Kate Voegele
Despite rising to fame through her part as Mia in One Tree Hill, Kate Voegele is keen to be known primarily as a musician.
She's just released Gravity Happens, her third album to date, and toured with Natasha Bedingfield earlier this year.
Kate chatted to us about her influences, acting and her music career.
-Gravity Happens came out recently. How's the reaction been so far?
It's really encouraging. I'm excited about this record, because it's the most grown-up record I've done but also the most fun. It's definitely a dynamic record, there's lots of musical things going on. I think that people see that, and they appreciate the fact that there's a variety.
Mostly the reaction has been people telling me how much they relate to the songs, which is my favourite part of being a musician. It's great to think that you can continue to write music that people can relate to their lives.
-This is your third album. Did you do anything differently this time round?
Yeah, with this album I took a lot more risks. Musically it's a bit more diverse. We used some cool arrangements and some different instrumentation. On other records I've done, it's been a straight-forward pop-rock recipe, which is really cool, but this one has more soul to it, which I love.
-Given how diverse it is, where do you draw on for your influences?
I think that, for me, my records do end up having this variety because I draw on literally anything and everything for influence and inspiration.
I'm a fan of so many different types of music, and I think that's what is essential to my artistic process. I constantly listen to new material, whether it's a Bill Withers record, or an Eminem single, I can almost always be inspired in some way by other people's work, who are just passionate artists.
Everyday life, people I meet, travelling, is really inspiring to me. I draw on it, and then you come up with what you come up with!
-This summer you toured with Natasha Bedingfield. How was that?
It was fantastic. Natasha's amazing, and the tour was so much fun. We're two female artists, but our music is different enough that they complement each other really well.
Touring with her was just great, on one hand because she's an awesome chick, a really cool girl. It's fun to be on tour with another girl. I also just learned a lot watching her live show. She's a fantastic performer, and the way that she connects with the audience was definitely a learning experience for me.
-Was it hard being on the road as often as you were for that period?
You know, it's always a bit of a camp-out, so it can be a little crazy. I think I've loved it from the start. It's a little bit of a gypsy lifestyle, but that's what's so fun about it. There's always the challenges that come with it, but it's so well worth it.
-Is there anyone else you'd want to tour with, given the chance?
It's a great question. I would love to tour with so many artists. Everybody from Eddie Vedder. I'm loving his record Ukulele Songs right now, which is maybe not something you'd expect coming from me. Something like that, to stuff that's almost a country crossover like Lady Antebellum.
For me, as an artist, it's important to get in front of audiences who are a little unexpected. I love going to a show where the opener doesn't sound like the headliner.
-Moving on to One Tree Hill, how did you first get the part?
One Tree Hill was this amazing evolution. I auditioned for a part, they were calling for a roll for a female musician who would be in maybe four episodes of Season 5.
I was really excited, I thought if I get this part, I can sing a song or two on TV. So, I auditioned, having never auditioned for anything else before, thinking "this'll be a good experience".
Then I got the part, and four episodes turned into four seasons which was pretty amazing. I think the audience connected a lot with Mia's character, but also my songs. It's been a really unique and enriching thing for my music, the awareness of it.
-Has it been hard balancing the two?
It's definitely had its crazy moments. We shoot One Tree Hill in North Carolina, and I live in Los Angeles, and my whole band is based there. It's definitely a cross-country thing sometimes.
What's awesome is that on One Tree Hill, I play a musician, so I'm kinda always in that world. When I'm in North Carolina shooting, I'm getting to play my music and be a musician as Mia.
-How is it performing your own songs as the character Mia?
Performing my songs as Mia is such an awesome thing. It really is a unique way to show your music to fans. It's one thing to be played on the radio. That's awesome, to get played on the radio, a bunch of people hear your music.
To actually have your song be the inspiration for a scene that's written about your song is incredible. Not only do people get to put a visual with it, but they also get to go behind the scenes of what it's like to make a record.
Essentially, that's what I did on the show. They would show Mia making a record with her label. They'd go through the challenges, the ups and downs. I think that made it almost more real to fans, they could connect with the music more.
-Do you have any acting plans past One Tree Hill?
Yeah. I think music is my first love, and my first language. I really did fall in love with the creative process of acting through One Tree Hill. Film and TV is something I'd really like to explore further, if it was the right role.
I'm not one of those girls who wants to get in any role and get my face in any film. I connected a lot with Mia's character. I expect that there will definitely be some roles down the road that I would love to be a part of.
-Do you think the fact that the music came first helped people take you more seriously as an artist?
Yeah, I think so. The dynamic of being an actor and a musician is always a tricky one. Some people make it work, some people can't. For me, I'm glad I've been a musician for as long as I have.
It does help people understand that I'm a real artist, I'm not just a chick who was on a show and said "I wanna make a record!"
There's nothing wrong with that, but I never wanted to be perceived that way, because it's not who I am.
-You've got the show in London this week. Are you excited for that?
I'm so excited for my show in London! I've not gotten to spend enough time in London. I'm really excited to play here. There's a spirit about this city that is so inspiring, as a musician.
You can't not have fun in London, but especially as an artist of any kind, London is a capital for that. London invented passion for art, it feels like.
-Are there any plans for a full UK tour in the future?
I hope so, yeah. I've been really excited about doing more things in the UK. I mean, my American fans are just fantastic, but there's something about UK fans. Obviously, some pretty incredible musicians come out of here!
I think you guys just get music in a way that is really unique. I hope to do a bigger UK tour sometime soon.
-You mentioned your US fans. You're touring the US in October and November, are you looking forward to that?
Yeah, absolutely. That should be really fun. I'm touring with friends of mine in a band called Parachute, we're doing this co-headline tour. Hopefully we'll get to play a lot of things together.
Touring the US is an awesome thing. My fans are fantastic there. It's a beautiful country, there's so many fun cities. Just being on the road in general is my favourite thing about my job.
There's something that is so necessary to the job about playing live music in real time, in front of people with no bells and whistles. Being able to get up there and sound better than your record, that's always my aim.
-What do you have planned after that tour, for the rest of the year?
For the rest of the year, I'm probably going to try to travel a bit over the American Thanksgiving holiday. Then, around the holidays I'm probably going to try to do some writing. Everything kinda shuts down in the industry, so that's when I get inspired.
My family's from Ohio, and it's freezing there in the Winter. I cozy up, drink hot chocolate, write songs and get all artsy! I'm looking forward to it. It's been such a great year so far.
Check out our review of Gravity Happens
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Despite rising to fame through her part as Mia in One Tree Hill, Kate Voegele is keen to be known primarily as a musician.
She's just released Gravity Happens, her third album to date, and toured with Natasha Bedingfield earlier this year.
Kate chatted to us about her influences, acting and her music career.
-Gravity Happens came out recently. How's the reaction been so far?
It's really encouraging. I'm excited about this record, because it's the most grown-up record I've done but also the most fun. It's definitely a dynamic record, there's lots of musical things going on. I think that people see that, and they appreciate the fact that there's a variety.
Mostly the reaction has been people telling me how much they relate to the songs, which is my favourite part of being a musician. It's great to think that you can continue to write music that people can relate to their lives.
-This is your third album. Did you do anything differently this time round?
Yeah, with this album I took a lot more risks. Musically it's a bit more diverse. We used some cool arrangements and some different instrumentation. On other records I've done, it's been a straight-forward pop-rock recipe, which is really cool, but this one has more soul to it, which I love.
-Given how diverse it is, where do you draw on for your influences?
I think that, for me, my records do end up having this variety because I draw on literally anything and everything for influence and inspiration.
I'm a fan of so many different types of music, and I think that's what is essential to my artistic process. I constantly listen to new material, whether it's a Bill Withers record, or an Eminem single, I can almost always be inspired in some way by other people's work, who are just passionate artists.
Everyday life, people I meet, travelling, is really inspiring to me. I draw on it, and then you come up with what you come up with!
-This summer you toured with Natasha Bedingfield. How was that?
It was fantastic. Natasha's amazing, and the tour was so much fun. We're two female artists, but our music is different enough that they complement each other really well.
Touring with her was just great, on one hand because she's an awesome chick, a really cool girl. It's fun to be on tour with another girl. I also just learned a lot watching her live show. She's a fantastic performer, and the way that she connects with the audience was definitely a learning experience for me.
-Was it hard being on the road as often as you were for that period?
You know, it's always a bit of a camp-out, so it can be a little crazy. I think I've loved it from the start. It's a little bit of a gypsy lifestyle, but that's what's so fun about it. There's always the challenges that come with it, but it's so well worth it.
-Is there anyone else you'd want to tour with, given the chance?
It's a great question. I would love to tour with so many artists. Everybody from Eddie Vedder. I'm loving his record Ukulele Songs right now, which is maybe not something you'd expect coming from me. Something like that, to stuff that's almost a country crossover like Lady Antebellum.
For me, as an artist, it's important to get in front of audiences who are a little unexpected. I love going to a show where the opener doesn't sound like the headliner.
-Moving on to One Tree Hill, how did you first get the part?
One Tree Hill was this amazing evolution. I auditioned for a part, they were calling for a roll for a female musician who would be in maybe four episodes of Season 5.
I was really excited, I thought if I get this part, I can sing a song or two on TV. So, I auditioned, having never auditioned for anything else before, thinking "this'll be a good experience".
Then I got the part, and four episodes turned into four seasons which was pretty amazing. I think the audience connected a lot with Mia's character, but also my songs. It's been a really unique and enriching thing for my music, the awareness of it.
-Has it been hard balancing the two?
It's definitely had its crazy moments. We shoot One Tree Hill in North Carolina, and I live in Los Angeles, and my whole band is based there. It's definitely a cross-country thing sometimes.
What's awesome is that on One Tree Hill, I play a musician, so I'm kinda always in that world. When I'm in North Carolina shooting, I'm getting to play my music and be a musician as Mia.
-How is it performing your own songs as the character Mia?
Performing my songs as Mia is such an awesome thing. It really is a unique way to show your music to fans. It's one thing to be played on the radio. That's awesome, to get played on the radio, a bunch of people hear your music.