Kate Nash released her third album Girl Talk this week, and marked the occasion with a big launch party at the St Martin’s Lane Hotel. Stars including Chris O’Dowd, Dawn Porter and Gizzi Erskine came to celebrate the release – which has seen the music star take on a radical new style and ditch the pop sounds of songs like Foundations for a new punk direction.

To celebrate her new release here’s six things you should know about Kate…

1. She’s reinvented herself for her new album

New album Girl Talk sees her closing the door on the chirpiness of songs like Foundations and taking a new lo-fi indie feminist slant. On Conventional Girl she spits Courtney Love-like fury while Sister is a Cribs-esque sing-a-long. Basically she’s gone all riot grrrrl. “I’m a bit older now and I’ve taken control of my own life. This is the best work I’ve ever done; I’m so happy with it… it feels like a rebirth,”

2. She’s gone it alone

After parting ways with her record company Kate has released Girl Talk on her own label, Have 10p Records. "I realised it’s kind of blessing; like a divorce," she told music website Music OMH. "Yeah, it’s really hard but sometimes you’re doing it for the best reasons. Being able to put this record out on my own record label feels amazing."

3. She runs her own real-life rock school

Kate set up the Kate Nash Rock 'N Roll for Girls After School Music Club last year to encourage more young women not just to play music – but to write their own songs, too. “I hope that if I tell my story, about the setbacks I had, they might not be afraid.”

4. She’s best mates with Radio 1’s Gemma Cairney

The two met at an audition for drama school when they both wanted to be actresses and have been bezzas ever since. Kate played Gemma her single Foundations in the studio after she had recorded it. I looked her in the eye and said “That’s top ten!” says Gemma.  

5. She supports Pussy Riot

When Russian band Pussy Riot were imprisoned last year for protesting against the government, Kate slammed the decision, saying it was "important for artists to challenge the world they live in". She signed a letter sent to the Russian government calling on their release and has performed a song called Free My Pussy (no giggling at the back) at her gigs.

6. She's proud to be a feminist

There's a lyric on the track All Talk on her new album which goes “I’m a feminist and if that offends you, f*ck you.” Fair enough, we say.