Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Kate Grahn

THE RELEASE

Kate Grahn is a bold and uncompromising rock musician, fearlessly delivering her message through her music. Hailing from Los Angeles, this 25-year-old singer-songwriter draws strength from her resilient upbringing by an opinionated and independent single mother. Grahn's lyrics embody her beliefs, tackling topics such as mental health, womanhood, and the journey into adulthood. Her music is a raw and passionate expression, influenced by iconic artists like Hayley Williams, Alanis Morissette, and Grace Potter. Recognized by publications such as Early Rising and The Luna Collective, Grahn's powerful vocals resonate with listeners, inviting them to confront their own struggles and demons. As an independent artist, she has already made waves with her music featured on ABC's Freeform and Fox television shows, and her appearances on the popular series "Good Trouble." Recently, Grahn achieved a remarkable feat by securing a number 1 spot on a Billboard Chart for her songwriting on the latest Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem Album for the Disney+ series "The Muppets Mayhem." With each new release, Kate Grahn boldly paves the way for the next generation of women in rock, ensuring that her music resonates with as many people as possible.

Kate Grahn's latest single, "Do I Like Him (Or Is He Just Ignoring Me)," takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the frustrations we all experience while dating. This playful and relatable track is the fifth single from her highly anticipated upcoming EP, Late Bloomer. Written during the quarantine, Grahn collaborated with Sophie Feldman (Jackson Sage) and Sophia Dion, while co-producing with Jacob Chabon. Seamlessly blending her love for pop and classic rock, Grahn showcases her ability to infuse humor into her music. Described as a melodic embodiment of the phrase "I want what I can't have," this pop rock rendition captures the moment when the initial attraction fades the moment someone starts showing interest. Think of it as a therapeutic lovechild of Hayley Williams and Olivia Rodrigo, impossible to resist smiling while belting out the lyrics. Fans can catch Kate Grahn performing this captivating single and more at a free show at Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood on July 6.

THE INTERVIEW

What song or moment in time sparked your passion for music?
I think there are two specific moments that come to mind for me. It will make sense as to why Grace Potter and Idina Menzel are two of my favorite musicians. The first moment was when I was about 11 and at a bar mitzvah where there was a karaoke machine. Now, I was no amateur when it came to some good old fashioned karaoke. So I marched my little self over to the machine, selected my song of choice, and belted out the duet (yes I did a duet as a solo) of “Take Me Or Leave Me” from the musical Rent. I am not quite sure where the confidence came from but I had absolutely no hesitation in singing the famous lesbian love song to a crowd of 13 year olds and their wide eyed parents. The other specific moment that sparked my passion for music is when not too many years later, I went to see Grace Potter and The Nocturnals perform live in Wisconsin. I was probably the only kid in the crowd and I remember smelling a lot of…”skunk”….in the air. I am not quite sure what spiritually happened to me that night, but all I know is that I saw the most ethereal woman dancing barefoot on the stage, running from one instrument to the other, and belting her goddamn heart out. From that moment on I knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I could grow up and do the same. These two moments solidified a very real passion for me and I will not stop working towards my dream.

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

My Mount Rushmore would consist of Grace Potter, Alanis Morissette, Idina Menzel, and Hayley Williams. Not only are all of these women extremely talented, but they are also self assured, badass, no nonsense individuals who inspire me to create. The rock, pop and hint of musical theater combination of these four gave me the melting pot genre that is my sound.

How does your creative process work from the moment you develop the idea to the completion of the record?
I don’t really have a guide as to how my creative process manifests. I am motivated by authenticity and telling the truth, so if I have a song that I think will be relatable to people or if there is something I really need to get off my chest, then more likely than not I will record it. Once I have a song I want to record, I will bring it to a producer and flesh out the ideas with them. I gig a lot in LA so I will incorporate the songs into my setlist and gauge the audience's reaction to them. I was fortunate enough to graduate from USC’s Pop Program at Thornton School of Music, so I had the opportunity to meet a lot of incredibly talented people. This has allowed me to work with amazing producers, songwriters, and live musicians who have had a huge hand in this process.

As for this release, who is the producer and what about the production moved you?

For this release, Jacob Chabon is the producer. Singer/songwriter, Jessi Mason and I were heavily involved in the production process creatively which is something I really love doing. Although the message of this song is very authentic and relatable, the delivery is quite tongue and cheek and has a sense of humor, which is something I love including. I wanted the production as a result, to mirror that message sonically which I think it did.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

I am, if nothing else, extremely honest when it comes to songwriting. That being said, I think there is a beauty in storytelling which doesn’t always have to be nonfiction. However, I believe even fabrications come from truth. Some of my songs tend to be melodramatic at times but my hope is that the real message still bleeds through. I want listeners to feel seen and heard. As humans, sometimes our feelings are very unoriginal and therefore are shared among many. I want people to hear this song and feel validated in their emotions.

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