Genres R&B Associated acts Parker Ighile | Years active 2007–present Genre Contemporary R&B | |
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Birth name Hope Katana, Millie Katana Occupation(s) singers, songwriters, actresses Members Hope Katana
Millie Katana Origin Manchester, United Kingdom Similar Katy Carmichael, Pooky Quesnel, Mark Benton, Parker Ighile, George Sampson | ||
The katanas natural at glastonbury 2013
Hope and Millie Katana are Kenyan-British singers, songwriters and actresses. Hope and Millie were born in Kenya. Their mother is English and father is Kenyan.
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Early life and career beginnings
Growing up, their mother, Jan Katana played music from artists as 'Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men. The Katana’s developed an early love for soul music through these influences. Millie and Hope attended a 'Vocal collective choir' between ages 9 through 12, which helped them understand harmonies and vocal arrangements.
CBBC Clash
At 12, Hope & Millie participated in CBBC show Clash, a musical program aimed at finding talented kids to form a band and mash up a piece of popular music using new ideas. The show concluded with a performance on the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend, which made The Katana’s the youngest ever performers at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend festival.
Waterloo Road
At 14, Hope and Millie landed main roles in BBC 1's drama Waterloo Road as twin trouble makers 'Shona and Rhona Mansfield' respectively.
Shona and Rhona are identical twins who live with their Nan. They love each other but their relationship is highly competitive - to the point of competition being an obsession. If Shona gets attention, a good mark – or if she’s picked to do a job by a teacher, Rhona will want to know: ‘Why is it always Shona?’ If Rhona wears her hair one way or buys herself a new skirt or top, Shona will have to wear exactly the same – which drives her twin crazy. Each is actually scared of the other doing something different. Getting them out in the morning is, therefore, a nightmare. This series will see the sisters come to major blows when their Nan fights for custody of them – and their mum puts up a fight.
Shona and Rhona were transferred to another school when Waterloo Road closed.
The girls were in series 7 of Waterloo Road. Their characters were written out when the school moved to Scotland
2012-present
Hope and Millie have been performing at shows around the UK, with their largest audience, 35,000 people at 'Manchester Light Switch on 2012'.
They are influenced by Stevie Wonder’s lyrics, Anastacia’s clever and powerful backing vocals and Boyz II Men’s Harmonies and arrangements, as well as Sergio Mendes. Hope and Millie (formerly known as The Du'Montts) named their dynamic duo, "The Katanas". They are currently working on their first EP. British-Nigerian producer Parker Ighile mentioned that the Katanas remind him of two young Beyoncé's.