Katy Vernon Music

“Katy Vernon has done something it’s not easy to do: sustain country roots, go pop, and be distinctly original at the same time.” Who is Katy Vernon? Singer of sad songs on a happy instrument!! Katy Vernon is a Minneapolis / St. Paul based singer songwriter. She grew up in London, England and has been writing and singing as long as she can remember. Seeking a new way to find her voice led a singer of sad songs to a happy instrument. Katy always poured herself into her lyrics but sometimes found it difficult to share some of her most personal subject matter with an audience. Despite her inclination towards the melancholy, Katy has always been a natural entertainer. Finding that balance of musicality and expression led her to the ukulele. Not simply as a novelty toy or even as an increasingly popular jam band instrument, this little Hawaiian guitar opened up Katy's songwriting and allowed her to take herself a little less seriously and in turn got her taking her music career a lot more seriously. It’s been the way she can get out some pretty serious personal notes about the loss of both her mother and father when she was a child. “After my mom passed away, it became a more serious outlet for me. Instead of journaling, I would write songs,” Vernon said. “You either want to scream or you just want to sing.” She pours not only her grief, but also her dreams and desires into her songs and used that as a way to communicate and connect. “There’s nothing much that beats that feeling of singing a personal song and seeing how it can translate to another person”. This has taken many forms as Katy has grown as a writer, from people dealing with loss, to people with other challenges and struggles. Rather than shy away from that feeling of exposing her inner most feelings, she has worked in the past few years to explore that further. “I always felt a slight sense of over indulgence, or embarrassment to be that open, that miserable! In front of people, I think it’s a very English thing to try to and pretend everything is fine, but that’s just a part of who I am, and the kind of connection I want to have with the world. I wear my heart on my sleeve, take it or leave it!” She eventually moved to the US after meeting her future American husband on a train from Amsterdam to Berlin. This was a chance to start over. A chance to choose family and happiness and re-invent her life. The very definition of an American dream! She spent the first few years getting to know Minneapolis and playing with several bands. Most notably as lead singer of ‘The Camdens’ with another English transplant, Scott Walker. During this time Katy wrote many of the bands songs. One of those was nominated for ‘Song of the year’ at the Minnesota Music Awards. In 2010 Katy picked up a ukulele and this led to a whole new direction for her writing and performing. This was a turning point after a lengthy break from performing while she started a family. It was also the beginning of her embrace of taking the central role in a band as more than a vocalist. Learning how to play a new instrument and performing solo re-charged her in every way. Katy’s heartfelt lyrics add a weight and poignancy to this happy little instrument. “I’m a singer of sad songs on a happy instrument,” "As soon as I started to play around on it I started writing. The song “Five O’Clock” was the first one I wrote. After years of staring sadly in frustration at my guitar I realised I just needed to play a different instrument! Now I like to switch back and forth between guitar and uke and it helps give the songs a different feel from each other." In 2012 Katy put together a band and released her debut solo cd ‘Before I Forget’. This was both a tribute to her parents, but also an embrace of the new found joy of playing the ukulele. A follow up is scheduled for release Fall of 2015. Katy Vernon performs regularly at venues such as the Aster Cafe (Which sold out for her Third Annual Uke-Fest!), The Amsterdam Bar, 331 Club, Icehouse, and Lee’s Liquor Lounge. She has also been featured at The Guthrie, The Cowles Center with the James Sewell Ballet, and even the Fitzgerald Theater with Garrison Keillor! Katy also enjoys playing outdoor shows and benefits. “After all, you’d hate to be in the middle of a world-changing conversation, catch one of Katy Vernon’s songs out of the corner of your ear, and find yourself standing there, leaving you wondering what the hell you were talking about a minute ago. ” - Dwight Hobbes, TC Daily Planet Singer of sad songs on a happy instrument. Solo or band combining Americana twang with uk driven pop. Newest CD 'Present' available. London born/Mpls based