As part of our ongoing tribute to singers, songwriters and country muso's featuring in the 2007 Pacific Songwriting Competition, this week we get to know talented Queenslander Kat La Key. Here's her story!
At 14, Kat had a school assignment to write an essay or a poem or in Kat's case a song about the environment. This lead to a song titled Battle For Survival which impressed the principal of the Montessori high school enough to have Kat go through the motions and have it recorded. The head mistress and Kat met with a band in the city. It was arranged to go to the bands home studio to record a demo. Later that year Battle For Survival won an environmental songwriting award. Once Kat got the taste of the music scene, there was nothing anyone could do to change her mind.
Kat - I think about it now and it makes me laugh, I must of looked a sight.
This kid standing around a table by the stage in this dark and smokey hotel talking to this band, I remember saying to them, "listen this is how it goes" and singing it to them. I wasn't bewildered by the situation at all, I felt quite at home strangely enough. I was just so wrapped up in the music and these guys were great and talked with me and understood what I meant.
Before her music career began, Kat had spent most of her free time before and after school at an Ice Rink and had got to national competition level in figure skating, she dropped skating instantly to persue her passion for singing and writing music.
Two albums later, and having songs included on several international compilation CD's, Kat has artists around the globe recording her songs on their albums. She's had articles published in New Australian Music Magazine, An'R magazine and the Australian songwriters APRAP magazine and numerous newspapers, appeared on TV and gets good radio airplay abroad as well as at home.
Kat is attending major trade shows this year and writing and recording her new songs also performing throughout the East Coast. With a new CD on the way, due out mid 2007, it won't be long before you hear a lot more from her.
Keep up with Kat and the aspirations of many other creative songwriters through the official PSC website at www.pacificsongwritingcompetition.com
All country music artists have to start somewhere, and most often that's amongst family, friends or their local community. The best country music isn't necessarily found in the world of the existing popular or famous stars, but often in the small clubs, venues and organisations that provide country performers of any "level" the chance to share their music. That's the true nature of country music, it comes from the heart and real lives of real people.
Giving all artists the opportunity to air their music to a wider audience is an important aim of Country Music Broadcasting. CMB is keen to hear from show presenters, artists and country music organisations to see what assistance, support, promotion and broadcast opportunities CMB can help provide. Remember everyone has a beginning, and this offer via CMB to be heard on-air is an excellent chance to achieve exposure. So don't hesitate to contact CMB with your ideas and suggestions or to let CMB Radio know about any existing country radio shows you believe could benefit from the backing or support of CMB.
If you would like to be considered for an on-air interview, please do not hesitate to contact CMB. You will then be contacted requesting further details and/or to make appropriate interview arrangements.
