SHREDnews

By: Jay Rowland

Jay Rowland: So, A Fine Mess, your second album. How would you say you’ve changed between Don’t Look Away and A Fine Mess?

Kate Voegele: A lot of the songs I wrote for Don’t Look Away were written when I was pretty young and in high school, so I’d say my writing has definitely matured with this record. I’ve grown up a lot as a person and as a songwriter, so the songs are a bit more honest and vulnerable and I’m more comfortable with that vulnerability. I also think musically, A Fine Mess is a bit edgier and has a bit more punch. I stretched myself out on this record with the writing and the arrangements.

Jay Rowland: Tell me a little about the writing process behind A Fine Mess.

Kate Voegele: The record is basically a story of the road because I wrote it while I was out promoting my first album. I wasn’t intentionally writing a second record, just journaling and writing songs to make sense of what was going on around me. Traveling all over, meeting new people every day, all those things were so inspiring. The record kind of wrote itself!

Jay Rowland: What were some of your influences for the album?

Kate Voegele: I think I was influenced by a lot of things for this record: my personal experiences, music that I’ve been listening to, some rootsy stuff, some indie rock, some alternative, and some straight up pop! I love all different kinds of music and I try to listen to as much as I can to just learn, as an artist, what’s out there.

Jay Rowland: A Fine Mess was produced by Mike Elizondo, who has worked with Fiona Apple and Maroon 5, what was it like working with him?

Kate Voegele: Working with Mike was amazing. He is incredibly talented and just such a great collaborator. He has brought in some incredible musicians and has done such a great job of letting them follow their instincts as artists rather than telling them exactly what to do every step of the way, which I loved. I also loved how we had such a parallel vision for what these songs should be. I felt like we worked together flawlessly!

Jay Rowland: You just started your tour on the 7^th, how has it gone so far?

Kate Voegele: Touring is always amazing and this one has been so great! The show is a lot of fun and we’ve done some unexpected things with it this round. Cool covers and a great blend of old and new songs.

Jay Rowland: I know the tour has just started, but any fun stories yet?

Kate Voegele: Our drummer did get his knee stuck in a fence on Sunset Blvd recently. After two hours of trying to pull it out, the bartender had to free him with a hacksaw and saw through the fence. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. I took a video of it and watch it often.

Jay Rowland: Are you doing meet and greets on your tour? And if so, how does someone go about meeting you at the show?

Kate Voegele: We do meet and greets every night and it’s so awesome! Usually you can get a wristband for the meet and greet at the merch table and it’s so much fun to meet the fans and say hi to everyone who’s been so supportive!

Jay Rowland: You are back on One Tree Hill this season, excited?

Kate Voegele: Being back on One Tree Hill has been so incredible. Everybody there is so cool and down to earth and I have so much fun when I’m in town shooting! The storyline is also really awesome this season. The writers did such a great job and there are some crazy twists coming up!

Jay Rowland: Do you have plans to continue an acting career along with music?

Kate Voegele: Definitely hope to do more acting in the future if the right roles come along! Music will always be my first love though.

Jay Rowland: What are your plans for college?

Kate Voegele: I’m currently an online student with university of phoenix and love it! I’m working toward a bachelor in psychology and it’s been perfect because their online program is so easy and flexible.

Jay Rowland: Acting, music, AND classes! Does it get a little overwhelming?

Kate Voegele: It can definitely be overwhelming at times, but I’ve managed to find ways to balance everything without spreading myself too thin. I plan my days out and schedule what I need to get done, and it all ends up falling into place!

Jay Rowland: Do you have any rituals to help cope with the busy life style?

Kate Voegele: I paint a lot in the back lounge of our bus. I majored in visual art when I was at Miami of Ohio for 2 years, and it’s another thing I just absolutely love and am fascinated by. It really helps me unwind.

Jay Rowland: Anything you would like to tell your fans?

Kate Voegele: I just want to thank everybody who has been inspired by my songs and who has been so supportive! My fans remind me every day why I do what I do and it’s just so rewarding to feel like somebody has been positively affected by something I wrote. They’re the only reason I’m out here on the road!!