Mellow Melua looks forward to Manchester

10:10am Friday 1st February 2008

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Pop princess Katie Melua bowls over Rick Bowen

YOU can't put an old head on young shoulders, my mum used to say.

While this is generally true, there are always exceptions to every rule and Katie Melua, the stunning multi-million selling and award winning singer songwriter, is one of those exceptions.

The artist, who got her big break at the age of just 19, has a maturity that belies her years and she certainly doesn't seem seduced by the bright lights of showbusiness.

And she still prefers to socialise with her school friends rather than celebrity chums.

Fans of this down to earth star will be delighted to discover that she's back on the road - her first full scale tour for 18 months - in the autumn.

What's so special about playing live?

"It's the point where you get to see your fans and to see your music being actually enjoyed. And there's nothing better than having 5,000 people shouting your name. It's absolutely amazing," she says.

For those of you who are un-familiar with Katie's music, it's mellow and relaxing, and has an intimate feel to it. It's not hard to imagine her material forming the soundtrack to a romantic moment or two. Is it difficult re-creating that level of intimacy in the larger concert venues?

"To be honest, that is definitely the hardest challenge. But there are certain ways where you can maintain a certain level of intimacy, by the way you put on the show and the type of the songs you use and where you use them. When I played at Wembley I opened up the gig with just me and a guitar for the first five songs. It really worked - it felt very intimate," she says.

The daughter of a heart specialist, this black haired beauty was born in Georgia and raised in Belfast and Surrey. Does she think her experience of three very different cultures has made her music richer in terms of its influences?

"I was exposed to so many different types of music at a young age. In Georgia, it was Georgian folk music as well as bits of Western music that came through to the country. In Ireland it was Irish folk music and in London it was pop music. It must have maybe opened up my ears a bit. I love music that's melody and lyric based. I've got more old fashioned values when it comes to music compared to my peers," she says.

Rick Bowen n Kate Melua plays the MEN Arena on October 31. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked by calling 0870 190 8000. For the full interview, see the March issue of Lifestyle magazine.