Biography

Soaring vocals, exquisite melodies and heartfelt lyrics are the makings of great songs no matter what language they’re written in; and that is precisely why Switzerland-residing, but British born singer-songwriter Kirsty Bertarelli is set to share her hand-crafted brand of pop music in the country where she grew up.

Hot on the heels of having secured a top 20 album in her resident country of Switzerland, the glowing response to her music in her native UK is a cause for even greater excitement. But what a journey its taken to get there.

Already established as a songwriter in her own right (Kirsty wrote the number one UK hit ‘Black Coffee’ for All Saints), her thirst for performance remained unquenched by her experience as writer for the stars. “Don’t get me wrong, its fantastic to hear your songs on the radio, and to see them on TV, but at the same time, its so hard to hear your own feelings in the lyrics.” Step forward Kirsty the performer.

An intensive writing period led to a meeting with producer Tom Nichols (Kylie, Celine, Sugababes) who moved quickly to help capture Kirsty’s voice on record. “Its important for me to feel a connection to the music,” says Kirsty, “So having started with so many ideas and written so much, it was great to shape the production process as well.”

Working in addition with Andy Wright (Simply Red, The Eurythmics), the resulting album titled ‘Elusive’ proved an instant winner in Switzerland. Her gift for a subtly-conveyed lyric and capacity to make those words connect via her unique singing voice proved the perfect vehicle for conveying her own songs. Try the emotional rollercoaster that is ‘Don?t Say’, a classical relationship story about trouble and making-up again, contrasted against the feisty and maidenly sound of ‘Elusive’. Kirsty’s ability to write has never been in doubt, but now at last her chance to carry her own songs proves an equally irresistible experience.

Yet ‘Elusive’ the album only tells the beginning of the story. An exhaustive series of European live dates followed (not least of all supporting Simply Red on their farewell tour), before the pull of her native land proved too strong for Kirsty to resist.

In January 2011, the remix for ‘Elusive’, the title track from her debut album proved an instant winner in the clubs of Britain, slamming into the UK club chart top 10.  Why the dance remix treatment? The answer hints at her determination to challenge. Not just herself, but those around her too; to defy convention and occasionally, to choose the path least travelled.

“Of course I’m excited to make music in the UK. But I am always looking to challenge myself, and why not try something new,” says Kirsty.

This relish for pushing her own personal boundaries hints in part at the road she has travelled to get to this point of her career ; a life-threatening brush with meningitis, being crowned as miss United Kingdom, and eventually becoming a happily married mother of three, and wife to Swiss entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli.

“I suppose some people might have a pre-conceived idea about who I am and how I should be. But hey, I can only stay true to myself. I love making music, and that’s what occupies my thoughts and excites me.”

And that exuberance and passion for the music is the over-riding emotion when hearing Kirsty’s music or seeing her perform. It is an impression that is set to last.

 

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