Brisbane folk-pop songstress Kate Heart is winning hearts with her soulful blend of optimistic rhythms and inspirational lyrics. Kate’s debut EP Kate Heart, which was released last month, has been embraced by fans, and gained industry recognition with not one, not two, but THREE songs making the National Song-writing Awards Top 30.
Beginning her love affair with music at the age of five, Kate says it was her school choir experiences and solo Eisteddfod performances that really prepared her for a career in music.
“Those experiences taught me that in the music industry, often a lot of doors close before they open,” she said.
After graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music she took some time out and worked as a pilates teacher, until a random encounter brought her back to her first love.
“I heard a woman singing opera in the mall and I felt like it was a sign from the heavens to start making music and singing again. So I quit my full-time job and got back into it.”
The result of her return, is a cathartic and uplifting record that documents the beauty and trials of life. Described as a ‘labour of love,’ Kate says her motivation to finish her debut EP increased when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.
“I felt so motivated to make my goal of releasing my first EP a reality, as I was struck by the fact I was about to become a mother, which meant teaching another human how to fulfil their hopes and dreams. I just felt I couldn’t do that successfully if I wasn’t fulfilling my own!”
So she found producer James North and dove headfirst into production at 27 weeks pregnant, a process she says was completely exhausting but rewarding. Now her hard work is paying off, with her music spreading hope and making people smile. In particular, her song Big Love has been a hit with fans, encouraging them to embrace positivity when life gets challenging.
“At the EP launch everyone was singing along to Big Love it was really cool. I love performing live, it’s definitely my favourite part of the whole process!”
As the year draws to a close, Kate says she has plans to release a single and music video, with a tour in her hometown Mackay and a few other cool things also on the cards for early next year.
“I have a lot of plans – it’s going to be exciting and busy times ahead!”
If you are yet to experience the delight that is Kate Heart, head over to her Facebook and listen to her EP for a dose of pure inspiration!
Photo: Lix North of Lix Creative
