On the song selection process for Hit The Lights, she said, “I had a lot of songs to choose from and since this album was my introduction into the music world, I wanted them to be the best reflection of me. The songs that I chose for the album were the ones that I couldn’t get out of my head, or were at least the most difficult ones to. I actually developed this foolproof method where, in the early stages of the songwriting process, I would sing the song for my parents back when I lived with them, and if I would hear my mom humming the melody around the house, I knew it was catchy enough to pursue.”
Her song “Be My Sin” was a Top 40 single. “It is so surreal to know that a song that I created is playing on the radio. I am so humbled and grateful that a song that I wrote as my own personal therapy is being shared so widely with other people,” she said.
She listed British songstress Adele as her biggest musical influence. “I love the raw passion that is in her voice and the authenticity that she brings to every song. She also has an unbelievable power to connect with other people, which inspires me. I also love Mumford and Sons not only because their songs have personally played a large role in my own life but also because their lyrics are like poetry. I also consider myself more of a storyteller which I drew from Carole King, who is amazing. I’m also inspired by Stevie Nicks and Tracy Chapman who encouraged me not only to explore my lower register but also to embrace the fact that I am an alto,” she said.
Her proudest professional moments are the ones in which she is able to witness the impact that her music has on her listeners. “One of these stand out moments occurred after one of my shows in Los Angeles. One of my songs, ‘City of Angels,’ is about battling drug addiction, a fact that not everyone picks up on the first time listening to the song. After this one show, however, there was a woman who came up to me in tears and told me that her brother was currently battling addiction and that the song really resonated with her. Another stand-out moment that comes to mind occurred during my recent trip to Brazil. There was a large crowd waiting outside the set of Malhacao (the show that has continuously featured my song ‘Told You So’ and is largely responsible for my Brazilian fan base) in the hopes that one of the actors would pass through. The crowd immediately recognized me (which was incredibly cool) and rushed toward me to give me hugs. I ended up doing an impromptu performance of ‘Told You So’ and everyone sang along, knowing every single word despite the fact that most of them spoke little to no English. Both experiences speak to one of my favorite parts about music, which is the power to connect people, no matter who they are or where they are from, and to make people feel like they are not alone,” she elaborated.
Regarding her future plans, she said, “This summer has been an incredible learning experience for me. My band and I went on a ‘Camplifed’ tour, which is dedicated to bringing music to kids and teens, which helped us become more in synch as a unit in a way that only touring can. I was also able to travel to Brazil where I was a guest on a talk show and sang with a band that I had not met before I arrived on set, made a cameo appearance on the television show Malhacao, and performed an entire set, in English, with a another entirely new band on the beach. The entire trip really helped me grow as an artist and individual.”
She listed Lindsey Buckingham and Ed Sheeran as her dream male duet choices. “The first would without a doubt be Lindsay Buckingham. I recently saw him do an acoustic performance and he was everything I hoped he would be and so much more. My second pick would be Ed Sheeran. I saw him in concert a couple of years ago and with nothing but a guitar, a looper station, and some audience participation he was able to create a concert experience like no other,” she said.
For her fans, she concluded, “Thank you so, so much (o muito obrigada) for all of your love and support. Without all of you, I would not be able to live my dream and I hope that my music is as therapeutic for you to listen as it is for me to sing and write.”
To learn more about Kathryn Dean, check out her official website.
