New York-based outlaw-americana artist, Kate Vargas , announces the release of her new album, Strangeclaw, slated for release September 13, 2016. True to her Southwestern roots, Vargas’s music “weaves through a riotous brew of folk, blues and rock, deli vered by an undeniably unique voice… It’s like the sound of a favorite bourbon come to life: gritty, but with loads of personality to spare.” (The Deli Magazine) Vargas received praise from (New Mexico Entertainment) for her songwriting skills, stating “Because of Kate’s natural gift for writing, her lyrics have an uncanny ability to pull the listener into a storybook filled with fictional creatures and lovers yearning to find each other.”
In this interview, we speak with Kate about her influences, her newest project, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and a stream of Bella Tell below.
https://soundcloud.com/katevargas/bella-tell-final-mix/s-tBhRp
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
I don’t really think much about genre or style, although I do embrace the Americana label. I just write and see what comes out.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
I’ve been creating and sharing, in some small way for at least 15 years but, officially and determinedly, only for the last 4.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
I think it’s the job of the creator to be as open as possible, to be constantly learning. If this is the case, I can be influenced by anything.
I’ve thought a lot about the motivation part. Sometimes I have no idea. But most of the time I think my motivations are connection and understanding.
Talk about your most recent release, “Bella Tell” Single.
I wrote “Bella Tell” with my producer, Jamie Muffett, a few years ago. We never really released it properly and I thought it deserved that, so we sort of polished it up and put it on the new album.
Musically, it has more of a pop lean than the other tracks on the album. Lyrically, it’s a character study, open to interpretation.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I wanted to let my guard down a bit more, not just in the writing, but also in the recording and production. I wanted to focus less on getting things perfect and more on capturing the energy.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That”, Robert Randolph and The Family Band.
It’s on my gym playlist. It gets me pumped.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl is bold.
CDs are sentimental.
MP3s are easy.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Wherever I can buy music from the artists I’m into so, of the three, I’d say Bandcamp.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
There’s just so much out there now. It’s great to have so much music at our fingertips but, for the independent musician, it can be hard to find your way to the surface of that massive musical heap.
Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?
I do gig, but have yet to do a proper tour. I haven’t really delved into the live stream stuff too much either.
For now, New Yorkers can join me for my album release at Bowery Electric on September 13th. That’s my next big one, but there’s plenty more. I’m always adding to my calendar (http://katevargas.com/shows).
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
Facebook and Twitter are still good.
My website is www.katevargas.com.
I also have a good old fashioned e-mail newsletter. That’s a solid way to keep up to date.
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Thank you for the questions and for supporting independent musicians.
Keep an eye out for my new album, Strangeclaw, in September!
