Conversations with Katie Cole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Cole.

Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up playing 5-7 nights a week in pubs, clubs and bars from age 16 onwards. Hippie Mum who force-fed me and my sister Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Janis Joplin. My dad gave us an earful of classical music as he was trained as a tenor and pianist. But of course, my story is not simple. I forged a career paying live in Melbourne, Australia, I also wrote songs from dance and pop artists locally and in Europe including Gloria Gaynor and others. So yes, as a songwriter I was kicking some goals…. But as an artist, my genre and style belonged essentially nowhere in Australia.

Being a liner notes fanatic, I saw my favorite California pop/rock pioneers like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Sheryl Crow had all recorded in LA. Sunset Sound, Henson studios etc.

So when one of my favorite producers Howard Willing (Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, Glen Campbell, Sheryl Crow) reached out to me after I listed his name on my website as someone I wanted work with… I hopped a flight to LA to start recording what would be my first US EP “Lost Inside a Moment”.

Freshly transplanted in LA in 2010, I was quickly approached by a UK-based radio plugger who identified me as his niche market “American based Alt – country”. … American…sure, I could be that now. hahah. Anyway, he plugged my music to BBC radio 2 and they playlisted one song in 2011 , then another. National UK radio…so I booked some acoustic shows, hired some PR first to develop my press story in London and hopped some flights over there to perform and meet with BBC 2. I then came back to LA and started playing some shows with Glen Campbell and sang on his “Ghost On The Canvas” album also co-produced by Howard Willing.

I opted for crowdfunding for my next batch of recordings…. And this would end up being the 1st of 3 successful campaigns.

So I recorded my first full-length LP and Howard by sheer, luck and the recording gods being available for this Aussie…. Kris Kristofferson sang on my song “Penelope” on that album. Howard was working with Kris and Producer Don Was…and this miracle happened. Yes…. I am aware that I have worked with some of American greatest songwriters and artists. But the story continues… I hope you have snacks… as this has a few more paragraphs.

I began traveling back and forth to Nashville… to start songwriting and playing gigs. During this transition, I was asked to open a show for Billy Corgan in Chicago. Howard Willing, my producer, has been a long time collaborator and Engineer with The Smashing Pumpkins, really since 2000. So Mr Corgan (I’ll call him that)… knew who I was through Howard. He’s an alt rock god… I’m an Americana artist…. Did this make sense? Well this was going to be a more acoustic show…. So yes. And “YES” I said to the offer.

I performed to an incredible crowd of initial skeptics, until I played a New Order cover of “True Faith” smack-bang in the middle of my set. My best hint that I had grown up on Bowie, Pink Floyd too. I was not the enemy hahah. From that moment onwards in 2014…. I had that crowd on my side…and they subsequently followed me as I was asked to open up a tour in 2015 for The Smashing Pumpkins…. Which evolved into me playing bass too. My 3rd or 4th best instrument after vocals, guitar and piano. But I was getting into the habit of saying YES to bigger things. I mean… why stop now.

So YES the following year, I played bass and sang with the band again… where the Pumpkins saw their original drummer return and original guitarist come back for a couple of shows. So here I was playing the Ryman and the Beacon in NYC and watching this iconic band reuniting. “How did I get here?”. A question I still ask myself all the time whether I’m on an arena stage or covid – stress eating in the kitchen…..hahahah. Seriously, though, I just knew that this WAS getting bigger. And I had to do MORE.

So I launched my second crowd funding experience. And watched fan after fan join me on this journey.

The result of this crowd funding was “Things That Break pt1”. Which spawned singles like the sparse “Time On My Hands” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6R3s9Z70LE and the soul – infused “Graceland” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r6k8TyH0Rc complete with Motown style brass and gospel singers.

This was released on the heels of the 2018 arena tour with The Smashing Pumpkins where we played The Forum, Madison Sq Garden and Wembley. I was now playing keys in the band in Pinch myself venues. Where I opted to pay for major press…. Which I couldn’t afford then…and certainly can’t afford now. ahhaha.

We then took a short break and Corgan decided to release a solo Americana/Folk Album called Cotillions where I featured on 6 songs. Then 2019 started with a roar as we toured Europe. Like… a whole bunch of Europe. Guess who went to 19 countries in 2019? This Aussie (points to self). So 17 European countries shows The Smashing Pumpkins and 2 weeks of Solo touring with Corgan where I was the opening act. Then returned to the USA and Canada for another tour alongside Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and AFI.

Again “How did I get here?”. Pfft who knows. But I was continuing to release my music and playing local shows in Nashville when I was off the road.

End of 2019… Billy took all of 3 months break before launching into another album. Yeah, he doesn’t really stop….. This album was rock with a lot of 80’s new wave influence and industrial tones. He summoned me to do BGV arrangements. The references were Queen, The Sweet and Mama’s and Papa’s. Holy sweet Lordy-lord. This was going to something. So after 119 logged hours of pre-recording and writing these parts, we went into the studio in Nashville in January to start recording. Obviously none of us knew what lay ahead just a few short weeks later – pandemic. Aka The Rona.

The Stadium Tour with Guns N Roses was canceled. Yes, Stadiums… yes, GNR… but we virtually appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show and the record still received great reviews. I decided to embark on monthly online livestreams via STAGE IT. Themed, by request and keeping fans engaged while planned my next move. Then, after releasing a few more singles, I launched my recent Kickstarter and raised over 30k. Over 300% of what I was aiming for. The fans were truly on board with this and with me.

We are pretty much up to date now. I have a few actual Live shows in Nashville. But the moral to this story is really… all the rules flew out the window in 2020. But apparently, I never had a window to start with….so I’m just continuing to make this all up as I go.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This career is not for the faint of heart. In any way. But I’ve learned to embrace the little victories. Hearing a song on the radio. Reading my name in liner notes on my recordings or others I’ve worked on. But the road has never been particularly smooth. Few little victories with side projects, no traction with press or radio. Few little victories with touring, can’t get my videos onto major music tv shows. Major Spotify and apple playlists and I still don’t have a manager.

One of the struggles have been not being able to see my family for the last 3 years. 2019 I was touring. 2020… covid, 2021….covid. The Australian borders just opened up again so I can jump on a plan next jan/feb 2022.

The other big challenge has been that I’m doing this on my own. No team, no meetings, no brainstorming. It’s just me having to wear all hats and change them when needed. Do the graphics, run the socials, talk to fans, make the music, be inspired and be inspiring. The struggle is to make it look easy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a singer and songwriter originally from Melbourne, Australia, but I have lived in LA and now live in Nashville. I’m best known as an Americana artist, but most known for playing as a musician in the Smashing Pumpkins.

What sets me apart from others are various traits. Musically I play many instruments. I sing play guitar, bass, piano. As a songwriter, I have had songs I have written cut by artists in pop, rock, dance, country and R&B. Across various countries including United States, Australia, UK, Germany, Belgium and more.

As an artist, I’ve had my music played on Radio and television in Australia, UK and United States.

What truly sets me apart from others is my strong sense of integrity and authenticity. If I don’t fully believe in the project I’m working on, I just won’t do it. If it’s not real, from the heart and something I’m proud of, I just can’t commit to it. I know early in my career cutting corners may have provided quicker leaps forward… but that’s not who I am. I am genuine, I care about people. I take the time to chat to fans across the globe and answer all my emails. On tour I get to know everyone’s names on the crew and any supporting acts. People and kindness make the world go round for me. And I think how you treat people (yourself included) is what you can really measure your success with.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have always been surrounded by a lot of artists who work on their own. Being artistic, although a public platform, is a very personal thing. So finding a mentor or role model for your career can be difficult. I really just watch what others do and pick and choose what I like and apply it. And I try to learn from both my successes and failures. Yes.. failures. I think you can learn a lot from success, but more from failures. The best advice I can give to upcoming artists is to check yourself. If you don’t do it, who will? Are you chipping away at your goals, are you repeating yourself, are you inching forward, are you being healthy (mind and body, are you stretching your boundaries…..]

Comparing yourself to others can often lead to negativity. “why aren’t I doing that?”. “why can’t I play there?” “why aren’t I in Rolling Stone?”.

-Have goals. That are reasonable.

-Get leads from other artists on your level. Looking at the career Dave Grohl and trying to apply that to your life, won’t work.

-Try to achieve one thing for yourself every day. No matter how big or small.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.katiecoleofficial.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katiecoleofficial
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katiecoleofficial
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/katiecolemusic
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/katiecoleofficial

Image Credits
Photo #1 and #9 Dire Image