Rising Stars: Meet Kate Klim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Klim.

Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve been creating music for as long as I can remember. (My parents can confirm that there was a phase when I was 3 or 4 where I sang everything instead of speaking. Whether it was a request for a sandwich or a comment on the weather outside.) I learned piano as a kid, and it just evolved that I would keep making music into adulthood. It was such a central part of who I was. I went to Berklee College of Music in Boston and learned how to be a professional performing songwriter. Now that I have a family, it’s continuing to evolve. I’m focused on something other than the performing/touring side of things, but rather the writing and releasing of music.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Music has always ebbed and flowed for me. There have been great moments – wins in several national songwriting contests, ending up on stage with some of my heroes, or even just writing songs I’m proud of. But there is also so much disappointment built into the process – publishing deals that fall through, gigs to empty rooms, etc.

Most recently, I had gone through a long spell without writing music. I had two young kids, a challenging marriage, and little time or energy left at the end of the day. I remember thinking of music as a pilot light and would tell myself, “just don’t let the light go out. Write something. Even a piece of a song. But don’t let it go away completely.” So I did. The first song I completed during that challenging time was about returning to music, a song about a songbird returning after a winter away. The songs started flowing as my marriage entered its final days and were of great comfort. Those songs ended up becoming my latest album and my favorite album I’ve ever made.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I usually jokingly introduce myself by saying, “I’m Kate. I write songs about my feelings.” Songwriting is how I process my life. When I do it right, I can capture a feeling other people can relate to.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m the middle of five kids, so we speculate that I ended up being a performer because I was well-practiced at saying, “Hey guys! Over here! Look at me!” My place in the family was also that of a peacemaker, so I was always paying attention to what people were feeling or attempting to translate what they were trying to say. That impacted how I see the world and express myself too.

Contact Info:

• Website: kateklim.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateklimmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateklimmusic/

Image Credits
Laura Schneider