Phoebe Katis talks about bringing Carole King and 007 to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Name: Phoebe Katis
Name of Edinburgh show: The Carole King Story & 007 Voices of Bond
Venue: The Space Symposium Hall & Grand Theatre
Performance time: 14:50pm & 18:35pm
Show length: 50 mins
Ticket price: £13

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your performing background?
I am a freelance musician and artist in London. I have been performing (piano & vocals) since I was young, professionally full time for 5 years. I have my own artist career under the name of KATIS and perform with various bands down in and around London, covering lots of different genres and styles. I write for a number of other artists and producers, and really enjoy the variety in my career at the moment, especially with the Fringe festival shows !

Tell me about your show, what it is all about?
The Carole King Story is an immersive biography (or show-umentary as we’ve coined!); I tell her life story and play her songs throughout the show. Voices of Bond is similar in show-umentary style, with a more theatrical angle, exploring the voices and stories behind a selection of the great theme songs.

How long have you been working on this show and what is it that makes it relevant to audiences in 2018?
The Carole King Story is around 2 years old. I performed a full run of it last year at the fringe. The Voices of Bond is brand-new and an exciting creative baby for our team and myself. I believe both shows are relevant because the artists themselves are timeless! Carole’s music crosses generations and is an incredible story to tell. Voices of Bond explores one of the world’s largest franchises and gives the audience an insight into the artists behind the songs that they may not have known before.

Do you have any top tips for surviving the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – both for performers and visitors to the event?
Save the voice! I will be on voice rest for the entire run, trying not to talk excessively in between shows, staying healthy, yoga, meditation, running, all that jazz! Visitors; pace yourselves, come with a game plan but don’t pack your day too much otherwise you won’t be able to wander the crazy streets of Edinburgh and enjoy the madness and energy all around you. Come for at least 2 – 3 days, with one of them left wide open to catch a few spontaneous shows.

What has been the funniest or most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?
I performed at the nudist tent at Glastonbury a few years back – that’s been a definite highlight to my career! Not so much funny or embarrassing, but a great experience!

Who are your biggest inspirations in the industry and why?
Any artist who stands by their hustle and is kind and humble enough to share their wisdom and journey is an inspiration to me. Carole King is definitely one of my biggest inspirations because of this; her story is truly inspiring to tell and she is today such a humble, gracious woman, who really lived for her music and her message. There’s a huge list of contemporary artists and songwriters that I could talk for hours about but briefly these artists are very influential for me: Emily King, Lianne La Havas, Thirdstory, Lake Street Dive, NAO, Kimbra, Alicia Keys, Melody Gardot… the list goes on!

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
A decent vocal warm up is paramount. Nothing too strenuous that tires you out before you’re on stage, but something that takes you through the motions and really prepares you. Honey, lemon & ginger tea, always !

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing at Edinburgh Fringe?
I LOVE The Blues Water lot and am really looking forward to sharing a venue with them (Grand Theatre). I also loved the burlesque shows last year, so will definitely be heading back to them. Shout out to my friends Harry and Chris who do a comedy/rap/jazz skit – they’re awesome and I always have time for them!

Why do you think people should come and see your show over the thousands of others on at the fringe?
If you’re already a fan of Carole King or James Bond; it’s a no brainer: you could walk away with lots of new info on both worlds of music, and if you already know, then you’ll get to enjoy live performances of some of your favourite tunes! I also think our set up and style is unique in that we’re not a tribute show; there’s an element of independent interpretation that I feel is a great thing to have in amongst the bustling hub of energy and art that is the fringe. Come on down!

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