Kate Marie Nash (born 6 July 1987) is an English singer and songwriter based in London. She had a UK #2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks.

Nash was born in London, to an English father and Irish mother, on 6 July 1987. She grew up in Harrow, North West London. Nash became interested in music in childhood. She learned how to play the piano at Sandbach School. She attended St. John Fisher School (in Pinner) and moved onto the St Joan of Arc Catholic School, Rickmansworth. She was taught guitar by teacher Louis Mitchell. She studied Theatre at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in South London. She auditioned at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but was rejected after falling down a flight of stairs, breaking her foot. During her recovery she was housebound and unable to move, so her mother bought her an electric guitar. Nash used this time to focus on her songwriting: she began to write some new songs, finished old ones and decided that she would book a gig at a local bar in Harrow called Trinity on Gayton Road for herself, to showcase her songs.

Nash started her career in 2006. After several gigs, Nash uploaded her music to MySpace. Nash found a manager for herself before seeking producers for her music.

Moshi Moshi Records

Nash's debut was a single, "Caroline's a Victim"/"Birds," produced and recorded in Iceland by Valgeir Sigurðsson and released through Moshi Moshi Records in February 2007. The release was limited to 1000 copies, and was available on only 7" vinyl. Due to demand another 1000 copies were made and sold out. CD Promo copies were produced for distribution to the press and DJs etc, and are occasionally available for sale. It is featured on the CD "Moshi Moshi Singles Compilation". A video for the song was released and received airplay on MTV2. The video, directed by Kinga Burza. The B-side, "Birds", later featured on her début album, Made of Bricks. Both tracks have also been released as MP3 downloads.

Fiction Records

In April 2007, Nash was signed to the Polydor offshoot Fiction Records. Nash's second single and first through Fiction Records, "Foundations", which she co-wrote with producer Paul Epworth, was released on 18 June 2007 and reached number two in the official UK Singles Chart. Following "Foundations," Fiction announced plans to bring forward the release of Nash's debut album to 6 August 2007. The album, Made of Bricks, produced by Paul Epworth, included many of the tracks she had been performing on her two nationwide tours.

The album was leaked to filesharing networks days before its commercial release, and has received mixed reviews, The Independent describing it as being in "pole position for worst album of the year." The album reached number 1 in the UK charts.

During mid-2007, Nash performed at numerous festivals including Wireless Festival, Bestival, the Electric Gardens, Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds, Oxegen and T in the Park. She made her official TV performance début on Later with Jools Holland.

Regarding the recording of a new album, Nash told NME that she had been inspired by The Supremes and has written a song called "Cat Song" in their honour. She is also set to release a duet single with Billy Bragg, a cover of The Shangri-Las "Give Him A Great Big Kiss". As of October 2008 Nash is writing material for her second album which may have a more punk influenced sound. Nash is hoping to release the album in the UK during the summer of 2009.

In late March 2009, Nash made the following comments regarding the recording of her new album during an interview with the BBC Newsbeat program. "I've done a bunch of demos. I've got about 14 to 16 songs recorded and I'm going to do another session at the end of the month. It's really cool. I've been doing a lot of writing and I'm excited about getting stuck into new material. It's different and it's fun to be doing something new." She previously previewed two new tracks - "Froggy" and "I Hate Seagulls" - at an intimate gig at the Matter music venue in east London in October 2008.

Nash recently co-wrote "Almost Isn't (Good Enough) Is It?" for Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players member Jason Trachtenburg for his upcoming album, Jason Trachtenburg: File Under Pop Male Vocal. A music video for the song premiered on April 25, 2009.

Second album

Since at least the end of June 2009, Bernard Butler, the producer for Duffy's debut album Rockferry and a former guitarist for Suede, has been working with Kate Nash, producing her second album. Butler was introduced to Nash by her boyfriend Ryan Jarman. In August 2009 the pair were working on eight songs at RAK Studios for the album.

Other music

Nash is working with Metronomy on dance records with that may be released to DJs during the summer of 2009. The project will not be named after Nash or Metronomy.

Featured Artists' Coalition

Nash has lent her support to the Featured Artists' Coalition, an organization whose goal is to give artists more say in the music industry decision process. Nash cited the emerging digital age as a reason artists should have a voice in decisions that affect their careers.

On 1 April, 2009 Nash joined in protests against the G20 summit inside of the Bank of England in London.. She is in a long-term relationship with Ryan Jarman, vocalist and guitarist of English indie rock band The Cribs.

Album

Singles

On February 20, 2008, she received a BRIT award for Best Female artist.

• Official Kate Nash website