Katy Carr

For other people named Katy Carr, see Katy Carr (disambiguation).
Katy Carr
Born 1979/1980 (age 35–36)[1]
Occupation(s)
Instruments
Years active 2001–present
Labels Madame Deluce Recordings
Website Official website

Katy Carr is a Polish-British singer, musician, songwriter and aviator. She has released five albums: Screwing Lies (2001),[2] Passion Play (2003),[3] Coquette (2009),[4] Paszport (2012),[5] and "Polonia" (2015) on Madame Deluce Recordings. A multi instrumentalist, Carr variously plays a vintage electric Wurlitzer piano, ukulele and banjolele which feature on her recordings with her group, Katy Carr and the Aviators. Carr's dulcet and often haunting vocals have been heard everywhere from the Royal Opera House[6] to Glastonbury Festival.[7]

Early life

Carr was born in Nottingham to a Polish mother and a Scottish English father, but spent the first five years of her life in Włocławek, in Poland – where her father had met her mother.[8] Katy Carr started singing in primary school and won several singing competitions before she reached secondary school. Carr was heavily involved in the Air Training Corps as a teenager and achieved the rank of Warrant Officer a top ranking position in her Air Cadet squadron. "In my teenage years I needed discipline, belief, confidence building and to be kept out of mischief. The ATC gave me constant thrills – every weekend I would hang out with Royal Air Force pilots, visiting different aerodromes and airfields. I dreamt of flying all the time and was inspired by Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson".[7] Through her involvement with the Air Cadets she has a glider pilot license and was awarded a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship[9] in her late teens and completed her private pilot licence (PPL) at Durham Tees Valley Airport. The RAF Flying Scholarship led to music school and a creative career.[7]

Carr was also actively involved in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) and achieved all levels, Bronze DofE, Silver DofE and was presented her Gold DofE by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at St. James's Palace, London.

Music career

2001: Career beginnings - Screwing Lies

In 2001, Carr released her debut album entitled, Screwing Lies inspired by the instrumental teachings and tutorage of musician and teacher Steve Beresford relating to musical themes associated with Free improvisation, Experimental music, John Cage Musique concrète, Diamanda Galás and The Slits. In addition Steve Beresford introduced Carr to British novelist, playwright, singer and songwriter Charlotte Greig who shared her knowledge of the British folk revival scene and encouraged Carr to further investigate the music of Anne Briggs, Lal Waterson, Nico and Eliza Carthy. Carr was also inspired by the teachings of Dr Helen Reddington stage name Helen McCookerybook who introduced Carr to the musical works of The Raincoats and the Riot grrrl underground feminist punk rock movement. Songs on Screwing Lies were inspired by a book first published in January 1892 called The Yellow Wallpaper by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and topics relating to Victoriana, infidelity, domestic violence, murder, feminism, prostitution and psychosis. Carr met Gina Birch, the English musician and film-maker, probably best known as a founding member of The Raincoats on a music video film shoot for the English folk duo Pooka and from there developed artistic connection culminating in Gina Birch taking the photo Carr's Screwing Lies album cover. Sharon Lewis and Nastasha Jones of Pooka (band) were also instrumental in helping Carr gain access to the live music scene as their opening act which helped secure further interest in Carr's musical works leading to a 4/5 star review from Q citing Carr as an "alt-folk star in waiting".

2003: Passion Play

Carr's second album is a ten song album entitled, Passion Play and was inspired by Carr's musical research into progressive folk music, Electronica, Electronic musical instruments, Folk music of England - including Pentangle (band), Nu jazz from bands like Micatone on Sonar Kollektiv, 4hero, A Guy Called Gerald and Kruder & Dorfmeister. Topics mused upon the highs and lows of life : namely love, death, psychedelia, alcohol intoxication, interstellar travel, and erotic vampires. The songs captured moments from forgotten times and places, making everyday life seem extraordinary whilst possessing a quintessentially English character within the music. The song Turpin featured English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter John Hegley as Dick Turpin (bap. 1705 – 7 April 1739) the English highwayman. Musicians who played on Passion Play included Calina De La Mare, violinist from the Tindersticks and Oliver Parfitt, keyboardist from The Herbaliser. The Sunday Times music editor, Mark Edwards suggested that Carr's music had echoes of Kathryn Williams, Björk, PJ Harvey and was 'Definitely one for the Mercury Prize Jury to consider.'

2005-2008: The Crow Club

In addition to her musical career, Carr has also been a music reviewer and a live music promoter running a respected folk music club called The Crow Club in Shoreditch, London between 2005 and 2008. Artists who played at the club included Patrick Wolf, Amy Winehouse, Circulus, and Katherine Blake of the Mediæval Bæbes. In 2007 Eddie Piller founder of Acid Jazz Records approached Carr to release an artist compilation album entitled The Crow Club,[10] on People Tree Records, an offshoot label of Acid Jazz Records. Folk musicians on the album included Carr, Charlotte Greig, Clive Palmer, Jade and Sam the Balladeer (also known as Sam Lee). He performed his first official gigs at the Crow Club, and was inspired with the music he heard there,[10] that alongside his fellow musician Joe Buirski, went on to set up a sister folk club called The Magpie's Nest, now known as The Nest Collective, which won BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Folk Club of the year award 2010.

2009: Coquette

Coquette is Carr's third album and received glowing music reviews in the UK media upon its release in November 2009, 'Quite simply it is a masterpiece,'.[11] The themes on Coquette relate to stories from the British, French and Polish World War II experience with songs written in the respective languages. The fascination with the 1940s had begun in her youth with a fascination for flying aeroplanes and looking to successful female pilots of the era, 'Instead of pop stars I had Amelia Earhart on my bedroom wall'.[12]

It was Carr's English grandmother who inspired the initial artistic inspiration for Coquette ‘My grandfather died and my grandmother was grieving. She wouldn’t talk to anyone. My father and auntie didn’t quite know how to break the barrier of the silence and one day I was sitting there and I asked her, 'Grandma, will you tell me about your youth? What was it like in the 30’s and 40’s? And as soon as I asked her that, her eyes lit up and she talked about her youth and wouldn’t stop for three days!' Carr recorded it all, 'My English grandmother regaled me with tales of dancehalls and airmen. I fell in love with old-school glamour, with torch singers, especially Edith Piaf.' [12] In addition Carr became familiar with songs of the period that were used to keep morale up through this desperate time. Singers like Gracie Fields and Dame Vera Lynn – whom she later met and presented The White Cliffs her own song to, sparked Carr to discover that her own, crystalline voice, felt comfortable in a similar style and register.[13]

Her single Kommander's Car (taken from the album Coquette and remastered for the Paszport 2012 release) is a tense-stringed, four-minute true narrative account and inspired by the last 80 metres of a successful escape made by Kazimierz Piechowski from Auschwitz concentration camp in June 1942 in a Steyr 220 car belonging to Rudolf Höss the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp.[14][15]

A quote from the Sunday Mercury made an important point about Carr's musical sound, although inspired by topics from World War II and the 1940s, her music is definitely 'state of the art' and contemporary, if you're expecting the record to sound like a lost Andrews Sisters 78 then you soon need to think again. The first real 'song' here, 'Sparkle' (which displaces the tiny glockenspiel and vocal refrain of 'Star Song') is all rolling drums, pinched and jazzy guitar and plucked strings, with Carr's voice floating in from the school of disembodied ethereality. She actually sounds a little like Beth Gibbons after considerably fewer cigs, but her spectral tones are enormously attractive and while the subject matter may seem anachronistic, the sound itself is state of the art.[16]

Coquette was listed by Brett Anderson of the English alternative rock band Suede (band) as one of his top ten albums of 2011[17] alongside The Horrors, Björk, Kate Bush, Bon Iver, Wild Beasts, The Kills and Little Dragon.

In November 2011, Coquette was nominated for the London Music Award 2012 alongside Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys, The Good, the Bad & the Queen, Metromony, Ed Sheeran, Jim Jones Review, The Unthanks and Laura Marling.[7]

2009-2012: Kazik and the Kommander's Car

Kazik and the Kommander's Car is a 25-minute documentary produced by Carr and directed by British film maker Hannah Lovell[18] and documents Carr's first visit to meet and present her tribute song, Kommander's Car to Polish World War II veteran Kazimierz Piechowski, who was a Boy Scout during the Second Polish Republic, a political prisoner of Nazi Germany at Auschwitz concentration camp, a soldier in the Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) and then a prisoner for seven years of the Soviet Union's Communist government ruling Poland after World War II.

'Kazik' Kazimierz Piechowski was also present for the debut screening of in Poland of the film Kazik and the Kommander's Car, which included a Carr concert on 27 January 2010 at the Dom Spotkań z Historią, History Meeting House in Warsaw, Poland to mark the 65th anniversary of liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.

Kazimierz Piechowski since remarked to the BBC that Kommander's Car is "like a gate closing on the drama of my life - she (Carr) has actually put the drama so precisely in the song. I always thought that this the most dramatic moment of my life would be somehow not heard. Now I can close that chapter".[19]

On Holocaust Memorial Day, 27 January 2012 to commemorate Piechowski's 70th Anniversary of his escape and also the Liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp a DVD entitled Kazik and the Kommander's Car was released consisting of three cinematic responses: – a documentary, Carr's music video for "Kommander's Car"[20] and a series of film extras. Funding for the release came from both the Polish Cultural Institute in London and Arts Council England. To accompany the release of the DVD, Carr gave performances on Clive Anderson's Radio 4 Loose Ends (radio) program and sang her song "Kommander's Car", as well as radio interviews and appearances on The Late Show with Joanne Good BBC London 94.9. Media coverage also included a 5/5 star review of the DVD Kazik and the Kommander's Car from the West End Extra, 'The story is told through an interview with Mr Piechowski, haunting animation and the songs of a singer called Katy Carr.'[21]

Screenings of Kazik and the Kommander's Car have taken place in a wide variety of venues including The British Library at the Memories of the Holocaust event,[22] event for International Holocaust Remembrance Day where Professor Mary Fulbrook, Professor of German History at University College London gave a formal introduction.[23] Other venues include the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America in New York City, The London Short Film Festival,[24] The East End Film Festival,[25] Spiroark,[26] The Ninth Kinoteka Polish Film Festival, Exeter Polish Film Festival,[27] The Ninth Imperial War Museum Film Festival.

To mark the 70th Anniversary of Kazimierz Piechowski 'Kazik's' escape on 20 June 2012 the film was shared with scouting groups from all over the UK and in Poland with permission granted from The Scout Association for a special Holocaust Education Event in honour of Kazik and the Kommander 's screening event for British Scouts, and in Poland in association with the Muzeum Harcerstwa w Warszawie, The Polish Scout Museum, Warsaw at a special event called Muzeum Harcerstwa zapraszają!.[28] Carr made her debut appearance on the Polish daytime TV program, Dzień Dobry TVN,[29] and was interviewed by Kinga Burzyńska and Bartosz Węglarczyk where extracts from Kazik and the Kommander's Car were shown alongside Carr's music video for her song "Berliner Ring". Carr explained the inspiration that she had derived from Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert mentioning his poem The Envoy of Mr. Cogito.[29] Carr was also filmed at the Warsaw Uprising Museum for Dzień Dobry TVN and described as an ambassador for Poland.[30]

Carr’s contribution to highlighting the experience of a man caught up in one of humanity’s greatest failures does not end there. Her fourth album Paszport (2012) is, says Carr, "a deep net of historical delights" and concentrates on the Polish experience of the war.

2011-2012: The Escapologist Tour

Carr’s project, The Escapologist Tour, celebrates the stories of both British and Polish people who fought in or lived through World War II. In March 2011 Katy Carr and the Aviators, embarked on a tour funded by Arts Council England entitled The Escapologist Tour, with Kazimierz Piechowski present for the first two London performances at the Embassy of Poland, London and Baden-Powell House.[31]

The aim of the Escapologist Tour was in Carr's words 'to help unite both British and Polish communities throughout the UK through film, music and the sharing of stories.' Escapologist tour events included Katy Carr and the Aviators' music concerts and film screenings of Kazik and the Kommander's Car. An additional element of the tour included outreach work with Polish retirement and care homes across the UK. Carr sourced Polish folk songs and sang to Polish World War II veterans evoking responses and the sharing of memories and stories.

As a result of Lottery funding, The Escapologist Tour performances and outreach work have bought veterans from both the UK and Poland two nations together, and helped their heritage and reminiscences to live on with hundreds of people from different generations and backgrounds. In November 2012, The Escapologist Tour was nominated for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2012.[32]

Outreach work also included visiting centres of learning for young people throughout the UK. In the summer of 2012, Enfield London Borough Council funded Carr to run a Holocaust education project with three schools in London Borough of Enfield. Carr enlisted the help of those artists who worked alongside the documentary Kazik and the Kommander's Car to run a series of workshops covering various topics with the aim of gaining written, artistic and audio responses from the students. Artists included, Vanessa Wolf - storyteller, Galen Wainwright - visual artist, Hannah Lovell - film director and Katy Carr - songwriter. West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin joined a workshop in Pershore and remarked, 'Katy told the moving story of a man who was imprisoned because he had joined the Polish boy scout movement and her rendition of the song, 'Kommander's Car' was excellent. I applaud Wychavon District Council for putting on this event and teaching the children an important lesson in a memorable way.'[33]

2012-2013: Paszport

Her fourth album, Paszport, is a bilingual album written in both the English and Polish languages. The inspiration for the songs on Paszport derive from stories gathered from Kazimierz Piechowski,[7] about his time in the Armia Krajowa, Polish Home Army and the Polish partisans between 1942 -1945[34] as well as elements connected with the Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland, the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 and the committal of World War II crimes in Poland by both German and Soviet zones of occupation.

Paszport was released in Poland on 17 September 2012 to mark the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 by Madame Deluce Recordings, the artist's own label in the UK on 11 November 2012, for the commemoration of both National Independence Day in Poland and Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day) the memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

Although the themes of the album are connected with the World War II experience in Poland Carr 'worked extensively with the British music producer for "Paszport", Nigel of Bermondsey, to create the right sound for the album. We wanted keep the essence of the music that the Polish Partisans may have played in the forests during World War II as well as making the sound contemporary and of the 21st Century.'[35] Carr collaborated with musicians from the musical genres of Klezmer, Gypsy jazz and Folk music to create the right ambiance for the songs.[36]

Preparation for the creation of Paszport stemmed from a progression of events from her previous musical, film and outreach projects, This is clearly more than ‘just’ an album to Carr. She had already made a documentary film in which she interviewed her adopted grandfather about his life, and through this project has explored her Polish roots, learning the language and playing many gigs in the country. Ultimately, you are left with an affectionate and authentic tribute to Poland and its people, where the social history never gets in the way of passionate songwriting.[37] Carr told the Scottish Herald, "I'm convinced the ghosts were telling me what to write, with some of the songs I was sitting on a bench in Warsaw and I just started to sing them out of nowhere".[38] Carr told the Cosmopolitan review, There’s a poem by Jerzy Harasymowicz, it’s not a very well known poem but I think it says everything about my album. „Masz paszport, więc jesteś" – "You have a passport, therefore you exist".[39]

Prior to the release of Paszport, early 2012 saw Katy Carr and the Aviators performing concerts and establishing her connection further with the Polish diaspora in the United Kingdom, Poland and the United States. In April 2012 Carr embarked on a US Polish diaspora tour and performed to audiences in New Britain, Connecticut, at The Chopin Theatre in Chicago, The Józef Piłsudski Institute of America NYC as well as The Kurier Plus Gallery, Little Poland, Brooklyn, New York City. In May 2012 Katy Carr and the Aviators supported the Polish Goral folk music group Zakopower at the London Forum and on their UK 2012 Tour. Short films connected with the History of Poland gathered from and with kind permission from the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum archives were projected by Hannah Lovell (film director Kazik and the Kommander's Car). In addition Carr became a Polish language student of the Jagiellonian University so that she could communicate better to the Polish media throughout her Paszport record release campaign and also "help to share the joys of learning the Polish language".[40]

The first single "Kommander's Car", launched on 8 August 2012 was 'Song of the day',[41] on Radio Trójka gaining notoriety with several of the prominent Polish music DJs including Marek Niedźwiecki and Artur Orzech. On 1 September 2012 to commemorate the German Invasion of Poland in 1939, Carr played a concert with Katy Carr and the Aviators for Kazimierz Piechowski in his home town Tczew which correlated with the President of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski's visit to the town. After the performance, the people of Tczew gave Katy Carr and the Aviators a standing ovation. In his speech to the audience, Kazik said "Katy is promoting our country Poland and our culture through her music and songs. For that I am very grateful".[42][43]

Media coverage in Poland during the release of Paszport in September 2012 included mainstream TV appearances on Fakty 24, 'A British girl sings about Poland'[44] Polish Daily News TVN 24,'A British girl is fascinated with Polish World War II veterans'[45][46] Fakty TVN Extra, 'Why does Katy Carr sing about Polish World War II veterans? '[47] TV Fakty 24 featured Katy Carr's music alongside other musicians who have previously been inspired by Polish history including U2 and Sabaton and interviewed Kazimierz Piechowski and Jan Ołdakowski, the Director of the Warsaw Uprising Museum who discussed Carr's songs further.[48]

Paszport was released in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2012, with 4/5 star reviews in the mainstream British press. Ian Anderson, editor of fRoots magazine remarked, "There’s so much work, love and singular talent gone into this album, this is major".[49] The Guardian described Paszport as "one of the most intriguing concept albums of the year",[50] with The Observer citing it as "tender and brave in equal measure, Paszport proves a rich, rewarding creation".[51] The Independent reviewed the music as "angular, theatrical, Klezmeric. Intriguing",[52] whilst The Sunday Times magazine described it "never less than immaculate".[53] In December 2012, Carr was interviewed for a feature entitled 'I fell in love with old‑school glamour' by Neil Spencer from The Observer. Photographed at the POSK, Polish Social and Cultural Association in Hammersmith, Spencer described Paszport as "a concept album gone refreshingly right",[12] On 9 December 2012, Paszport was listed in The Sunday Times top 100 albums of 2012 and described as a "crash course" into Poland’s music and history[54] and also in musicOMH’s Top 100 Albums of 2012, "It’s remarkably accessible, as is the intellectual ambition behind the project. Carr has a beautiful and rather unique voice, at turns gentle and strident".[55]

To accompany the release of Paszport in the UK, Carr embarked on her 'Paszport' tour funded Arts Council England and the Polish Cultural Institute. The main aim was to raise confidence and strengthen relations between British and Polish communities in the UK through the sharing of songs relating to the military Polish contribution to World War II as the fourth largest contingent of the Allied coalition after the armed forces of the Soviet Union, the United States and the UK. Audiences were introduced to the songs on Paszport and various images and footage with direct reference to the song themes were projected with kind permission from both the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum and Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon archives. Themes included song titles; Wojtek about' Wojtek (soldier bear), the Syrian brown bear cub found in Iran and adopted by soldiers of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps as their mascot who during the Battle of Monte Cassino, helped move ammunition; Motylek about the Polish Air Force pilots who fought alongside the Royal Air Force pilots throughout World War II especially the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron who were the highest scoring Royal Air Force squadron of the Battle of Britain. Concerts took place in venues across the country including The British Library, Celtic Connections in Glasgow,[56] and Polish clubs in Dunstable, Milton Keynes and also in Bristol, Liverpool enlisting the support and presence at the concerts of the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Peter Main and Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Sharon Sullivan. Carr ended her Paszport tour with a special benefit concert in collaboration with the London-based fund raising organisation, Poland Street, entitled Remember the Forgotten where over £1300 was raised for the Veterans of the Armia Krajowa, Polish Home Army Fund (set up in London in 1947 to help the poorest war veterans living in Poland). The Chairman of the fund, Andrzej Slawinski, attended and the premiere of the film Cichociemni courtesy of The Polish Home Army Museum, Muzeum Armii Krajowej w Krakowie in Kraków was screened. Dedicated to the elite special-operations paratroops of the Polish Home Army (Polish: Cichociemni Spadochroniarze Armii Krajowej) of the Polish Army in exile, created in the UK during World War II to operate in occupied Poland the film highlighted the heroism of the top Polish World War II military intelligence.

Carr's band now features double bass, guitar, trombone and violin, in addition to Carr's piano and ukulele, with musicians Paul Tkachenko (bass), Sam Slater (musician) guitar, George Simmonds (trombone).

January 2013 saw Carr presented with Polish Daily Award for Culture, as part of the prestigious Dziennik Polski (United Kingdom) People of the Year Awards for her efforts in connecting both British and Polish communities together through her musical performances, film screenings and outreach work to both the young and the elderly in the UK.[57]

In February 2013, Carr was invited by the Polish diaspora in Buffalo, New York and Florida to perform a series of concerts for Polish American audiences. Concerts took place Canisius College and the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle in Buffalo, New York. In Florida Polish conceptual artist and film director Wojtek Sawa invited Carr to collaborate with 'The Wall Speaks' project. Performances took place at The Arts Centre, Sarasota, Florida, Thomas Hall (Gainesville, Florida)[58][59] and the John Paul II Center, Clearwater, Florida.[60]

In March 2013, Carr was nominated Best Artist for the [61] for her album Paszport alongside Angélique Kidjo, Seth Lakeman and Ravi Shankar.[61]

Carr's fascination with the military contribution Poland made to the Allies during World War II has sparked interest amongst the high society in Edinburgh, Scotland. In March 2013, Carr was invited by The Rt Hon The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie QC to sing at The New Club, Edinburgh to launch a campaign for a Memorial to General Stanisław Maczek.

In April 2013, Paszport was voted Album of the Month on Folk Radio UK[62]

In May 2013, Katy Carr and the Aviators performed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, at the 14th The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in connection with Polish Cultural Week Befast and with supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh. She also read the poetry of Tadeusz Rósewicz as part of the London Literature Festival at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre[63] alongside Northern Irish poet Tom Paulin, Polish singer, songwriter and actress Maria Peszek and Jan Peszek, Maria's father and renowned actor in Poland.

In June 2013, Carr performed a special one-hour concert with her group Katy Carr and the Aviators on Polish Radio Trojka where she received a three times standing ovation from the audience.[64] In addition Katy Carr performed a series of concerts in Poland at Ursynalia - Warsaw Student Festival, the opening of the first memorial to Wojtek (soldier bear) in Europe in Zagan and a concert with Polish poet, composer and songwriter Roman Kołakowski in Torun. June 2013 also saw Carr performing at the Royal Festival Hall,[65] Southbank Centre as part of Refugee Week UK and a warm up concert for Yoko Ono's Meltdown (festival) 2013.[66] Sylvie Simmons author of 'I'm Your Man - The Life of Leonard Cohen'[67] invited Carr to perform as part of her international book tour at The Horse Hospital in London for intimate evening of songs written by musician and songwriter Leonard Cohen.

Throughout the summer of 2013 Katy Carr and the Aviators have played at key British music festivals including Larmer Tree,[68] Kendal Calling,[69] Shambala,[70] Bestival,[71] Womad[72] where Carr headlined on the Charlie Gillett Stage and was also invited to take part in Womad's 'Taste the World,' where Carr performed a concert with her group whilst preparing a selection of Polish dishes including 'Pierogi ruskie,' and 'Chłodnik,' all recorded by in front of a live audience for BBC Radio 4.

In August 2013, Carr was invited to be a guest of honour and perform at Quo Vadis, Connecticut, and Montreal, Canada Young Polonia Leader's conferences. At Quo Vadis Montreal, Carr sang both the Canadian National Anthem and Polish National anthem at the opening ceremony[73] and was introduced to key figures of Polonia and the Polish diaspora abroad and Poland including the Polish Consulate General, New York and important diplomats from Poland and the United States.

In September 2013, Carr was invited by The Jagiellonian University Polish Research Centre in London to join a special conference in Krakow and Warsaw which focussed on providing Carr with the tools needed to continue her work raising the awareness of Polish history and achievement not only in Poland but also throughout Polonia.

In October 2013, Katy Carr and the Aviators embarked on a concert tour in Poland visiting the Cultural houses and Art centres in Lublin, Krasnik and Swidnik. The final date was at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Warsaw.

Discography

Awards

In November 2011, Carr was nominated for the London Music Award 2012 alongside Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys, The Good, the Bad & the Queen, Metromony, Ed Sheeran, Jim Jones Review, The Unthanks and Laura Marling.[7]

In November 2012 The Escapologist Tour was nominated for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2012.[32]

In January 2013, Carr was presented with Polish Daily Award for Culture as part of the prestigious Dziennik Polski (United Kingdom) People of the Year Awards for her efforts in connecting both British and Polish communities together through her musical performances, film screenings and outreach work to both the young and the elderly in the UK.[57]

In March 2013, Carr was nominated Best Artist for the Songlines Music Awards 2013 for her album Paszport, alongside Angélique Kidjo, Seth Lakeman and Ravi Shankar.[74]

In July 2014, Katy Carr's album Paszport was voted Best Concept Album in the 13th Independent Music Awards [75][76]

In Dec 2014, Katy Carr was awarded honorary membership of The Polish 1st Armoured Division (Polish 1 Dywizja Pancerna) an Allied military unit during World War II. Created in February 1942 at Duns in Scotland, it was commanded by General Stanisław Maczek and at its peak numbered approximately 16,000 soldiers.

In April 2016, Katy Carr was awarded the 'Pro Patria' Medal by the Urząd do Spraw Kombatantów i Osób Represjonowanych the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression in Poland

References

  1. ↑ Spencer, Neil (2 December 2012). "Katy Carr: 'I fell in love with old‑school glamour'". The Observer (London).
  2. ↑ "Screwing Lies: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  3. ↑ "Passion Play: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  4. ↑ "Coquette: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  5. ↑ "Paszport: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  6. ↑ McCookerybook, Helen (2008-07-19). "Helen McCookerybook: Katy at the Linbury Theatre, and I missed Nadya". Mccookerybook.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "londonfestivalfringe.com". londonfestivalfringe.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  8. ↑ http://www.katycarr.com/2013/04/katy-carr-feature-in-wizz-air-magazine-feb-march-2013/
  9. ↑ "Air Cadets - Flying scholarships". Raf.mod.uk. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  10. 1 2 "The Crow Club: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  11. ↑ "Katy Carr: Coquette". The Music Critic. 2009-10-14. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  12. 1 2 3 Neil Spencer (2 December 2012). "Katy Carr: 'I fell in love with old‑school glamour' | Music | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  13. ↑ Matthew Zajac. "Interview | Katy Carr – woman on a mission | For Folk's Sake". Forfolkssake.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  14. ↑ Khaleeli, Homa (11 April 2011). "I escaped from Auschwitz". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  15. ↑ "Song of heroism from Auschwitz unites Katy, 29, with 'inspirational' Kazik, 91". Thisislondon.co.uk. 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  16. ↑ "KATY CARR: Coquette - Birmingham Mail". Sundaymercury.net. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  17. ↑ "N E W S : Elegant". Freewebs.com. 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  18. ↑ "Katy Carr & Kazik Piechowski - Kommander's Car launch". Music-News.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  19. ↑ "Today - Musical tribute to Auschwitz escapee". BBC News. 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  20. ↑ "Kazik and the Kommander's Car | A Katy Carr Project". Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ Archived 5 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ "Katy Carr and Hannah Lovell present Kazik and the Kommander's Car at the British Library". YouTube. 2013-07-28. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  24. ↑ "london | Holocaust Memorial Day Trust". Hmd.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  25. ↑ "East End Film Fest: SHORT DOCS | Londonstani". Londonstani.wordpress.com. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  26. ↑ "Kazik and the Kommander's Car". Spiroark.org. 1942-06-20. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  27. ↑ "Exeter Polish Film Festival kicks off with The Runaway on March 10 - D&CFilm". Devon-cornwall-film.co.uk. 2010-02-21. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  28. ↑ "Katy Carr i Muzeum Harcerstwa zapraszają!". Muzeumharcerstwa.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  29. 1 2 "Zaraża Brytyjczyków... - wideo Dzień Dobry TVN". Dziendobry.tvn.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  30. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  31. ↑ "Playing Banjolele for Poland - Spitfire pilot Katy Carr to sing for Auschwitz escapee Kazik Piechowski and Warsaw diplomats". West End Extra. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  32. 1 2 "The Escapologist Tour | National Lottery Good Causes". Lotterygoodcauses.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  33. ↑ "MP joins Pershore class remembering Holocaust | Harriett Baldwin MP - Member of Parliament for West Worcestershire". Harriettbaldwin.com. 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  34. ↑ "Katy Carr : Interview". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  35. ↑ "SOBOTA Z GWIAZDĄ- Katy Carr czyli jak pogodzić Brytyjczyków z Polakami". Lejdiz Magazine. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  36. ↑ Neil Spencer (11 November 2012). "Katy Carr: Paszport – review | Music | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  37. ↑ "Review of: Katy Carr : Paszport". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  38. ↑ "Passport to the past". Herald Scotland. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  39. ↑ "Chatting with Katy Carr". Cosmopolitanreview.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  40. ↑ "Katy Carr zaprasza do PON-u!". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  41. ↑ "Katy Carr - Kommander's Car - Trójka". polskieradio.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  42. ↑ Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  43. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20140309205135/http://katycarr.com/2012/12/01/postcard-from-poland-katy-carrs-backpage-article-in-songlines-magazine/. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  44. ↑ "Katy Carr appears on Polish TV24/ 2012 A British girl sings about Poland - Brytyjka śpiewa o Polsce". YouTube. 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  45. ↑ "Katy Carr on TVN 24 Brytyjka zafascynowana bohaterskimi Polakami. Nagrała o nich płytę". YouTube. 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  46. ↑ "Katy Carr appears on Polish TV - for a live interview 17th Sept 2012". YouTube. 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  47. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  48. ↑ "Katy Carr on Polish TV Fakty 24 - featured alongside U2 and Sabaton". YouTube. 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  49. ↑
  50. ↑ Robin Denselow (8 November 2012). "Katy Carr: Paszport – review | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  51. ↑ Neil Spencer (11 November 2012). "Katy Carr: Paszport – review | Music | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  52. ↑ Nick Coleman (2012-11-11). "Album: Katy Carr, Paszport (Deluce Recordings) - Reviews - Music". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  53. ↑ "18 November 2012 - The Sunday Times Culture Magazine gave Katy Carr's album 'Paszport,' a glowing review...". Katy Carr. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  54. ↑ "Jazz & world music albums of the year". Clive Davis. 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  55. ↑ "musicOMH’s Top 100 Albums Of 2012: 100-51 | lists". musicOMH. 2012-12-14. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  56. ↑ "Celtic Connections". Cetlticconnections.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  57. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/20130129230424/http://www.dziennikpolski.co.uk:80/artykuly/kultura/2013/01/24/gala-%E2%80%9Edziennika-ludzie-roku-2012/. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  58. ↑ "10-Day Forecast: The best bits of culture and flat-out fun in the days ahead.". Gainesville.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  59. ↑ "Singer Katy Carr to Perform at Historic Thomas Center". Dmzlist.gvlfl.org. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  60. ↑ "Katy Carr repertoire at Polish Center | Polish Center Blog". Polcenter.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  61. 1 2 "Music Awards - 2014 - Nominees". Songlines. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  62. ↑ Simon Holland (2013-04-17). "Katy Carr – Paszport (Album of the Month) | Folk Radio UK". Folkradio.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  63. ↑ "Tadeusz Różewicz". Southbank Centre. 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  64. ↑ "Wyjątkowy koncert Katy Carr - zobacz galerię zdjęć! - Trójka". polskieradio.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  65. ↑ "Katy Carr and the Aviators play at the Southbank Centre during Yoko Ono's Meltdown". YouTube. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  66. ↑ "Katy Carr". Southbank Centre. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  67. ↑ Simmons, Sylvie. "I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons". Harpercollins.com. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  68. ↑
  69. ↑ "Kendal Calling // Katy Carr". Kendalcalling.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  70. ↑ https://web.archive.org/20131028200330/http://www.shambalafestival.org:80/act/katy-carr/. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  71. ↑ "Bestival 2014 : Polka Tent". 2013.bestival.net. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  72. ↑ "WOMAD Charlton Park UK 2014 Line Up » WOMAD Charlton Park, UK - World music festival - July 2014". Womad.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  73. ↑ "Konferencja Quo Vadis V w Montrealu, 16-18 sierpnia 2013 r. - WPHI w Montrealu". Montreal.trade.gov.pl. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  74. ↑ "Music Awards - 2014 - Best Artist - Nominees". Songlines. Retrieved 2014-03-21.
  75. ↑ http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima/katy-carr/
  76. ↑ http://awardsandwinners.com/category/independent-music-awards/

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