When did you decide to pursue music professionally?
I've always known that I wanted to play music and perform, but I suppose I first decided to pursue it professionally when I was 18 and I came to the University of North Texas to study music. I study jazz at UNT, but I also sing in a lot of other styles. I try to be as versatile as I can. I really love singing Brazilian music, and folky/pop-type music.
Do you write music as well?
I do, I love to write. I wish I had more time to do this though! I am a first semester grad student and most of my time is spent on school and gigs. Grad school has been a great experience so far, even though I am insanely busy. I'm directing my own group (Jazz Singers III) and we have our first performance this Wednesday at the Syndicate (on campus, 9 p.m.). The group consists of 11 singers, all girls, and a rhythm section. I absolutely love directing this group; the girls sound great and I am learning so much.
Back to the actual question ... when I do have time, I love working on my own original music. I recently began a new project with a good friend, Collin Hauser. We are extremely excited about our band (to a very nerdy extent!) and can't wait to start performing. He plays guitar, we both sing, and I'll actually be playing bass! (I recently bought an upright bass from Snarky Puppy's Mike League, which makes it a very magical bass.) We'll be playing our originals as well as some beautiful folky covers. More news to come on this project -- no name yet! Collin and I want to start booking shows in Denton soon.
Who are your top five musical influences?
They couldn't be more different. I love all of these artists and have learned and absorbed a lot from each one.
Ben Folds, Rosa Passos, Fiona Apple, Nancy Wilson, and probably Norah Jones. Listening to Ben Folds in high school is what got me playing and singing and wanting to learn more about music. That's also the time when I started writing my own songs. I recently had the opportunity to sing with Ben Folds and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. I auditioned to sing backup for Ben Folds, and I made it! (This was about 3 weeks ago.) It was the best day ever! I got to meet Ben and tell him how much I love his music, and to sing with him was definitely a dream come true.
Nancy Wilson made me fall in love with jazz, and her album with Cannonball Adderley is what made me want to study jazz. I must have listened to that album and nothing else for about two months back in high school.
I love Norah Jones's vibe and the way she makes people feel when she sings. And Rosa Passos is just amazing. I've been really into Brazilian music lately, and she just takes my breath away with her passion and her incredible musicality.
What's your secret to kicking ass in the boys club?
I suppose hanging and being really prepared for my shows help me get by in the male dominated music world. I generally play with all male musicians (except for BFF Julia!) and I just always make sure I have my act together. Hanging is not a hard thing to do; I love hanging out with all the jazz guys and girls, and I'm pretty sure that's not a secret!
Favorite local bands?
Definitely Oso Closo and Snarky Puppy. Oso Closo's music speaks to the heart and really has something special woven into it. Snarky Puppy brings me my daily serving of funky! I try to go see both of these bands whenever I can (whenever I don't have a gig). In addition to loving the music of both groups, I love all the guys and try to support them as much as I can.
What's the lineup for your dream band?
I would love to sing with Ben Folds again, in a more intimate setting, maybe duo? Singing with him and the orchestra was definitely memorable and amazing, but I would really like to just sit down with him at the piano and sing. Going back to the new project I mentioned earlier, I feel like I might already have my lineup for my dream band. I've always wanted to sing in an intimate duo group. We want to play the kind of music that moves your heart, the kind of music that you listen to on a road trip driving through the mountains, or the kind of music you listen to when you're feeling lost or sad and don't quite know why.
How did studying in Spain change the way you approach your art (in both performance and creation)?
Living and studying music in Spain changed my life. I had been feeling pretty burnt out here in Denton and at UNT, and I just needed a change of scenery to try and figure out what my next life steps were going to be. Being on my own, across an ocean, in a brand-new city helped me see things more clearly, and I soon found myself writing more, feeling more inspired, and feeling more confident about my singing. When I got back to Texas I felt refreshed and ready to push my music to the next level.
Where else do you want to travel and play?
I would love to start doing tours with my new project, whenever we're ready for the world. I'd really like to start up in Ithaca, New York (I have family there, and it's a great music scene) and work our way down the east coast. I would someday like to travel to Brazil for a few months, study music there, and play with a lot of Brazilian musicians. The more I hear about this type of music, the more in love with it I become. In the future, I am considering moving to Europe, but I can't be sure of anything right now. I'd at least love to tour there!
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/oct/20/metropolitan-muse-kathryn-lane/
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