:: Spotlight :: Little Birdy - Getting ready to fly...

By: Semone Maksimovic

Growing up in her brother's shadow, Little Birdy's Katie Steele has finally stepped out of it's shady depths and introduced us to the wonderful, seductive beauty of her own band as they get set to take on Australia and then the rest of the world.

I managed to hook up with Katie during a hectic morning, which included her getting up at the crack
of dawn and stepping straight on a plane to Melbourne, where they were met with their adjoining flight to Sydney. Once on Sydney asphalt, she barely had time to breathe as she settled in for four hours of interviews lined up, but she still seems extremely talkative and chirpy almost like she can't sit still, as she happily answers the questions I throw her way today.

So what inspired you to start Little Birdy only a year ago now?

I was originally in this other band called “The Plastic Scene”, which was like an electronic kind of Portishead. It was completely mellow and different to anything we're doing now, but at the same time I was writing all of these songs on guitar and really wanting to get out there and rock out. So, I called Simon up, who was an old friend, and I asked him if he wanted to play guitar with me and jam. It was never really talked about to start a band - that's just something that fell together and he started playing drums. Then Barney (Scott) the bass player saw us play and offered to play bass for us. He played in Fourth Floor Collapse - so he's quit that band for us now and everyone's doing this full time. Everybody quit his or her job and then Matty joined. It was all really bizarre the way it happened. It was more fate rather than anything else because Simon and I are really musically switched on and into the same kind of fifties, sixties, classic sound. Matty and Barney are really into the U2, Coldplay, etc, so we're getting the best of both worlds I suppose, and it fits in really nicely.

How are you dealing with it all happening so fast for you?

I'm fine. I must admit that it was a little difficult dealing with things at first and being confused about a few decisions. We didn't know if we were doing the right thing and wondering if everything was hyped and just doubting myself. But, I've got complete faith in myself and in the band. I mean, I'm never going to be doing anything else, so I might as well try and hit it hard now and do what I can now with what we've got. We started off getting some pretty good gigs and supports straight away from people that we knew. That really helped get us out there a bit, and then we did the demo after being together for about six months. We recorded the “Relapse” EP three months after that, so we just got out there and showed our stuff and it all went from there.

So, how was it growing up? Were you influenced a lot by your brother and father? Did you feel inspired to get out there and do something when Luke started getting somewhere with The Sleepy Jackson?

Yes, completely. I've been to every single Sleepy Jackson gig since I was fourteen. I know that sounds silly, but I was always in the shadows of him. But now I'm not so much. It feels strange because it's all happened so quickly for me. He's been doing this for five years and I guess I've been doing it for three years. I've done it in the shadows and been working as well, and not getting as much of a chance to
perform to people in public. I think I've learned a hell of a lot from him and my dad, just from their performances and their attitude, and been so inspired by them. It's definitely still alive in our household you know. We still live together. Luke still lives at home. I still live at home, and my dad's still there and he still has his parties. That's just our family and the way it is. I don't think it'll ever not be like that.

Little Birdy EP is out now through Eleven/Virgin Records