Get to Know: Singer-Songwriter Kate Ryan

Credit: Angela Talley

Singer songwriter Kate Ryan is preparing to make her mark on the music industry. Blending Country and Pop, the Colorado native released her six song debut EP, Now Revolution, on August 21st. Kate kindly took the time to answer a few questions via email about her roots, the EP, and what's ahead.





Your musical career began in church, was that the first place you began singing?

Church was the first place that I performed, and it was to a packed church on Christmas Eve! I actually began singing before that. When I was 6 years old, I asked my piano teacher if she could teach me how to sing. Fortunately she is a great singing coach, and not only did I learn to sing, but I learned to play as well.

What drew you to music and when did you decide to pursue it as a profession?

Music is something I love to do and it has been since I was extremely young, but it wasn't until 5th grade that I realized I wanted to do it as a profession. This was around the same time I realized being a princess was unfortunately out of the question. This was also around the time the TV show Hannah Montana became popular and I found the life portrayed very intriguing.

Being that your music is pop/country where do you draw your influences from?

I listen to a variety of music genres, which is why the songs are so diverse. I write about things that are happening in my life and have meaning.

Why do you gravitate to country music as opposed to say, straight up pop?

Pop country gives me the flexibility to sing about many things. Country music is a more laid-back genre. The people are just consistently more kind and down-to-earth. The country music fans just love music and connect with the artists.

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How did you connect with Dean Sams [of Lonestar] for the EP?

Dean and I met through my media consultant who found my demo CD by chance. That demo had been recorded in a basement in one take, so it was pretty crude, but it's lucky that he found it and loved it.

What is the story behind the song "Now Revolution?"

There are so many people who say my generation is disconnected, self-absorbed, and that we have nothing to offer. They say we need to get off our phones, stop taking so many selfies, stop watching so much Netflix. This song is this generation and me standing up and saying that we have so much to offer and that we will change the world.

There is also a video for the song; who came up with the concept and was it your first video?

That was my very first professional music video. The producer Sean Hagwell came up with the concept and I liked it a lot and we ran with it. All of my fellow ‘revolutionaries’ are actually my friends from school, so it was an incredible experience. 

You co-wrote "Now Revolution" what about the other songs on the EP?

All the songs were co-written by Dean Sams, Susan Ruth and I. They're both incredible writers and I learned so much working with them.

Why did you choose to title the album Now Revolution?

It's quite an eye catcher of an album title. Plus it made a great video, and as of right now, it's the only video off the album so far. You could call it a single.

What's ahead for the rest of the year?

I've been writing a lot so I'd really hope to record a full album at some point. I'm truly playing everything by ear as a new artist, I'm just rolling with whatever happens and doing everything I can. It's been quite a ride already.

For more information visit her official website
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