Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Pederson.
Hi Katie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got started as a kid! I have always loved singing, and music was hugely encouraged in my house growing up; I have 4 younger siblings, so someone was always singing or playing the piano around the house. I took a songwriting class my senior year of high school and realized it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and it’s been non-stop from there. My brother, John, really encouraged me, and I owe so much of where I am now to him cheering me on from day one. I released my first EP in 2013, “Happiness” (life is a happy mess), which had 4 songs on it that I didn’t even intend to share. I have released multiple singles and three more full-length projects since then – “Loose Ends,” “The Landing,” and my most recent record, “Limitless.” I have a few cuts of songs I have co-written with friends over the past couple of years, and that is the direction that I am hoping to continue in over the next few years.
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?
In some ways, it has been a smooth road; in others, it’s definitely been a challenge. Before moving to Nashville, I experienced a lot of life challenges where many doors closed at the same time. I decided to take a long road trip out to Canada to reflect and prioritize what I wanted out of the rest of my life. I knew I wanted to end up in Nashville, so I shipped all of my belongings to stay in storage and hit the road. While in Canada, I got a call for a job interview in Nashville, so I eventually went to Tennessee and stayed in the Nashville hostel for a while until I found a place to live. So while that was an intensely challenging time in my life, it was just one open door after another leading me to the next right thing, which is how I’ve ended up where I am now. I had spent much of my musical journey up to that point playing cover songs, but I promised myself that when I moved to Nashville, it would be to pursue writing. It hasn’t always been easy, but with every rejection or critique, I learn more about myself and how to be a better writer, and then it’s back to the drawing board!
What should we know about your work?
I recently released a full-length album, “Limitless,” chronicling my road trip and journey down to Nashville! I guess you could say I am most proud of that one since it’s my most recent project, but I specialize in songwriting. I play piano and sing (and I’m learning guitar!), but so far, I have primarily written for the pop and country genres. I am interested in writing anything that helps an artist tell their story, and I’m looking forward to new opportunities to write with and for others. I have been told that my strength in co-writing is melody writing, and I love harmonizing and writing different parts. But right now, I am working on getting better at lyrical storytelling. It’s been interesting to learn the nuances between pop and country; the way lyrics paint pictures in both genres is so different, and it’s been such a fun learning curve as I’m studying both genres more and learning from more experienced writers.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I have a summer tour coming up at the end of August, so stay tuned for many show announcements soon! I also have some fun merch on my website if you’re interested in campfire mugs or handmade candles! 🙂
Pricing:
- Candles: $10
- Campfire Mugs: $15
Contact Info:
- Website: katiepederson.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katiepedersonmusic
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katiepedersonmusic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@_katiepederson_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/katiepedersonmusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/katiepedersonmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/53L0YRPbRKLJ2Q1Q7Cx6UH?si=3KHgD2M9TMy_qWKz6C6oPQ
Image Credits
Sarah Schade Lindsey Patkos
