Katie Melua

Katie Melua was born Ketevan Melua on 16 September 1984 in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union. Her family moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1993, and later settled in London in 1995.¹ She learned to play guitar and piano as a child and began writing songs in her teens. At 15, she won a singing competition on a local TV show, which sparked her interest in a music career. She later attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, where she was discovered by composer Mike Batt, who became her mentor and producer.²

Melua's debut album, Call Off the Search (2003), was released when she was 19 and became an instant success, reaching number one on the UK Albums Chart and selling over 1.8 million copies in the UK alone. Her follow-up, Piece by Piece (2005), also topped the UK chart and included the hit single "Nine Million Bicycles," which became one of her signature songs. The album's blend of pop, jazz, and folk appealed to a broad audience, and Melua's clear, emotive vocals drew comparisons to Norah Jones and Eva Cassidy.³

Over the years, Melua has explored diverse genres, from jazz standards to electronic and experimental music. Her album The House (2010) was produced by William Orbit and marked a departure from her earlier sound, incorporating more contemporary production. She has collaborated with artists such as Jamie Cullum, Eva Cassidy (posthumously), and the Gori Women's Choir from her native Georgia. In 2016, she released In Winter, a collaboration with the Gori Women's Choir, which blended traditional Georgian folk songs with her own compositions, reflecting her heritage.

Melua has been involved in various charitable activities, including supporting the humanitarian organization UNICEF and the British Red Cross. She has also performed at numerous benefit concerts, including the 2005 Live 8 concert in Edinburgh. In 2013, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity. Beyond music, she has expressed interest in art and photography, and she has contributed to environmental causes.

Melua's song "Nine Million Bicycles" was inspired by a statistic about the number of bicycles in Beijing, which she learned during a visit to China. The song's lyrics include a reference to the size of the observable universe, a detail that sparked a public response from physicist Simon Singh, who pointed out a minor inaccuracy in the phrasing. Melua later acknowledged the correction with humor. Additionally, she has a passion for scuba diving and has completed a PADI Divemaster certification. She also holds a black belt in karate, a fact she has mentioned in interviews.

BRIT School

A performing arts and technology school in London, UK, known for producing many successful musicians.

Mike Batt

British songwriter and producer who discovered and mentored Katie Melua.

Gori Women's Choir

A Georgian women's choir from Gori, known for traditional polyphonic singing.