MANY artistes prefer to jump out of the box rather than build a career. Kathrine Williams is not one of them.

"From what I've seen so far of this business, there's a lot more I have to learn before I jump into the big time," the flame-haired singer told The Gleaner recently.

The next phase of Williams' learning curve comes next Tuesday when she performs at the Village Café, where the Mystic Urchin production company will showcase its artistes.

Singers Fahrenheit, Jodi Rockwell and Kai Wakeling are also scheduled to perform at the St. Andrew venue which has become popular with lovers of live music.

Williams, 21, is the daughter of David Williams, former bass player with Kotch, a reggae band which had a big hit in the early 1980s with Jean.

The music bug

She said she caught the music bug from her 'old man' early, fiddling with the guitar at age four. Later, she studied voice at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, an experience she credits with helping to make her a rounded artiste.

"I sing, write poetry and play guitar. I'd say I'm a better songwriter than guitarist; I take lessons to create my own sound," she said.

That 'sound' is a mix of jazz, rock, soul and 'a pinch of reggae' which comes from the different sounds she was weaned on. Those include the funk/jazz of Earth, Wind and Fire, the punk of Green Day and the Seattle grunge of Nirvana.

To date, Williams has recorded several songs with producers Andrew Thompson and David Kennedy which she hopes will make the cut for her first album. For now, she is comfortable working Kingston's growing live circuit, but would not mind branching out.

"I can't complain with the work I've been getting, but I don't want to limit myself to Kingston," she said. "I'd love to do more shows around the country."

- H.C.