A year ago I was homeless. My independent label was dismantled and I had hoped to be signed onto the major portion of my label. I had no interest in touring the old sound while a new sound needed to be developed. I had to find the music I heard inside. I had made Fate and now I was talking about beats and soul and groove and people looked at me like "you? right." I was stuck in this Catch-22: no money for recording and no money until recordings had been turned in. I had met that Atlanta duo Gnarles Barkley at a party, and with wide-eyed optimism communicated my desire to collaborate... that never materialized. BUT, soon after, I was invited to sing for a charity and awareness event in (guess where?) Atlanta. Seeing how cool and inaccessible the Gnarls boys were, I figured I was only in town to meet the kid who engineered St. Elsewhere: Ben Allen. I made contact with Ben through MySpace. To my surprise, Ben asked me to stay on in Atlanta and write. Our first song was Golden Street. I was so pleased, but my new sound did not make sense to the people it needed to make sense to. Half-crazed and a bit broken hearted and little lost I still knew the universe was on my side. I sold everything and left on this musical journey.
I went to San Francisco to find the sound. I was given safe haven in Seattle on a houseboat for a while. I went to Florida, Atlanta, NY, Alaska, Atlanta, NY, LA, NY, LA, NY, LA... it's a blur now. But one day there was a phone call, a life line and I was rediscovered, reassured and given the opportunity to reinvent myself.
I'm finishing this blog in the kitchen of my new SoHo apartment. My calendar tells me that it's been a year since this story started, and that I'm about to catch a cab to Gnarls's old stompin' grounds, Downtown Studios, to start recording my new record for Universal. Piece of cake.
Currently reading :
The Prince (Enriched Classics (Pocket))
By Niccolo Machiavelli
My Trusted MOGs
Great fucking words.... I love the message in all of this.... grind, never give up your passion, stay the course.... I can relate.
My Trusted MOGs
You are really following your muse. Cool.
My Trusted MOGs
There are lots of homeless folks around my neck of the woods. Many are musicians. Man, it's enough to make you want to play the blues. I think I'd rather work at McDonalds and pay rent rather than be a homeless musician.
My Trusted MOGs
Inspiring, Kate. Fits right along with one of my fave mottos, already stated by Mr. Frost: "Never give up." (The other being, "Get there first, then get the hell out.") Looking forward to hearing the results of your hard work. Keep us in the loop.
My Trusted MOGs
kate-- i've been a fan since the early days. I agree. this will be a piece of cake.
much love and encouragement to you.
My Trusted MOGs
hey Kate--
met you a bunch of times at your first gigs at the Hotel Cafe and other places through Tony Berg. always wanted to work with you but you guys were already hooked up. kept coming back to see you anyway.
great story. i hope you remembered to keep eating over the last year or so while you fought your way through this business! you're an amazing talent and i'm psyched to hear the direction you've chosen.
enjoy SOHO. not a bad place to crash for awhile......
My Trusted MOGs
soho isn't the worst place to recover from a homeless gig. good for you!