Meet Kate Heron

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate Heron. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kate, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I kind of got to a point last year where I said: life is too short to be against myself. The world will do that for me. And it’ll attract energy to where you’re bringing in things that confirm or that even worse – make it even more extreme. I had been incredibly critical of my art and self for so long- decided that I need to fully believe in how I exist and create. It’s not easy but it’s worth it to live that way. Why not you? Why not me? I don’t think there is any predetermined success working below us in some invisible plane – we decide where we’ll go by how much we don’t limit ourselves. It might take a while and be difficult but it’s also like – art is in me and I don’t make it to be successful. We just have to put it into physical form with every part of ourselves. And I have confidence in just being authentic with what I’m sharing and what paths it’ll carve out in front of me.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an solo artist currently based in Austin that writes ethereal indie music. I also produce, sound design, and compose.
As a highly sensitive person – expressing myself through music is the most authentic way I can feel like myself. Sometimes I have a hard time expressing things I’m experiencing through words but usually can turn it into music.

I was featured this summer by NPR as a finalist for tiny desk contest contest and released a live version of one of my songs “Are you opening yourself to love?” (Out now on band camp). Which is the song that got me noticed by Julien Baker and John Hilton. It has really propelled so much of my music career this year. I went on tour singing / playing keys with friends Tele Novella as we supported of Montreal. And then was asked to open for the NPR Tiny Desk Tour in Austin in July and it was one of the best nights of my life so far- it’s become a turning point in my head about where I see myself going next. It’s been a big year for me in music and I’m super grateful.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I’d say for impactful skills, I’ve been thinking and working on these three big ones lately-

1. Making your art from a place of “fun and or play” – for yourself, in the most genuine way.

Might not necessarily be a fun emotion but from a place of play I guess? Inner child things. A love letter. An angry rant. A dance party for yourself. A question you’re asking the universe. Or a spell you’re casting. I’ve been messing around with making things un-seriously, even if it’s super serious. Playing around and doing unexpected things to surprise yourself. That’s something I’ve been diving into recently. If you get concerned with “How is this gonna be perceived?” and
wondering “Is this gonna be a hit???” Is also like letting too many people in the room when you’re just getting ideas out. And that’s not what art is about. Can’t let them in the room until you’re done – easy to forget especially now that we live in an age of instagram throwing metrics at us at anytime we pick up our phone.

2. Reach a little higher than you think is “realistic” for opportunities / ideas / experiences/ everything. I learned this year that most past limitations in my way were the ones I was subconsciously giving myself. Knock those walls down!

To combat my my anxious / self critical artist tendencies I found this is the best way to just say f*** it. Cause from a logical standpoint, I’m sure that I’m not even “reaching” that far actually. It just feels that way. It’s not like I’m waking up with the aspirations of- oh I’m gonna be a NASA scientist, tomorrow. It’s more like – what if I applied for this music festival? And that’s actually not “out of the realm of possibility.” So I kind of just tell myself “Hey, we’re all going to die – so nothing is too crazy to dream of” And then just send the message, ask the question – throw caution to the wind and say “Let’s see how good it can get, universe.” It’s the ultimate thing that’s driven me forward – I push myself out of the comfort zone, eventually opportunities arrive, and then the comfort zone grows to include that so you gotta go into a deeper part of the water again. Over and over.

3. Make a list to remind yourself why you started doing what you’re doing so you have a compass in you that will help you ride the wave of the high high and low lows of artist-world.

I have been bogged down by the rejections, the concept of being perceived – that stuff we all experience. I think it’s worthwhile to write down a physical list of the core reason you’re making what you’re making. That usually helps me get out of it. A reminder of what making art makes you feel. Maybe it’s a picture or doodles. And then putting that up wherever you can see it easily.

My list ranges from: “making music is the number one thing that makes me feel alive” to “I like those fun sounds!” The top reason though has always been to find a journey to self actualize and create a world I can always go back to to realign when I’ve lost my way in the physical realm and remind myself what my own energy sounds like. I try to not be too concerned with other folks’ opinions of what I’m making. I write music as a soundtrack to get through my life when nothing else seems to be working. So, I never want to be in a place for too long where I’m more excited about the validation I am receiving than the joy of performing and making art itself – cause otherwise, I think a lot of the creativity, authenticity, thinking outside the box gets lost then. Especially if you’re like yeah- this box is awesome!!! I’ve been thinking about how it’s our job as artists to smash the box repeatedly. Even after it’s changed our life or served a great purpose. Evolve or repeat!

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

This is the first time in my life as a full-time musician that I’ve decided to pour entirely into my own music. it’s been wild and kinda daunting to be in this new chapter.

I was inspired a lot this summer by being on the road singing harmonies / playing keys with Tele Novella as we supported of Montreal and then I immediately played NPR Tiny Desk Tour in Austin once I returned. I kept asking myself while on tour “Do I want to play my older emotional cathartic songs night after night on my future tour?” The answer was no – so I wrote as much new music as I could for my Tiny Desk Tour set- I finished two of them in time. Adding them in made the set felt like it had so much more joy in it. Recounting emotionally vulnerable songs on stage felt cathartic for the last couple years but I realized on the road this summer that I’m ready to move forward to something new.

The song that got me featured on NPR, “Are you opening yourself to love?”, has now become a launching point for that.
It was the first song I created with the intention of imagining a better future than what I was currently experiencing. I want to do more of that so I’ve mentally moved from my “sad folk” beginnings. I’m going to record them in the near future so I can let them go and I’m excited to move into a more dancey vibe. I started playing less shows to reconvene with myself in my little home studio to make new things that are from a place of joy.

And because of pausing my grind of playing shows- I’ve also cut way way back on my social media presence. it’s been weird to get all that time back and to also work each day at music without Insta-validation That’s been a detox that feels bizarre but like coming out the other side will be worthwhile.

So, to overcome the overwhelm of this huge life shift, I’ve been in solitude writing and creating mode again. One month in and it’s been very up and down. I had this idea that once I had all the free time I would always be writing, recording, and fully immersing myself as an artist- but then I’ve had hours where I just get sucked into a Netflix binge or something else that’s like junk food for my brain. Trying to do less of that.

But I’ve learned that I’m usually writing songs when I’m “not supposed to” – or like when I’m not thinking about it. It’s kind of like obsessively waiting for shooting stars- they show up when you’re looking the other way. I’ve been investing in just creatively living and letting songs show up in that. Cooking new things, experimenting with new hobbies, and doodling alot. Basically just familiarizing myself with a life that’s well rounded after grinding for a bit too long. And trusting in the universe that inspiration will be made from moments like those and not something I have to chase.
It feels a little like I’m back to being a seedling after thinking I had so much figured out. But that’s what you do as an artist you just change it up whenever you need to. I don’t know what it’s going to sound like but I have a good feeling. One of my mantras has been “infinite possibilities from the abyss.” So, here we go.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo 1, 8 -Mia Naome Al-Taher
Photo 4- David Brendan Hall

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