KATHRYN Williams fell out of love with music, jaded by the commercial expectations of signing to a major label, EastWest.

The green shoots of recovery came with last year's Relations, her cathartic album of Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, Ivor Cutler and Mae West covers. Now she is blossoming anew on her fifth album, Over Fly Over, released earlier this month on her independent label, Caw Records.

"I'm buying records and listening to other people's music again, and I feel I've got a hunger and drive to get my own music out there. It's definitely come back," says the softly-spoken singer-songwriter from Newcastle, who plays Pocklington Arts Centre on Tuesday.

"I think I'd got a bit disenchanted with the industry. I do what I do because I love it, but if you're surrounded by people who all consider that success means mainstream success, you can feel a failure.

"Thankfully the critical response to this album has been amazing, and we've sold more in the first week than we did when Warner were handling the Relations album."

Kathryn is branching out into other projects. She has signed Tuesday's support act, Newcastle singer-songwriter John Egdell, to her record label, and has performed with Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and Thea Gilmore in the Daughters Of Albion, not least singing Portishead's Glory Box with Eliza.

"It looks like we'll go to the Barbican in London," says Kathryn. "I'm also working with Neil MacColl and Dave Coulter; we're doing a little EP in the summer."

One final piece of proof of Kathryn's revival comes with her album title. She has returned to her predilection for three words. "I had a little holiday with Relations, but Over Fly Over is back to tradition! It comes from a route direction I was given."

Three words? See Kathryn Williams.

Kathryn Williams, Pocklington Arts Centre, Tuesday, 8pm. Tickets: £13.50 advance, £14.50 door; ring 01759 301547.

Updated: 16:39 Thursday, May 26, 2005