Misha Williams
If you haven't heard of Misha Williams and her guitar-pop sound yet, you will do soon - well, that's the plan any way.She is on a charm offensive - visiting schools, TV appearances, interviews - you name it Misha is there, with or without sleep.Luckily, the 20-year-old Texan singer/songwriter is used to a hectic schedule. She started performing at Texan rodeo shows and race tracks at the tender age of 11. And as her profile and reputation rapidly grew, so too did her diary and she soon notched up an impressive 50 concerts a year.With Texas effectively conquered, Misha and her vocal coach decided they could do with some veteran industry help if they wanted to take her talent beyond the boundaries of the Southern state.The Austin Songwriter's Conference five years ago proved to be the perfect opportunity for the sassy redhead to showcase her talents to a panel of experienced names, including Grammy-nominated record producer John Ravenhall.The UK producer immediately saw potential in the big-eyed, big-voiced Texan and a partnership was formed.Ravenhall set about honing Misha's songwriting talent and developing her clean-cut, fresh pop sound.
The process resulted in Misha's debut album, 'Take It Like It Is', which boasts songs that have been recognised at a number of prestigious songwriting contests, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the Billboard World Song Contest.
Surprisingly, it is in Japan that her sound has been most favourably received, where she has had chart success with 'Unexpectedly' - a song which featured on the soundtrack for the film 'Strings'.
Unfortunately, success in Japan has not been matched in the UK, where the first single off the album, 'She's Got It', released last October, failed to make any significant waves but did reach the top 10 in the Radio London's Big L's Fab 40 chart at number 8.
However, all that is set to change, thanks to five girls that go by the names Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah, aka Girls Aloud.
Misha has landed herself the coveted spot of opening for the girl band on their 2007 tour - which kicked off in Newcastle on May 14 in and ends Plymouth on June 9.
The priceless exposure means Misha's music has been brought to a ready-made audience of teeny-boppers willing to splash the cash on catchy pop songs, brimming with those ever important girl power lyrics.
Here, she talks about partying with Girls Aloud, her close pal Hilary Duff and coping with her hectic schedule.
Q: So how are you finding the UK?
A: It's really good. I have actually spent a lot of time in Britain. So I'm getting pretty used to being here. It's starting to feel pretty normal.
Q: What is it like touring with Girls Aloud?
A: It's been great. They are really, really friendly girls. I got a chance to hang out with them a bit and they are just really cool down to earth people. They work really hard, they are absolutely fantastic. I give them so much credit for all the hard work they do.
Q: Had you heard of the girls and their music before signing up for the tour?
A: I had actually. A few years ago when we started recording my album I saw their music videos. I knew who they were and I liked their music. So, I was completely, ridiculously over-excited when I heard I was going to be opening for them on tour.
Q: Are the girls making you feel welcome?
A: They are really nice. We had a party the other night, which was really fun.
I think I most probably spent the most time speaking to Kimberley. She is really sweet. The girls had a lot of their friends and family there and it was Nicola's sister's birthday so we all sang 'Happy Birthday'. It was really fun. I think they were really excited to see a lot of the family because they had travelled to Manchester to watch them perform.
We were all just relaxing, having a couple of drinks and hanging out, and then we got a day off!
Q: Sarah is the notorious party girl of the group, did she live up to that reputation on your night out.
A: Sarah was kind of hyper I have to say. But, she was really sweet and was telling me all these places to hang out in Manchester.
She was talking a mile a minute so I couldn't quite remember everything she said. But she was like, 'Oh, if you are going to go shopping go here, and don't go here that's not cool.'
Q: There have been rumours of infighting between the girls and talk of a split, from your experience how did the group get on?
A: I haven't seen them have any problems. When they were in their down time they were all hanging together. Kimberley and Cheryl were sitting together and chatting and Ashley Cole was there as well. They seem to work really well together. I didn't really see anything that would make me think they were splitting up or that they have huge problems with each other.
They really do hang out with each other and hang out back stage with all the crew and go to parties and stuff too. It's, like, a big group of people who appreciate each other and spend time together when they are not working too, which is nice because there is a lot of work.
Q: So what was Ashley (Cheryl's soccer star husband who plays for Chelsea Football Club) like when you met him?
A: Ashley was really nice. Him and Cheryl were kind of quiet when they were hanging around or sitting together. They sort of chatted among themselves and went to bed early I think they were exhausted.
Q: You have quite a different sound to Girls Aloud. How have the fans responded to your music?
A: We kind of have the some people who would come and listen to our music, so it's great place for me to be exposed in the UK.
Everyone is really enjoying it and the crowd have been really responsive. You never know what exactly to expect, but they are singing along and cheering with you.
And if I say scream they will scream, they are really great. Hopefully, there will be a bunch of new people who will now know who I am and will listen to my music.
Q: How would you describe your music?
A: I would say it's really fun, positive music, with a guitar-pop sound. A lot of my lyrics are inspirational and positive. They deal with a bunch of different stuff. I find people have a lot of problems with self-confidence and people don't think they are good enough, so through my lyrics I try and get across that it's OK to like yourself and be happy being who you are.
Q: Who are your musical inspirations?
A: When I was first starting to sing I loved Mariah Carey's voice and I was so inspired to sing when I heard her songs. Since I started writing I'm really into Michelle Branch and John Mayer and I love Keith Urban. I think they are all really great writers, I would love to write with any of them.
Q: You are now working with the Grammy-nominated record producer John Ravenhall. How did that partnership begin?
A: Well actually my vocal coach set up a showcase for me at a songwriting contest in Austin and John was a panellist there. Once I finished my showcase, he told me he would love to work with me and take some time figuring out what sound to go for.
The album is finished now and we are really excited about how is turned out and proud of every song. We took our time with it to make sure it had the right direction and right time.
Q: I hear you are close friends with Hilary Duff. How did you meet?
A: I met her a while ago. She is a very sweet girl. We were in Houston and she was promoting the 'Lizzie McGuire' TV series and her sister Hayley was in a group. Hilary was just really sweet to me and we immediately hit it off, she was like, 'Hey let's go sit together.'
She is doing some great music right now and I really love her new album.
Her mum actually told my mum about a book to read about the music business. She was like pick up this book it has some great pointers, I've forgotten what it was called, but it was really helpful. Hilary's family are really sweet.
Q: What do you make of this feud between her and Avril Lavigne?
A: I don't try to get involved with all that stuff. There are better things to do!
Q: What are your thoughts on her ex-boyfriend Joel Madden, Hilary seemed to have quite a tough time after their split when he started dating Nicole Richie.
A: I never met Joel.
Q: What do you think of these stars like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan who make more headlines for their partying than their talents?
A: I think it's kind of unfortunate. People get kind of crazy and forget why they were there in the first place and I think it's so much better to just focus on what you are actually doing.
I don't want to go out and party every night. I'm tired. I mean I want to have fun but it's not my main priority.
Q: What do you do to relax?
A: I don't tend to be home very much. But I love to have friends over watch TV, cooking, exercising. I don't get to work out on the road. It's hard to eat healthily when you are on the road. There is only fast food and I'm like noooo! Please save my skin.
Q: What's next for Misha Williams?
A: We are doing a new single, another track off the album called 'Somebody Else's Eyes'. Right in the middle of the tour I get one day off to do a music video for Japan - so it's not really a day off.
I have to drive from Cardiff to London catch a very early flight to Denmark. Fly back the next morning, drive up to Birmingham and do the Girls Aloud show. I'm hoping to get some sleep on the plane!
By Kate Sole.