Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Cole
Katie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a singer-songwriter, recording artist and touring musician. I grew up in Melbourne, Australia before moving to L.A. then settling in Nashville. My journey began somewhat when I started playing in live venues as a paid professional at 15/16 years old. I think because I started down the road of live performance so young that when I was thinking about career options it was a matter of continuing what I was already doing – and not deciding upon other options.
I was raised in a really musical family so it was a constant presence for both me and my sister. It was very common to play music loudly and sing along to the stereo or television. I’m quite certain my childhood friends thought we were nuts hahaha. But that was something we all loved. For other families it was sports and activities. For us, it was listening to music, seeing musicals and then eventually… live performance.
After performing live for a couple of years and having taught myself to play guitar and piano, I soon started writing songs for myself and others. In my early twenties I was writing songs for artists in Europe and local Australian artists too. I felt very overlooked in Australia as an artist. I suppose everything happens for a reason. In my twenties I felt very invisible to the music industry there, despite having written top 30 songs for international performers and having placed my own music on local radio. It wasn’t until I started really focusing on songs for myself and really attempting to write something important that my career started to chug forward. I was contacted by an American producer who I admired – Howard Willing and I jumped at the chance to work with him. So I flew to Los Angeles and started making my first American EP. After one more trip to L.A. I opted to move there. I knew I had to take a chance on myself, for once. So I left behind all my friends & family (and paying gigs) to start again in America. I had nothing to fall back on.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. In no way. It has been a trail hike, up a hill with a weighted backpack and roller suitcase that’s missing a wheel. ahhahah. I hope that paints an accurate picture. When I first moved to California it was a pretty big change of lifestyle. As they say “now the real work begins”. So I had a lot of plans to make and work to do.
L.A. is pretty easy-going with lots of people who are in the entertainment business. So I moved from a place of little opportunity to a place with tons of opportunity and mountain of competition to go with that. I had to put together a band, marketing campaigns for my shiny new American EP “Lost Inside a Moment”. Honestly I was throwing spaghetti on the wall. Every wall. My producer Howard Willing helped me secure some opening act slots for Glen Campbell in Vegas. I also did some showcases at Hotel Cafe and scouted by a radio plugger in the UK. My music was placed on BBC Radio 2. This meant I had some traction in Europe now. So I did what I last time… booked a trip to London and booked some shows to play.
In these first couple of years in America I was terrified but a bit fearless at the same time. Maybe it was a mixture of fearless and foolish. I suppose it doesn’t matter. I just did what I thought I needed to do at that moment. So I made the most of that sequence of events and continued to write songs. The more you live, the deeper your songwriting becomes. I really did achieve some pretty good things quickly in Los Angeles. At the same time, I was also struggling with being away from family. My mum had MS and was only semi mobile, so I was juggling acquiring working Visa’s in America and saving up to travel back to Australia. I had a lot of emotional support both in America and Australia for following and building this career, but no one can prepare you for the influx of struggle that comes with the arts. Anything creative is about inspiring others, telling stories of hard truths and forging a path and name that feels familiar, yet, is unique in a way that others are drawn to it. So I was struggling and attempting to inspire. I felt alone and was attempting to lead. I was creating and was full of self-doubt, yet still powering forward.
I heard that Nashville was called “music city” due to its abundance of songwriters. I began booking trips to and from L.A. to Nashville to write, perform and make in-roads. I definitely made connections and felt a kinship. During this time I had made a new record called “Lay It All Down”, opened a show for Billy Corgan and was setting my sights on Nashville. So I moved. Again. Weighted backpack still in tow. Another mountain to climb up. But I was getting stronger.
From that point came touring with the Smashing Pumpkins as a musician (and occasional opening act). Howard Willing was a long-time engineer and collaborator with the Smashing Pumpkins so this is how that connection was initially made. Again, I am making more music and things are moving forward….
Except I’m in America and my Mum gets cancer. I’m on tour when I find out. With this tour I didn’t have to leave as Mum was cleared to do a series of radiation treatments (my sister would oversee it) and prognosis looked good. So I flew back afterwards to visit her. Essentially with every step forward in my career there are choices to make. That’s what no one tells you. When is too much, too much? How do you decide?
I made a new EP “Things that Break” and continue performing, was writing for local Nashville artists and touring with the Smashing Pumpkins. Then Mum got cancer again. She was cleared to do chemo and thankfully my sister was there locally to assist her to and from appointments. Yes, I felt like I was worst person ever… coz I wasn’t there. But I flew back after the 2018 end of tour to visit. I have always been in a position where I’m forced to ask myself “what are you willing to do?” or “what are you willing to give up?”. Anything with family or close friends comes first. I have a pretty strong sense of integrity that I need those close to me to know I am “there” for them. But when you make commitments, you never want to let people down.
This cycle continued for another 5 years. I was creating and moving forward. Soon I was recording and creating BGV arrangement for the Smashing Pumpkins. When the 2020 pandemic hit, this meant I was working on my music and Smashing Pumpkins music “Cyr” and unable to travel to Australia as borders were locked down. So I pivoted to create live-streaming concerts and engage with my fan base. Connect although we were all isolated.
There have been so many struggles where I have questioned every fiber in my being on whether I CAN continue this career.
My biggest struggle to date was last year in 2024. I visited my Mum in May and she caught a flu virus from within her care facility. She took a bad turn and passed the day after I got home from that trip. I hopped back on another 25 hr flight a few days later to pack up her belongings with my sister and plan her funeral service. After I returned from that trip, I was back in the studio the next day to record BGV’s for the latest Smashing Pumpkins record “Aghori Mhori Mei”. My heart was broken, but I did what I need to do. Continued with my commitments. Then, flew out to Europe to go out on tour with the band end of that month. I told no one what had happened. It was weeks until anyone in the staff or band knew just my close friends and family. I think the first person I told on tour was Kiki Wong (the new touring guitarist) as we shared a dressing room and I need to say something to someone. She was lovely and very supportive. She was my road sister for sure. I called her my “work wife” ahahahah.
Grief is difficult and I think I did the best job I could to work through it and continue to perform. Between the long European tour and summer America tour with Green Day, I flew back to Australia for Mum’s funeral/celebration service. Got on a plane home for 2 days and went back out on the road. I had given myself zero down-time, which may have ultimately helped me stay focused and stay in the moment. I completed the tour and launched a new crowdfunding campaign for a new album I’m currently still working on “Forest”. This album contains themes of love, struggle, grief, anxiety and of course there’s a song about my Mum in there. I am used to levels of struggle. I have been put in very difficult situations but I will never act like a victim. I trust myself to know I have a LOT of good in me. And no matter how hard things have been, I don’t think I’m bitter from any experiences. My mum’s voice is always in my head reminding me of what is the right things to say or think. She was very optimistic and I’m endlessly grateful for that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think I’m most proud of my work ethic and integrity. I know that is painfully general, but I just don’t accept “ok” from myself or what I do. After making records, touring much of the world I truly believe there are beautiful things to be found and made. I think there is beauty in the struggles I have faced. The truth is powerful and when shared can be very healing too. On occasion I have shared a vulnerable thought in a song, social post or conversation. The nicest and most meaningful responses are when someone says “me too” or “thanks for sharing”. Feeling heard or understand is extremely important. So when you listen to someone else and acknowledge their vulnerability there is something else that happens. It’s therapeutic to share and helpful to listen. Just listen. If you just listen, people will often tell you everything about themselves. For me, listening to others, helps me learn more about myself and other people. It makes me a better writer and makes me a more empathetic and compassionate human being.
I try to take the time and go for walks, listen to the sounds of the day, watch people and keep an open mind. I feel like the more I try to see the truth of the world, the more beautiful and sometimes painful it is. But the deeper you go with anything creative, the better it is. Thats my goal and what I think I do best. Find the truth and write it. I am brutally honest.
Also cats. There has to be a cat in there somewhere.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Hmm. Nashville is a big small town. What drew me was the small-town charm, southern hospitality and inclusiveness. People invite you out or to dinner. People stop and chat here a little more. At first I was very “weirded” out by talking to strangers and neighbors. Now I think it’s charming.
But it’s not a big city. I was born and raised in Melbourne. Then moved to Los Angeles (an even bigger city). So when I still struggle to find great vegetarian food locally it bums me out. Lucky I am a decent cook. So there’s that. But Nashville is a great city to live in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katiecoleofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiecoleofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiecoleofficial
- Twitter: https://x.com/katiecolemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katiecoleofficial
- Other: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/katiecole.bsky.social
