Interview: Kerri Watt Discusses Her ‘Chapter 1’ EP!

Glaswegian singer-songwriter Kerri Watt, has taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution about her EP ‘Chapter one’, & the inspiration behind her upcoming debut album, which is set to be released in 2021. You can find out what Kerri had to say, along with her musical releases below.

Hey Kerri, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Can you start by telling the readers a little bit about yourself?

Kerri: Hello! Sure, I’m a Glaswegian singer and songwriter currently based up in the hills of my native Scotland. I’ve had an exciting first few years of my career, living in the US, London and Brighton. I’ve had the opportunity to play some really awesome gigs and festivals supporting the likes of Keith Urban, Celine Dion and Coldplay! Right now I’m really excited about 2021 and the release of my debut album.

When did you first discover your passion for music & knew that it was a career that you wanted to pursue?

Kerri: I’ve always loved music. I grew up with parents who had great musical taste and from a very young age until I was 21 I was training and working in Musical Theatre pursuing a career as a dancer and actress. It wasn’t until my early 20’s that i picked up the guitar for fun and song writing came quite naturally to me. Ever since then i’ve been on a mission to connect with people through my own songwriting.

How would you describe your musical style to someone unfamiliar with your music?

Kerri: I call it ‘Americana’ – which is a blanket term for music that incorporates elements of blues, pop, rock and country. A bit of folk from my Scottish roots sometimes creeps in too!

What was the main inspiration behind creating your ‘Chapter 1’ EP?

Kerri: During lock down I had lots of time to think about how i wanted to connect with people in the interim between now and releasing my debut album in 2021. I thought a fun way would be to release a couple of EP’s each focusing on a different genre that influenced the up coming album. ‘Chapter 1’ dives into my love of country music, featuring a cover of “Let’s Stay Home Tonight” by NEEDTOBREATHE and two brand new tracks from me. The two original tracks tell very different stories. One of them was inspired by a character from a play who has quite a sad story to tell and the other is a really positive upbeat song about following your heart.

How did you decide which songs would be included on the EP & what does each track personally mean to you?

Kerri: Well I knew I wanted to give people a glimpse into the album so I had to include a couple of songs from it. And then the cover was to give people an idea of the kind of music i listen to and that influences my songwriting. Beginning with ‘Jessie’ – that was one of the first songs I ever wrote years ago that I’ve never had the opportunity to release so it holds a very special place in my heart. The cover I felt was especially appropriate in these difficult times where many of us are confined to our homes – so hopefully it’s a positive bit of music for people to listen at the moment. And ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ it a song I needed to write to remind me to stay true to myself and never be afraid to pursue my dreams.

How would you compare the creative process behind this EP, compared to your previous musical releases?

Kerri: A couple of the songs from this EP were actually recorded with the same full band at the same studio as previous releases, but recording the cover during lock down was a bit of a different experience. I was home alone in my li`le studio, figuring out how to work logic and stack up my vocals to get all the harmonies sounding sweet. I enjoy both processes, but you can’t really beat recording with a great live band!

How have your family & friends reacted to your EP?

Kerri: Really positively! I’m fortunate to have such an encouraging family unit around me who have supported me through the turbulent times i’ve had in the music business. And my family were especially happy I finally released ‘Jessie’ since they’ve been hearing it since 2011!

If listeners could take away one thing from this EP, what would you like to be?

Kerri: I’d really love it to be a source of happiness and escapism for people who are in need of a boost at the moment. Particularly as we’re geTng closer to Christmas. A reminder that loved ones are what ma`er and you can achieve your dreams if you put your mind to it.

After the release of this EP, what do you think is next for you musically?

Kerri: I have a plan for a Chapter 2 EP which will focus on another genre of music that influences me and looking ahead to 2021, hopefully the album!

What are some of the things you enjoy outside of music?

Kerri: I’m very outdoorsy and love spending hours climbing, hiking and running through the forests and hills close to home. Family time is big for me and luckily my family love the outdoors too so we can enjoy those things together. A more recent passion of mine is Ecology and Conservation. I’ve taken a few online courses during lock down and plan to further my knowledge and get more involved in activism in 2021.

If you could duet with anyone in the world, who would you choose & why?

Kerri: John Mayer. He’s been my favourite artist since I was about 13 years old and I still listen to him most days. I love his voice, songwriting and obviously his guitar playing. I harmonise with his music all the time so i already know it would work!

What was the first album you purchased & do you still listen to it now?

Kerri: Good question! Honestly… I think it was the Grease Soundtrack! Haha. But one album that sticks out for me as a kid is LeAnn Rimes ‘You Light Up My Life.’ I loved all those songs and she was my first sort of musical role model. I do still love listening to that record. Incredible that it was her second album and she was still only 15 when it was released!

What advice would you offer someone looking to pursue a career within the music industry?

Kerri: Don’t let the current climate put you off. And don’t think you have to sign to the biggest label to have any success. There’s so much opportunity for new artists to pursue and promote their music at the moment and the teenagers who will be the pioneers of the next genera=on of music already know how to utilise social media for self promotion! But the main thing is, try not to doubt yourself. Remember there’s nobody like you, and ‘different’ is GOOD! Be creative, be fearless and be you.

Finally, is there anything you would like to say to the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?

Kerri: Thank you guys so much for reading. I hope you’ll come join my fun community of music and life lovers over on Instagram @kerriwa`! My followers are all super friendly and I love to talk about fashion, music, adventure (and lots of other random stuff!) Make sure you look out for my debut album coming 2021!