Catnip and Claws - Next Big Thing winner 2016

Emma Catnip is the winner of Future Radio’s Next Big Thing 2016. Beating over 100 other acts she excelled at both the semi-final and the final, bringing her electronic musings and clever self-made projections to an impressed audience. The judges were blown away by her performance and hope she follows in the footsteps of both Ed Sheeran and last years’ winner Harry Edwards to make it big. I spoke to her about how it went down for her.

What kind of music do you make and how do you make it?

I make curious, melodic electronic ramblings laced with harder, broken beats.

How, when and why did you start making music?

To be honest, I can’t remember not making music EVER. I started to learn the piano before I could reach the keys properly and haven’t stopped fiddling with instruments or things that make noises since!

How has your sound developed since you began?

I suppose, as a musician, playing the one instrument at a time just wasn’t quite enough! So my sound has developed with the layers I am able to add in production; I’m always learning new tips and tricks or making mistakes that put me in places I might not have gone to otherwise – I love all the experimenting.

Who and what are you influenced by?

There are so many artists I rate, it’s hard to know where to start listing, but Raymond Scott and Delia Derbyshire are absolutely inspirational and my Caribou, Venetian Snares and RJD2 albums are never far out of reach.

Do you really love cats?

Actually, I’m allergic – joke! Yes, I really, REALLY love cats. I have 2 – Tilly and Watson. Watson is currently sitting on my mixer and often nudges up the bass! Vital studio components.

What did you hope to achieve when you entered the Next Big Thing, and did you feel you were ready to play in a competition?

I really had no idea what to expect with the competition; I thought it was worth a shot, but I always felt like an outlier making strange sounds and beats.

How did it feel when you went through to the semi finals, and then to the final?

I was so excited to be shortlisted! It felt like a triumph for solo artists on laptops being recognised as valid musicians and a true testimony to the open-mindedness of the competition.

How did you find performing at the semi finals and what did you think of the other acts?

I was terrified until I started to play; with so many variables to consider with my various tech I just hoped my brain wouldn’t freeze and that I might stop my hands shaking so I could actually press the buttons. The standard of the other acts was so high too, I completely talked myself out of any possibility of getting through. I loved playing though – especially my last track of the night and its matching visuals. It was pretty amazing to look at the audience and see them giggling and dancing, I couldn’t help enjoying myself.

How did you prepare for playing the final? Did you learn anything from doing the semi final that helped you?

I practiced and practiced and prayed to the God of Laptops that my equipment would behave. We were offered some feedback from the semi’s, which I found incredibly useful – I tried to take as much of it onboard as I could and hoped to raise the bar for the finals.

Did you feel your final performance went as you hoped?

Apart from the bit where I didn’t have time to take off my big, thick woolly winter socks before playing and ended up on stage in them (thankfully not visible). I was super amazed that everything went pretty much as planned and I absolutely loved every second. Open Live Music venue is absolutely stunning.

How did you feel when you won?

OMG. A friend has since said to me “I have genuinely never seen anyone as surprised as you were”, and that just about sums it up. I’m still pinching myself now!

What will you use the money for, and what are your plans for Catnip and Claws now?

LOVELY, LOVELY MUSIC THINGS! A few bits of kit to enhance the composition process and to play live with and invest a little into an interactive music project I am plotting and scheming.

Are you playing in Norwich any time soon?

I’ll be at The Murderers playing for Oddbox on April 8th – trim up your whiskers and fluff up your tails, I’m very much looking forward to it. Hope to see some friendly faces there!

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