Lead Guitar
Sam grew up in Camden town in north London. He first started playing guitar at fifteen. Taught by his dad he has played in various bands and covered the Camden circuit until first meeting KT through luke four years ago. He began playing in her band two years later and in the last year has just completed his first solo album.
Bass
Born in Vienna, in my father's car, who didn't make it to the hospital on time....a daily newspaper picked it up and headlined the story " the stork came into the yard of the hospital" our Labrador Bobby(friendship!!) was on the backseat, I was out of his reach, I hope.....
A relatively short phase of early teen drug abuse turned into a long phase of tea total, which has now turned into a mostly well balanced, healthy, one glass of wine with dinner, attitude.
Studied classical music at the Vienna Music Academy (Double Bass, Piano, Composition) Studied Jazz at the Graz Music Academy (Double Bass, Elecric Bass, Arrangement)
Founded the record label EM-EL with Dieter Kolbeck(friendship!!) in Vienna, first CD to be released " Die Balladen des Francois Villon"...(of which we sold at least 50, the rest is still in storage) move to London in January 2000, start working with Ed Harcourt (friendship!!), commuting between Austria, Germany and England for recording and touring with Hubert von Goisern(friendship!!)
Recording and touring with Ed from autumn 2000 meet KT (friendship!!) in a studio in London, early 2002 start gigging with KT and Luke in summer 2002 (more friendship!!) you all know the rest!! (friendship forever!!)
Percussion
I grew up in Norwich and moved to London study drums and music. My band, Addict, signed to V2 Records at the end of my University course and we went to L.A. to make our debut record. Although we continuously toured throughout the United States and Europe and made a second record New Orleans the band failed to get a breakand we were dropped after four years.
My next gig was with Joe Strummer (The Clash) and the Mescalero's, I manned the drumstool for two years up until Joe's untimely death. I had an amazing time touring the world and making a record with him and the band, My next gig was the with John Squire (Stone Roses), another great man and musician, who I toured and recorded with in the UK and Japan.
During all this time I was called upon to do various one off tours and sessions with the like of Paul Heaton (Beautiful South), Cerys Matthews (Catatonia), Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), U.N.K.L.E., Emmylou Harris, Heather Nova, Tina Dico (Zero Seven), Sandy Dillion, Hal, Bic Runga, Half Cousin and Damien Saez amongst others.
I first started playing drums with KT whilst I was still playing with Joe Strummer in 2002.
Keyboard/Trumpet/Various
I was born and raised in Manchester, and from an early age I wanted to be an astronaut, then a football player, then decided on musician. I started playing the trumpet at 7yrs old and progressed to writing songs and hymns in local contests. As I got older I studied music and taught myself how to play piano. At 16 I left school and continued with my music studies at Xavarian College in Manchester. Upon leaving college, I played in various bands in Manchester. Moving to London in the early 90's, I continued to establish myself as a live musician by touring with various artists. I also gained invaluable experience in studios as a session musician, where I was to meet Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. I was lucky enough to play on many different projects with Dave over the years before hooking up with Sophie Ellis Bextor for the release of 'Read My Lips'. I then played with Natalie Imbruglia for many years before joining KT right at the release of ETTT.
When not playing with KT, I write music for various artists, TV and film and drink chocolate milkshakes. I make no apologies for being a rabid Manchester United fan and play a mean game of snooker. On tour when not playing keyboards, banging bin-lids or blowing horns, I have earned the nicknames 'Lens' and 'Chef' for my skills not only as tour photographer, but also for my ability to create delicious meals on the tour bus with only 2 rounds of bread, processed cheese, jam, marmite, an egg carton, a felt tip pen and a packet of crisps.
Backing Singer
I am half Japanese and half Italian, raised in Japan and Switzerland. I came over to the UK 5 years ago to train in performance: Drama, Music and Dancing. After a year of waitressing and capoeira, and trying to teach myself to play the guitar, a mutual friend, Mark Aston, passed on my number to Katie and I ended up in Sheperd's Bush for an audition to join the band.
Backing Singer
Gita Harcourt is one of eight children brought up in Buxton, Derbyshire. From the age of seven she began studying violin and piano and in 2002 went on to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in London. The following year Gita and her older sister Amy formed a string quartet (Dirty Pretty Strings), performing and recording with various artists such as Ozzy Osborne, The Streets, Kanye West, Beyonce, Jay Z, Take That, Brett Anderson and Alison Moyet. Having toured and recorded violin and backing vocals with Ed Harcourt, they were married in 2005 and it was on a support tour with Ed that Gita met Katie and the band.
