KT Tunstall has never been one for creative stasis. The Grammy-nominated and Brit Award winning Scottish musician burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut Eye To The Telescope, immediately establishing herself as a dynamic musical force to be reckoned with. Nearly two decades later, her career has traversed a wide sonic terrain – encompassing introspective folk, ferocious rock, and experimental electro-pop – while Tunstall has remained one of the most iconic Live Performers of her generation, known for her remarkable vocals that can veer from soulful to rasping blues to folk pop balladry. KT’s music balances raw emotion with visceral energy, and her shows are interspersed with an endearing and often very funny line in between song chat.
- A Breakout Performance on Later… with Jools Holland
KT’s breakout moment came on artists’ favourite UK music show Later… with Jools Holland in 2004. Booked at the last minute (when the Rapper, Nas pulled out) and armed with nothing but her guitar, loop pedals, and tambourine strapped to her foot Tunstall grabbed the opportunity with both hands- and feet! “Do the ‘Woo Hoo’ one”, her Label boss suggested. So she did – and the rest is history.
Tunstall delivered a stripped-back yet electrifying performance of her debut hit “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” that immediately captured the world’s attention, and, to coin a nascent phrase, ‘went viral’. The innovative use of the loop was pioneering in a time before looping became a more common tool for artists including the likes of the world conquering Ed Sheeran, Tunstall stood out as a lone visionary, making a one-woman- band sound not only cool but downright indispensable. “I think that night really shifted something for me,” Tunstall reflects. “It was the first time I fully understood how powerful the live loop could be for me as an artist—it was liberating”.
- The Success of Eye to the Telescope
Tunstall’s 2004 debut album Eye To The Telescope cemented her as a leading figure in a new wave of folk-pop. It spawned global hits that still remain on heavy rotation: “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree,” with its foot- stomping groove; the beautiful, emotive ballad “Other Side of the World” and the soaring, inspirational mega hit “Suddenly I See” – which later became the soundtrack for the opening sequence of the movie The Devil Wears Prada. To Tunstall’s amazement, when she snuck into an early public screening, unusually, not just an excerpt of the song, but the WHOLE song was used in the opening scene of the film – forever associating both the song and Tunstall with a ubiquitous cultural moment.
In a sea of rising female singer-songwriters, Tunstall distinguished herself with her authenticity, fiery stage presence, and musicianship. “There are two immediate, recognisable pillars of my style,” she says. “I have this troubadour, acoustic guitar-driven emotional side. Then there’s definitely a rock pillar with rawness, teeth, and fierceness.”
That duality – an artist comfortable strumming out heartbreak one moment and thrashing through rock anthems the next – has remained a defining feature of her career.
- Musical Evolution and Experimentation
By the time her sophomore album Drastic Fantastic dropped in 2007, Tunstall had evolved from the folk-pop darling into a bona fide star. The album leaned heavier into guitar-driven rock, offering a sharper edge while keeping the melodic hooks that made her earlier work so irresistible. The album reflected Tunstall’s continued refusal to be boxed into any singular musical identity, despite her folk roots. This was followed by Tiger Suit in 2010, recorded in Berlin, the album saw Tunstall break even more boundaries – a fusion of organic acoustic instrumentation with pulsing electronic rhythms.
Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon (2013) marked a stark tonal shift in Tunstall’s discography. Recorded in Tucson, Arizona, the album embraced a more stripped-back, Country/Americana-tinged sound, reflecting a period of personal upheaval, including the loss of her adoptive father. Released to much critical acclaim, it contained some of her most emotive and personal work to date.
- The Trilogy: Soul, Body, and Mind
As Tunstall approached the second decade of her career, she launched into one of her most ambitious projects yet: a trilogy of albums exploring the interconnected themes of soul, body, and mind.
The first instalment, 2016’s KIN, was the ‘soul’ record, a bright and anthemic return to form that saw her rediscovering her passion for making music after a period of disillusionment.
2018’s WAX, the ‘body’ record, was more visceral, with Tunstall channeling her rock side once again. The trilogy culminated in 2022 with NUT, the ‘mind’ album. Spanning a period in her life that saw her sell up and relocate to the US, KT notes ”This is a trilogy of records that have spanned probably the most extreme and profound period of change in my life,”
- Recent Accolades, Collaborations and Expanding Horizons
Earlier in 2024, and as the 20th anniversary of
Eye To The Telescope approaches, Tunstall was awarded the prestigious ‘Outstanding Song Collection’ at the Ivor Novello Awards – a sign of the esteem in which she is held by her peers as well as the public. In the last 12 months she has toured both Solo and Co-Headlining with legendary US
Singer-Songwriter Shawn Colvin and has been special guest of both The Who and Roger Daltrey for his Solo Acoustic Tour as well as fellow Scottish band Texas on their current UK Arena tour.
The last few years have also seen her diversify into writing for film and theatre – this month it has been announced that Clueless, The Musical for which KT has written the music, will be making its West End debut in February 2025.
Next year will also see Tunstall celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the seminal Eye To The Telescope album with a new raft of concert alongside a re-release of the album with additional tracks.
- A Special Live Show in Dubai
BUT before all of that, an exclusive show in Dubai!
KT’s live shows have gained a reputation for leaving audiences charmed and entertained in equal measure. A lover of the mash-up (as well as her own hits she is wont to combine her own songs with classics that have inspired her – taking in White Stripes, Eurythmics, George Michael and many more to name a few) she grabs the audience from the first note, her personable style giving her shows an intimate feel no matter what size the room.
On the 26th of October – for the first time in almost 10 years, audiences in Dubai will get to experience the hits, the banter, the exuberance and the musicality of a KT Tunstall live show.
