Kate Earl
I adore Kate Earl, I love her music and hopefully one day I will see her live but I am so happy to have interview her for the third time. She has done a fundraising campaign for her new EP which you should donate to. Kate Earl is something special, I think her music is incredible and this is why I will always interview her here on my site. So read on. She gave some sold answers.
1. How are things for you being independent?
It’s not as scary as I thought it would be. There’s this incredible response from my fan base to keep me in music. It was a major trust fall when I chose not to chase labels and do it myself.
2. Why did you did decide to do a pledge-music campaign?
I did it previously because my label wanted me to leave my son behind if I didn’t want to tour 20k miles with him strapped into a mini-van. Neither of those scenarios was an option so I went to pledgemusic to raise money for a Motor-Home Sweet Home, which we accomplished in 60 days. If it wasn’t for my son, I probably never would have done such a thing. It just made sense to go back because I’d personally witnessed a platform that works in bringing together artists with true lovers of music who want to make a difference and help affect lives directly.
3. What do you hope it will do for you?
It will allow me to finish my music on my terms with 100% creative control without the interference of a label. I am not against labels, there is just a catch 22 that happens when the music is not complete. You want to present who you really are, but labels are supposed to pay for that process to take place so theirs quite a lot of power they wield and it can – if you don’t have the perfect match of artist and team – end up feeling like either a continual process of auditioning to be taken as you are, you it can be a feeling of puppetry of something that isn’t what you signed the contract for. To have this music finished before I sign a deal, if I sign one at all, will mean that everyone knows what they’re getting into.
4. Do you think you know more than from when you were starting out?
I would hope by not that I’ve learned a few things.
5. What inspires you now when writing music?
I am inspired to express myself in a more sensual and feminine way that ever before. Becoming a mother got me really comfortable in my own skin and gave me an awareness of my own strength. I want to to be seen now for those changes.
6. What did you learn from being on record labels?
I spoke a bit about it earlier… I’ve learned so much from being on labels. A lot of great things came from labels. Like I said, it’s brilliant when it’s a true match. I learned songwriting, performance, how to dress, how to tour, how to brand my name, how to write a video treatment, how to pair sight and sound, how to speak with collaborators, how to contribute to a meeting, how to direct musicians that i’ve hired, how to connect with fans all over the world both in person and across the miles- all this pieced together over my years in the biz. I had support from my first label Record Collection. They paid for me to attend song writing class at Pasadena City College and I had vocal lessons with a great coach who taught me how to use 4 octaves. I needed a car, they got me one. They tried to give me a make over, it’s taken me some time to develop my own sense of style which speaks as much as the music does in these times because of how visual the medium is. My second label Universal Republic allowed me to be bi-coastal between NY and LA where I had a home on the ocean and a flat in Manhattan. My exposure to NY really opened me up as a more cultured person. My third label was supportive of my 2 year old being around the studio during that stage of creation which we all benefitted from. It’s nice when you say you want to do something and a way is made to better your situation. It gives you more to contribute to the endeavor.
7. Do you think the internet makes it easier for you to get your music out their now than beforehand?
Yes. You can be and Army of One.
8. Do you think it’s all about the songwriting?
The song is star. I had a meeting with Jay Brown recently, CEO of Roc Nation. Let’s see if I can quote him correctly. "There is nothing more arresting than a gorgeous melody. People live and die by their music. " You can dress it up any which way, but if there’s no song, nothing for people to resonate with, then you got nothin. I would really enjoy having a career that has two sides to my songs. One as an artist and one as a facilitator for other artists. Like Carol King having accomplished both the writing of Natural Woman for Aretha just to name one of Carol’s hits, and also releasing the timeless album Tapestry.
9. Are you happy how people have responded to your music in all the years you have been doing it?
I’m so grateful for each person who has responded to what I’ve done. I don’t really feel like I’ve released a record that is entirely me yet. Looking back I can see how influenced I was by the people around me. Not a bad thing, I’m just in a different space now.
10. What does it mean to you to connect with your fans?
I love all aspects of it. It feeds what I do. I get letters about people who have gone through something and how my music was there for them. Or I get a hug from a fan on tour that I had no idea was listening to my music for years and has always wanted me to come to their part of the world. Or that ever satisfying moment of getting a room to go pin drop quiet for my performance, or seeing the last row in an arena wave back to me as I sing. I will be singing till I can’t anymore. As long as folks still wanna hear me, I’ll be there.
11. Any chance to play Australia one day?
I would love to. There first chance I get. I was just invited to Italy. Hopefully I get an invite from Oz.
12. Have you had moments where you just can’t write today?
Yes. I could always write well at gunpoint but I find that my best work flows after I’ve had a break from music. Had time to live and do other things. There’s more to draw upon.
13. What have you listen to recently that has inspired you?
Lana Del Rey. She went from sleeping on the couch at the studio to million dollar contracts and singing the soundtrack for angelina jolie’s disney flick. Lizzie grabbed the industry by the balls. She was ignored by all the labels before. She did things her own way in a meaningful way. And then the right things came together for her to have success without compromise.
