Pistols, Amy Winehouse Band, Dutty Moonshine, Altered Images, The Primitives, Skids and Voodoo Radio. On Saturday 5th July iconic indie rock band, Razorlight will be performing alongside Soul II Soul, Leo Sayer, Stereo MCs, Odyssey, Baby D of “Let Me Be Your Fantasy” fame and N-Trance. In addition to the 7 stages of music at Guilfest, nominated for ‘Best Family Fun’ at the 2025 Surrey Awards, there will be a Comedy Tent, Dance Tent, Art & Craft Village with Brilliant Workshops, Street Theatre, Delicious World Cuisine, Rustic Beer & Real Ale Bar, Literary Tent with Interesting Talks, Cocktail Bar, Singing, Dancing & Drumming Workshops and Sessions, Games Tent, Kids Area, Bushcrafts and Open Mic Sessions. Visit their website at www.guilfest.co.uk to secure your tickets now.
