Katie Michaelson
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Interview With Katie Michaelson By Chris
Katie Michaelson is a
singer songwriter who writes & plays pop rock
songs.
Her music is very catchy but she also some one who is real
as she writes all her songs.
She even co produced her ep.
A artist who music is easily accesable and should be on
radio but sadly isn’t.
So here is my interview with this talented lady who will
defently go far.
1. How did you get into music?
I had a really musical upbringing and started singing when
I was really young, probably about 4 years old. I
haven’t stopped since then…..well maybe to
eat…he he….. I had older friends I knew that
played in bands and duos in venues, that sort of thing, and
so I thought “hey I could do that”. I was 15,
but that didn’t stop me. I picked up a guitar at 16
and have been writing songs from that point on. I love
playing my songs to people live it’s amazing
feeling.
2. How did you become involved with Big World
Entertainment Group?
Big World have been developing me as an artist for a few
years now. I think a lot of people prefer to think that all
artists are overnight successes, but …..no…
stacks of work, meetings, moulding and song-writing goes on
before that. So far Steve from Big World has been helping
me develop my sound, put me into contact with producers, my
image etc. Although most artist would disagree and say
“I can handle my own career and I know what I
want” (me included at one stage hehe) …in
reality it is impossible to be clear and focused on all
aspects of your own career and know how to get from point A
to point B, when us artists really have our hearts stuck in
the music part. Covering ALL the other areas in this
business including getting the music OUT THERE is where Big
World have been amazing.
3. What were your influences growing up?
I was crazy about music anything, and just about
everything. My mum would always have music on really loud
in the house at most times and I’m not talking about
opera! She was blasting Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, The
Beatles etc ….you see! I didn’t love it all
but I did get right into The Beatles, Eurhythmics, Steve
Miller and more when I was about 5. Kids tend to learn
every word of every song, so I think those bands I digged
as a young girl had probably had the biggest pull on my
song-writing style today. As a teen full of angst at the
world (ha ha we all are at some point!), I dove straight
into Alanis, Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, Sheryl Crow and
Soundgarden. I used to sing as loud as I could for hours
each day. When I look back on it now, I must have drove the
neighbours nuts! Today I am still in awe of Sheryl Crow,
but also John Mayer, Michelle Branch, Gavin DeGraw and
Vanessa Carlton. I am never short of influences as there is
a lot of talent and great songs out there!
4. What has the response been like to the ep?
So far there have been a few great sponsors that are
backing me and my music. They are PPS hair ware for making
it impossible to have a bad hair day, Maton Guitars who I
Love so much, My favourite guitar I own was always my Maton
and now I have another which is from the PERFOMER series.
Awesome! I have also now become the face of Innoxa’s
YOUNG SOLUTION skincare range who are a great company who
make cruelty free products that are great for young skin.
So my face is out there as well as the music. So overall it
can be a way to the top when you wanna rock n roll. He he
that is funny.. but ACDC were right! Once you’re in,
you’re in, and I’m still just clearing my
throat so to speak.
5. what bands/artists have you enjoyed playing with the
most?
I don’t really get the opportunity to play with many
artists at the moment. Most shows I play currently are solo
acoustic. I really look forward to it though.
6. Has the Internet helped you to get your music out
there?
Absolutely! The internet is an amazing resource and tool
for artists. I have been featured on so many websites all
over the world. Firstly there is my website
www.katiemichaelson.com where people can hear my music,
read my news and see what I’ve been up to. I have
been featured on websites for Maton, Innoxa, MSN. I have
also found links to interviews with me on Michelle Branch
and Ashlee Simpson fansites. It’s really funny.
7. Has radio been playing your music?
When you’re an independent act it’s always a
lot harder to be taken seriously by the media etc. They
seem to think that if a major label hasn’t signed
it…then it’s not worth playing. This attitude
is so far from the truth, the reality is that a lot of the
major labels have been losing money by bad A&R
decisions and releasing too many manufactured artists that
don’t have anything to say…along with all the
current consolidation of market share and
downsizing…the only real labels spending time
developing great acts today are the independents.
We had a great response from MCM who make up a lot of the
syndicated countdowns around the country. We got
“SWIM (like a maniac) played as a hit pick and I got
to speak with Andrew G on Take 40 Australia Countdown and
also a great interview with Barry Bissel for his weekly
countdown show with “Swim (like a maniac)”.
Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get added to the
playlists of the big stations like 2DAY FM or FOX FM etc,
however I am about to release another single of the EP
called “Don’t Say Goodbye” so we will see
how that goes at radio. (fingers crossed).
8. What has been the highlight of your career so
far?
I won an award last December. Yay! I won “Best Pop
Artist for 2004” at 2004 Musicoz awards. This was for
a song I wrote and co-produced. The awards ceremony was
held in Wollongong last December and was broadcast on WIN
network nationally. I also appeared on the Today show with
Richard Wilkins as a result. Very exciting however I am
leaving lots more room in my career for filling out Wembley
Stadium and touring with John Mayer and many Number 1 USA
singles/albums.(hehe)
9. What are your thoughts on talent realty tv shows eg
Australian Idol?
These shows are purely based on entertainment and TV
networks gaining profits. All the voting and SMS’s
really raises millions of dollars and none of this goes to
the artists. There are plenty of talented people out there
that are on these shows or wish to enter, but that’s
not all it takes to succeed in this business. In the days
of the Beatles it used to be all the songs that these guys
wrote and those songs were recorded in one or two takes and
the result is what was on the record! If people liked it,
they bought it and so the record did well. These days more
and more artists including IDOLS or people in TV shows are
releasing albums of songs they haven’t written and so
much studio glitter is put in there to disguise the fact
that all the artist has in terms of talent is a strong
media profile. I mean, that’s cool, but don’t
make out like that’s where all music comes from.
There are artists out there with real talent, great songs,
and a strong message that they just wanna get out there
too.
10. What is your view on file sharing and the MP3
format?
That’s cool. I think we are already there. If a
person really likes an artist and not just a song,
inevitably they go and buy a cd or buy the downloadable
version after all. File sharing is pretty much the only way
to hear the other 99% of songs radio and TV won’t
play. It allows people more of a choice of what they want
to hear and not just what is being thrown at you.
11. Any one you would really like to tour
with?
John Mayer, Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, Sheryl Crow,
Gavin DeGraw,…. Any of these guys would be awesome
to share the stage with. Great music, great people.
12. Have you had much response from overseas?
Yeah. I am talking with a management company based in New
York at the moment….. see what happens?
13. What would we find on your stereo at the
moment?
I am on and off with everything. I might have Keane and
Pink in my stereo one minute then The Beatles and Muse the
next. Depends on my moods I guess..like everyone.
14. Realty TV? Good Or Bad?
Good for entertainment like the osbournes,…. but bad
when it’s boring uneventful suburbanites like big
brother.
15. What movies have you enjoyed recently?
Constantine
16. What are your favourite movies?
Any star wars, the matrix trilogy and Rushmore. Gotta love
Bill Murray.
17. Where would you like to be in 3 years?
Hopefully in USA with a massive Number album with a handful
of top 10 singles.
18. If you were on The Simpsons who would you
be?
Lisa on most days but also Ralph on funny days “Miss
Hoover I ate my red crayon!”
Thanks for your time any last words
Thanks again, it’s great to be up on your site and remember
you can visit me at www.katiemichaelson.com
for all music and news and online purchases of my EP.
Cheers
Katie xxx
Thanks to Big World Entertainment & Katie for doing
the interview
Her ep Swim (Like a maniac) is out now so go buy
it
