NAME:
Claire Rabbitt

VOICE TYPE:
Contralto

INSTRUMENT:
Piano

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Leeds, to Irish parents

MUSICAL BACKGROUND:
Attended the Yorkshire College of Music and Drama between the ages of 5 and 16. Studied Elecution and Drama, Piano and Singing. Also learnt Irish Dancing to a high competitive level elsewhere during this period. Spent a great deal of my childhood in the Irish Centre in Leeds, being inspired by the joy of music. Was the lead soprano in the school choir and sang at many weddings, churches and competitions. Often played the lead in the musicals and operas we performed at school, e.g. Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

WHY DID YOU START PLAYING & SINGING?:
Don't remember a time when I didn't. Was a precocious show off type of child, always putting on mini plays and dressing up and singing and writing rubbish duets on the piano.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR JOB IF NOT A MUSICIAN?:
Food critic, lawyer, music manager, journalist.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF WITH 3 WORDS:
Stubborn, impulsive, fierce.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?:
I would like to be rich and successful enough to buy a house in Ireland overlooking the sea, with lots and lots of cats. One side of me would like to be married with (perhaps adopted) children, whereas the other side would happily live on the road forever, performing and meeting new people and seeing a new city every day. Either way I hope to be happy and healthy.

WORST HABIT:
Pick one?

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH :
My friends.

HOW DO YOU KILL TIME ON TOUR?:
Sleeping! I like to have a look around and get a feel for wherever we are, usually by trying the local food and drink, or by having a nosey around the town. Other than that I read or simply have fun with the girls. We are extremely proficient at amusing ourselves with the minimum of props.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A SHOW?:
Yogic breathing and some stretches, a song or two with the ladies, a couple of glasses of Cava, a light meal and some time on my own.

WORST NIGHTMARE ON STAGE :
Overly bright light in my eyes.

WORST NIGHTMARE IN GENERAL:
Stupidity, cruelty, poor personal hygiene

WHICH BAND WOULD YOU LIKE PLAY WITH? :
This one.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER :
I don't embarrass easily.

HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER?:
The wonderful people I get to work with.