Meet Katryna-Florence Marcogliese

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katryna-Florence Marcogliese a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Katryna-Florence, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Before I moved to LA, I had never really felt like the odd one out in professional settings. Maybe it was because I mostly worked with people who knew me well and what I could do. But when I got to Los Angeles, I felt like I had to prove myself even more as a female producer.

It can be frustrating when the artists you work with automatically assume you’re the songwriter and that the guy in the room is the producer, all based on gender. It’s unfortunate, but the reality that there are still fewer women in production and audio compared to men. However, it’s encouraging to see it slowly change and seeing women finally get more opportunities and recognition.

As an artist myself, when I collaborate with other producers, I make sure my voice and opinions are clear. If something could be better, I say it. I’ve learned that to earn respect in a room where you’re in the minority, you can’t let people walk over you, and that’s why I’m always very honest and straightforward. Surround yourself with people who recognize your talent and let you contribute fully. If someone doesn’t value you, it’s best not to collaborate with them. And the most important thing I’ve learned is to know your worth and what you bring to the table.

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 originally from Montreal, Canada. I grew up playing piano, cello, and singing, and eventually decided to fully dive into music by studying jazz. After graduating from college with a Jazz degree, I got into Berklee College of Music and moved to New York City for their one-year master’s program in Songwriting and Production. That’s where I learned all the technical stuff about music production and really started getting my own music out there.

After completing my masters degree, I found out about a scholarship from We Are Moving the Needle, a non-profit supporting women in audio, to attend the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) in Santa Monica. I applied and was lucky enough to earn a full ride to attend as one of 15 music producers that got the chance to be mentored by Stargate, the multi-Grammy award-winning producer duo.

Being a producer at LAAMP was one of the best experiences of my life and the best way to sharpen my skills quickly. As someone who’s been singing my whole life, vocal production has always felt natural to me and is what I focus on the most when working with other artists. It’s often overlooked, but it’s what makes or breaks a record, in my opinion. Getting the best performance out of someone and elevating it is definitely my strength as a producer.

While I love working with other artists, my main focus this year is to release all the music I’ve made for my own project, “Katryna-Florence”. Being able to produce has helped me so much with my own music, but I’m also fortunate to have collaborators like my co-producer Matias Malagardis, who understand my sound and style very well. My sounds is mainly pop but with a lot of jazz influences. I’m inspired by artists like Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Yebba, and Raye, music where the vocal performance is front and center. I enjoy writing about my everyday life experiences, especially topics that are less common in pop music, such as gender representation, depression, family dynamics, anxiety, personality types, life goals, etc.

I’m also extremely excited to announce that my next single, ‘Blessing of a Man,’ is coming out on August 31st, 2024! I wrote this song after feeling overlooked and underestimated as a producer during a session. It has an ironic tone but addresses a serious issue in the industry, acting as an empowering anthem that also highlights gender representation in music.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Learning how to produce my own music was a game changer for my career. Having creative control and not relying on others to get my ideas out gave me so much freedom and fulfillment. There’s nothing like starting and finishing something entirely on your own that truly reflects who you are. Plus, good producers aren’t cheap, so being able to do it yourself can save you some money!

I always strive to do things well and to the best of my abilities, no matter what. Whether there are 10 people at a show or 100, I want to give them the best performance I can. The same goes for my production—I can’t stand leaving things half-done or imperfect. I always go the extra mile with my work, and I’ve never regretted it. Wondering if I could have done more or done a better job would haunt me forever!

Don’t worry about what others think of your dreams and ambitions. I used to stress about how it looked when I posted a lot online and what my friends back home—who don’t really understand the industry—might think. I think leaving my hometown and getting older helped me see this more clearly, but I wish I’d realized it sooner.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

Over the past 12 months, I think I’ve improved my production skills the most, and more than at any other point in my life. Working with so many artists, often for up to 12 hours a day, really pushed me to get faster, work harder, and be more patient. It’s also taught me to “trust the process.” I struggled with imposter syndrome and doubted my abilities for a long time, but I’ve realized that in the end, there’s no one right or wrong way to do make music. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and that sometimes that “who cares, just go for it” moment is exactly what you need. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t, but that’s all part of the process.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Michelle Weber/The Sisterhood Productions (pictures 1,2,3)

Liam Read (pictures 5,6)

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