British musician gains fame through iTunes

LONDON, April 7 (UPI) -- British musician Kate Walsh became an overnight celebrity after her homemade album in Brighton, England, topped the national iTunes chart.

Walsh, 23, who was a classically trained pianist before switching to the acoustic guitar and has been described as a British Joni Mitchell, recorded "Tim's House" in the home of her producer Tim Bidwell, The Times of London reported Saturday.

Lacking a major record deal Walsh originally made the album available only in digital form through her MySpace Web page and iTunes.

Since being put onto iTunes, it has topped the online store's British download chart, displacing Take That and Kaiser Chiefs.

Ironically Walsh is not an iTunes customer.

"I don't actually have an iPod yet," said the singer, who was invited to perform at Apple's main London store to celebrate her feat.

"I set up my own record label called Blueberry Pie and just got my music out there," she told The Times. "It's pretty easy. Anyone can do it. The Web response is amazing. Someone I've never met called me 'the new Jane Austen.'"