Kat Vipers has been writing, producing, releasing, and performing her own inimitable and unflinchingly unique music in London since 2005. She has received many enthusiastic responses from admirers that throw themselves into the path of an intrepid musical talent. Hot Air Balloon EP sees Kat Vipers embrace the melody of traditional pop and interlace it with everything from the classically fantastic to the vocally incredible as she is officially a lyric coloratura soprano, meaning she can sing up to a high F. This has brought Kat a range of high profile fans including Brian Molko (Placebo) Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls), Barry Adamson (ex Bad Seed) and even the legendary Michael Nyman.Born in Athens to a family of pianists and singers, Kat quickly yielded to her musical calling. She began playing piano at the age of four and later went on to study at the Conservatoire in Athens. Kat then nurtured her talent and developed the skills she would need to deliver her first record.
Among the long list of her distinguished teachers were: Professor Christopher Elton (Head of Keyboard at the Royal Academy on Music), Hilary Coates (Trinity College of Music), Maria Kanatsouli (herself a pupil of the great Yvonne Lefebure) and Alexei Mirosnikov.
She released her last EP Summer Bloody Time, heralded as a jazz-punk phenomenon, having received a grant from the Arts Council in England This was a very rare event given that she was unsigned, not established and the board deciding who gets such an award consists of the most distinguished practitioners.
The new EP sees Kat Vipers developing her sound further: gypsy blues, futuristic jazz harmonies, string ensembles and brass/wind arrangements as well as kids’ voices make up this bold and candid collection of songs.
That's not to mention a healthy dose of jazzy, funky guitars, electro-loops and beats, as well as her trademark Jerry-Lee-Lewis-esque piano bashing together with her ethereal vocal acrobatics.
Kat Vipers described this style of playing the piano as "percussive, a bit punk’n’roll".
Hot Air Balloon tells a bitter story of love, betrayal and acceptance. It is a record laced with wisdom, darkness and beauty and is executed with absolute conviction.
The songs themselves are more immediate and represent Kat’s real sensitivity to her beloved art form. To see an artist grow with such grace and momentum, who knows what the future may hold for Kat Vipers.