Katie Cole / Credit: Catie LaffoonResiding between Los Angeles and Nashville, Australian singer-songwriter Katie Cole has two places where she feels like home.
"The first is in the studio, transforming a song into a movie, and the second place is on stage telling personal stories to complete strangers."
Influenced by a variety of artists, her music hails back to the unique tones of Stevie Nicks while combining those with Sheryl Crow and KT Tunstall, culminating in some fantastic results.
Sudden success came from BBC Radio 2 when Katie's debut USA release 'Lost Inside A Moment EP' saw two of its tracks play-listed, with a third played.
Howard Willing jumped onboard to bring together Katie's first full-length album - 'Lay It All Down' - bringing together a collection of Americana, pop and Folk-infused tracks, with one - 'Penelope' - even featuring the unique vocals of Kris Kirstofferson.
"I wanted to take my time and really create a group of great songs that would all work together, but could still stand alone" she said of her upcoming release.
It seems the move to LA was a worthwhile one for the rising star, and she comments: “I’m metric and often audibly misunderstood. All the weird stuff that goes with living in a different country to one you were born in”… “I’m totally ok with standing out though. Being different is kinda normal for me now. Different is fine”.
Constantly striving to get across the strong sense of genuine sincerity that's apparent in her songs, she's not afraid to interact with those who are already fans, responding to them through her social media and thanking them for their support.
Perhaps it is her upbringing that led her down this path, growing up with two parents in the industry - her Mother a formerly trained Pianist, and her Father a classically trained Soprano and master Pianist.
Finding her love for the arts and crafts of music, she spent many-a-day as a young girl sitting with stereos or television sets listening to concerts including Woodstock and The Isle of Wight Festival.
Led Zeppelin, Janis, The Beatles and The Eagles are just some of those she became addicted to: "my Mum loved rock, especially guitar-driven music, so I got used to sitting through long concerts and 10 minute guitar solos" she recalls.
Absorbing the knowledge throughout her childhood and later years, she taught herself how to play guitar and piano, and began to start playing live shows professionally aged 16, in clubs.
Katie Cole / Credit: Priscilla WitteGaining a wealth of experience as well as raising a few eyebrows came to her quickly, and she began writing songs for artists from around the globe, including Gloria Gaynor, but there was a hitch in her so-far very happy road when her Mother developed Multiple Sclerosis.
"It was heartbreaking and a complete reality check" she says of the time, recalling how she became "fearless" because she had to make her parent proud.
From that spawned her EP, and from there her journey truly began.
She's been involved in a whirlwind of success and is preparing to release her debut, much-anticipated first album 'Lay It All Down' in February. We can't wait to see what's next for her.