Kate McGill

[joggerjayne]

So there's this singer called Kate McGill.

It looks like she started doing covers on YouTube. Like this ...



And now, apparently, she has a CD ... which is being sold through Caffe Nero.

I know this because a pal has bought it and told me I should get it ... so I'm going to.

I like this. Kate has a lovely voice, in a quirky Edie Brickell kind of way. She sings because she loves to sing. She put herself out on YouTube. She's gone around the country singing in coffee shops. She's doing the nitty gritty hard work of a jobbing musician.

That's what music should be about. Next time I'm in Caffe Nero, I'm going to buy her CD. Maybe you should all do the same. In an age where people with no musical ability whatsoever queue up to go on "make me famous" TV shows, it's great to stumble upon a singer whose starting point is the desire to sing, rather than the desire to be famous.

And when your friends come round, you can play her CD, and your pals will be impressed that you don't listen to manufactured bands.

I'll report back when I've heard the CD.

[joggerjayne]

Oh, poop ... looks like only one of my links has attached.

So, the You Tube covers are here ...

[joggerjayne]

... and here ...

[hippyhoppy]

She is adorable.. I'm not sure if we have a Cafe Nero locally (well I am in the frozen north!) but would be happy to buy her CD is I came across it... good call JJ xx

[joggerjayne]

Oh for goodness sake ...

Most of my original post isn't there, and it reads like I'm a total pea brain.

Look, the point is that she started going round, "gigging" in Caffe Nero coffee shops.

When all the half witted wannabees are making idiots of themselves, simpering away on TV talent shows, Kate was sitting there in coffee shops, playing her music for people.

Singers like Kate deserve to be successful, so I'm going to buy her CD. And if it's as good as my pal says, I'll buy a load more copies for all my friends.

[joggerjayne]

Hi, hippety x

[tonyav]

Whats a Caffe Nero ?.

[joggerjayne]

Like a Costa or a Starbucks, but with a light blue sign, tony.

[tonyav]

Righto jj, I get the picture now ( Posh Coffee ).

[joggerjayne]

No, posh coffee is Fortnum's.

This is cardboard cups of coffee, newspaper, singer (sometimes).

[joggerjayne]

Well, guys ... I bought the Kate McGill CD this afternoon. I've got it on at the mo.

I really like it. It's seven tracks, but all good. It's just produced enough to be saleable to a bigger market, but without sounding "over engineered". Me ... I quite a like a slightly amateur, "raw" sound, but I know that a lot of people who are going to pay for music will expect it to be a bit "polished". You can't please everybody.

Anyway, Kate ... she's like Nerina Pallot, and Edie Brickell and Cerys Matthews all rolled into one. She has a fab voice, and she sounds like someone who loves to sing. I like the way that her accent (originally from Wales, not lives in Plymouth) comes out.

Inside the cover, she says she hopes she'll still be singing and uploading to YouTube in five years time. How cool is that. Don't you get fed up with wannabees who say that, in five years time "I wanna be rich and famous, with loads of fans, and sing at Wemberleee with Justin Beeeee-baaaah".

So look, they are selling Kate's CD in branches of Caffe Nero (also on Amazon, but I can't really encourage buying from Amazon). It's £7.00, and you get a complimentary coffee when you buy it ... which makes the cost of the CD about £4.50.

A pal recommended this CD to me, and now I'm recommending it to you. It will be the best £7.00 you spend this week. And you get a free coffee.