We recently had the chance to connect with Kathy Zhou and have shared our conversation below.
Kathy, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think people misunderstand what it takes to be successful in the arts. Based on my own prior beliefs and also what I’ve heard from those around me, there seems to be a misconception that the most important factors in being a successful musician are talent and exuberance. As a classically trained pianist who underwent intense instruction all my childhood, the idea that you must be technically perfect as a bare baseline before all else was ingrained in me from an early age. And thus, there was the implication that, without a baseline technically flawless performance, you don’t even deserve to pursue doing more with music until those skills were mastered. Obviously I no longer believe this to be true. Additionally, a lot of messaging that was ingrained in me growing up centered around the idea that you had to be extroverted, exuberant, and super charming to be a successful performer. Growing up, I surprised many adults in my life when I would share that I wanted to be either an actress or a news anchor when I grew up. They would then say back, “Really? But, you don’t like to talk! You’re shy!” Today, my responses to those sentiments would be: 1. Soft skills around communication can be worked on, and, 2. Just like with any job, there is such a thing as being in “work mode” or not with music. Just because I’m not naturally talkative and exuberant in my day to day life, does not mean I can’t turn that part of me on when I need to. But most importantly, it takes far more than just talent and exuberance to be a successful musician. I’ve noticed the most successful artists around me have an impeccable and consistent work ethic, above all else. So, having a strong and consistent work ethic is what I strive to maintain in myself the most throughout my journey.
Also, at a certain point in the journey, pursuing music will feel more like work than play. I know other musicians and creatives understand this. A sobering discovery I’ve experienced in my own journey is: the more my music career grows, the less time I have to create. The behind-the-scenes administrative work is truly nonstop, and it’s only getting harder. If you don’t have a team, you are not only the artist, but also your own booking agent, manager, publicist, promoter, publishing administrator, record producer, accountant, grant writer, social media manager, tour vehicle driver, etc. etc. I’ve been struggling this season with feeling like I have no more energy to create, and I’m not proud of that. Thus, my new year’s resolution is to be more deliberate in carving out dedicated time for low-pressure, joyful, creation, and that might mean taking a few weeks at a time where I give myself permission to let the admin work slide.
Relatedly, it seems folks misunderstand the true nature of touring. Right before I left to go on tour, a lot of non-musicians would express how exciting it must be that I’ll get to go and see all these new places. The reality is – I mostly saw the inside of my car. Similarly, another non-musician described catching a lineup of several of their favorite artists on tour and describing the experience as “it was so much fun to see all these artists just on vacation together!” I assure you, we are not on vacation when we are touring. There is nonstop work and planning that goes into it at every point in the process, especially for independent artists and even more so for independent artists with full-time day jobs (like myself). I independently booked, routed, and managed my first tour that I just got off of. I performed in Chicago, NYC, Upstate NY, Montréal, and Toronto. Half a year prior to heading on the road, I spent at least five nights a week up late working til at least midnight, trying to hit up all these places that don’t know me, hoping that someone would book me. I’d strategically be brainstorming who I know in each market and collaborative opportunities that might help get me booked. And just as importantly, once the shows are booked, the onus is heavily on the musician to market the show and create a draw. Imagine trying to navigate all this from afar, without a team!
I say all this not to sound negative or ungrateful. In fact, there are genuinely so many joyful and fulfilling aspects of doing this, and I would not want to be doing anything differently right now. However, I also think it’s important to acknowledge the reality of all aspects of this job (just like with any job!) and clarify misconceptions.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an internationally-touring pianist and singer-songwriter originally from California, currently based in the rock’n’soul capital of Memphis, TN. I describe my style as piano-powered art-pop and burlesque-folk. My songs are poignant and musically rich, in line with my city’s soulful traditions, yet powered by my own unique, cinematic, theatrical flair. I’ve been so touched to hear audiences say that no one else sounds like me. My piano stylings are somewhere between a classical piano prodigy and rock and roll shredder, and I sing in a style that is soothing and gentle, yet passionate and empathic. I love when my shows leave audiences feeling seen and prompt honest dialogue amongst them.
This past month, I released my debut EP “A Vivid, Magic, Scene,” and independently booked and routed my first tour spanning Chicago, New York City, Upstate New York,, Montréal, and Toronto to promote the EP. Drawing upon nature and fantasy themes, processing the past, and coming to terms with the present, this record features my piano virtuosity, imaginative folk-like lyrics, and hauntingly whimsical voice complemented by a rock fable-inspired violin, cinematic-funky bass, dreamlike-pensive guitar, and other instruments. Additionally, “A Vivid, Magic, Scene” is a colorful, cinematic, story of my own journey coming into my own as a new independent artist in my 30’s. Having already gone through several careers and lived all over the world throughout her 20’s, I was incredibly fulfilled career-wise and life-experience wise, yet consistently felt a huge part of me was missing. During those years, I’d longed to write and perform songs, but struggled to feel that I deserved to pursue that aspect of creativity. Thus, over a decade of powerful anthems, heart-wrenching lullabies, and colorful stories brewed until I finally picked up the pen and went to the piano in my 30’s.
Outside of writing, releasing, and producing my original songs, I also write and compose for theatre productions, and specialize in a variety of live performances. From entertaining audiences with lively piano cover requests to sharing songs in an intimate songwriter circle, I try to bring a unique element of Avant-garde magic and engagement to all my performances.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My family taught me discipline and consistency. Then, my college roommates and peers taught me that I have agency to direct where I choose to invest my efforts.
Growing up, working hard was a requirement. It was like breathing – there was no discussion about why, it simply was. Within my household, we were taught that hard work was the highest valued trait to have. We were also taught that it is not worth trying something unless you’re going to be the best at it (I no longer believe this, but it explains a lot about how I was conditioned to be where I am now). When my parents identified early on that I had an ear for music, they enrolled me in intensive classical piano lessons starting at the age of 7. I would practice sometimes for hours each day. Pretty early on, I would compete in and win national competitions. My evenings and weekends would be spent either intensely practicing or traveling to perform or compete. On top of that, it was an expectation that we maintained good grades. I was reminded very regularly that my grades and piano accolades would be what got me into an excellent college (which was also a requirement). Though I don’t fully agree with all aspects of how intensely I was pushed, I am incredibly grateful for the discipline that all these experiences instilled in me. Plus, I find playing my instrument the least intimidating part of writing, recording, and performing today because of all that strong technical piano training I got.
Going to college was the first time I ever experienced the idea of thinking for myself and carving my own path. My college roommate was the first person to ever ask me, “what do YOU want?” Through conversations and leading by their own example, my peers ingrained in me these skills: 1.Identifying what it is I truly wanted 2. Fighting hard and working for it every single day, and 3. (Most foreign to me at the time) Never just accepting “no” and stopping there; there is always another way to get what you want. So, contrary to my family’s preconceived expectations that I’d get a corporate job after college and maintain a low profile, I ended up independently traveling and teaching high school math all over the world for a few years. I very quickly rose up the ranks into school leadership while still in my mid-20’s. Then when I moved to Memphis, I really had a deep itch to perform music again but not in a classical sense. Once I identified that desire, I had to deliberately challenge all prior unhealthy beliefs about my abilities, work extremely hard to build up the knowledge and skills I knew I personally needed to work on, and ultimately, push myself to, once again, carve my own path. I am still learning to lean into ways that I’m unique as assets rather than roadblocks. And of course, I have continued to not just accept “no.” Because of these lessons my college peers instilled in me, I have only ever pursued and achieved exactly what I want since college and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
A year ago, I told myself I wanted to try being a musician full-time by the time I turn 39. That would give me 5 years to strategically plan and save money. However, the more I advance in my music career, the less appealing the idea of having to support myself purely through music sounds. I’m finding that I really enjoy the stability of having consistent income and health care. I also have other creative hobbies I enjoy pursuing (I perform aerial arts and recently completed my aerial teacher training course). With all this going on, the drawback, of course, is I have less time to work on music, which means I work very slowly on reaching music milestones and complete music projects much slower than my peers. However, I also realize this does not bother me one bit. I’m passionate about performing and creating long-term and if working a little slower but having steady income and balance day-to-day would help facilitate longevity, I think it’s worth it.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no, but ultimately, yes.
When I think of my “public persona,” the thing that comes to mind first is live performances. These days I mostly perform my original songs. These songs are all genuine and from my heart. The emotions you see are real. I get very passionate and my full body is involved. I like to keep audiences on their toes with sudden twists and unexpected turns. A typical song could start out sounding like a soothing ballad, only to deceptively cut into a fiery stanza of intense flying piano keys and raw, passionate vocals. While dramatic, and sometimes with an overrexaggerated presentation, all these are my true expressions that feel authentic to me.
While I am fully embodying my true self and emotions when I perform, I definitely am not that loud and extra in my day-to-day life. I prefer to keep a low profile and generally don’t speak unless I feel I actually have something of worth to say. Throughout my life, that has been interpreted as cold, stoic or hard to read. It is hard to say the reasons behind that; I’m simply just comfortable existing quietly and being when I’m not on stage. Is it shyness? Is it maybe feeling to an extent like I don’t have permission to express the full range of big emotions when not on stage? Maybe. But that’s why it’s even more important for me to have the stage as an outlet to express myself.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am in or close to nature. Nothing calms me down faster than being in or by a body of water, or walking through a forest. In those moments, I am completely relaxed, but most importantly, don’t feel like I have any expectations of myself, which feels truly freeing.
In my 20’s I lived and traveled all over the world. My favorite thing to do in each new place was to go on a solo hike or to go swimming. I have fond memories of backpacking throughout Europe, going on swims in the Mediterranean, and going on walks in woods all over France when I was living there as an English teacher.
Admittedly, I’ve not prioritized being out in nature much presently, as I’ve had such a busy year with music. But I’d like to cultivate more of those moments for myself in the new year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kathyzhoumusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kzmusique
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kzmusique
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kzmusique
Image Credits
Kristen Williams
Ashley Benham
Becca Bartlett
Mark Parsell
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