Free Agent: Kate Nash On Forging Her Own Path

Free Agent is a video series where we profile artists who have decided to forge out as independent acts without the support of a major label. From those who left of their own volition to those unceremoniously dropped to those who wanted to circumvent the system altogether, these artists may not have big backing, but they have talent to spare. 

Kate Nash is best known to many American fans for her highly-hyped debut LP Made of Bricks, which spawned the hit “Foundations” and went platinum in the UK. She gained a cult following for her sharply drawn storytelling, witty lyrics and catchy melodies. But then her sophomore record My Best Friend Is You underperformed, and in the ensuing years, her cathartic recording sessions for her third studio album weren’t to her label’s liking. Finally, they pulled their support of her that project, leaving Nash on her own to release her next record, Girl Talk.

“It’s like getting dumped by text or something, you know? Like, not even a conversation about it,” Nash explained.

But as she turned her attention to that third LP, which she released independently, she found a silver lining: “I just got help creating a team of people that I’ve known and even though there are things that are more challenging, it’s quite nice to have a totally different experience with this record, and a whole new part of my life, and a part of my future.”

Nash’s OMYGOD! EP is on iTunes now, and she’s just headed out on her North American tour; see the full dates below.

Kate Nash — North American Tour Dates 10/29 – Turner Hall – Milwaukee, WI 10/30 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 11/01 – Metro – Chicago, IL 11/02 – Deluxe – Indianapolis, IN 11/03 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH 11/05 – Phoenix Theatre – Toronto, ON 11/07 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA 11/08 – House of Blues – Boston, MA 11/09 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY 11/11 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC 11/12 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC 11/13 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA 11/15 – Fitzgerald’s Upstairs – Houston, TX 11/16 – Mohawk – Austin, TX 11/17 – Trees – Dallas, TX 11/19 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ 11/20 – Porter’s Pub – San Diego, CA 11/22 – Fillmore – San Francisco, CA 11/23 – Fonda Theater – Los Angeles, CA