9 Questions with Singer Kat Rushmore
Chuck Schiele: For how long have you been playing music? How did you get started?
Kat Rushmore: I have been singing for as long as I can remember. I don’t know how old I was when my parents bought me my first 45 single after hearing me sing Linda Ronstadt’s Blue Bayou. My whole family was musical to some degree; my father could whistle like Bing Crosby, and he played harmonica like no one I’ve ever heard before. My brothers and sisters all played something, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, or sang. It was only natural for me at 8 years old in 4th grade to gravitate toward that beautiful shiny flute. I became quite good in high school and even played piccolo for the wind ensemble under Ed Lisk, and I loved marching band. I had children young though, and my 20’s were all about higher education, working and taking care of my kids and pets. There was no time for music until after they grew up. Then a friend convinced me to go out singing karaoke, then I got up to sing with a few bands, then finally I got to front a few bands, but even that has had its challenges until recently and now I’m back out there trying to put it all together again.
CS: What instruments do you play?
KR: I mostly sing, but I am also a flutist. I am teaching myself how to play guitar and piano, but it’s slow going. I haven’t had much luck with lessons yet, but the right teacher will appear when the student is ready, yes?
CS: Please tell us how you characterize your music?
KR: This is a really tough question. I love all kinds of music, from the big bands to today’s alternatives. My favorites have always been classic, progressive rock, but I also love the blues, soul, funk, r&b. To “characterize my music?” Until I can bring you my originals (still simmering), I just try to bring the story in the song I’m singing to life. I want to bring you to tears if it’s a sad song, and I want to make you smile if it’s a happy one. My goal is to represent the intention of the songwriter while keeping with the original recorded version as much as possible for recognizability.
CS: What do you enjoy most about being a musician?
KR: There is nothing like being part of a band. There is nothing like that magical feeling you get when your energies match on stage and you fall into a groove together. It’s not a “see” thing or even a “hear” thing, it’s a “feel” thing. If we are feeling it on stage and it transmutes to the audience, that’s magic.
CS: Please tell us about the projects you’re currently involved in and with whom.
KR: Currently I have two distinct projects going on.
I started a trio with old band mates called OZmosis for the intention of Oswego NY’s 2024 Porchfest, with Tom McCaffrey of Frostbit Blue, and Bob Larkin, formerly of Long Time Coming, who is also a retired sound guy. When I was asked to be the featured artist at the Maplewood last week, it seemed only natural to bring them with me. We are working on some original songs, and considering the addition of bass and drums.
The other project is a duo, called KatManDuo, with Dennis Veator of Gold Dust Gypsies. He’s amazing. We just got started last month, and we hope to be ready to accept gig proposals by the end of October.
Other than that, I have several originals of my own simmering on the back burner just waiting for some spice to be added.
CS: Share with us a highlight or two from your path in music.
KR: Well to recap question one basically, my path started as a child. In high school though we had a rather mean choir director who took a dislike to me, and when I tried out for a part in a school play, he had me sing one note, told me I was flat and that was that. I was scared to sing again ‘till around 2005 or so, when a friend encouraged me to try karaoke. Once I started doing that, everything started opening up for me. I was back up vox and keys for CXtec Dinosaurs, a corporate band, I got up to sing with bands at open mics, then I got to front a band called Lickety Split briefly. Then 11 years ago I fronted Street Level NY, which lasted almost a year. Since then my life was such that being in a band was not supported until I put together 11th Hour four years ago, so named because we put it together in a week. The following two years we changed from a 4 piece to a 6 piece, but again they didn’t last long. My life was turned upside down and inside out last September, and now it’s time to get back out there and make things happen musically again.
CS: What would be your advice to a budding musician?
KR: Never give up! Practice every day even if it’s only for 15 minutes. Don’t drink too much. Think things through. Advertise your assets, but be presentable to the audience of your intentions. Never burn a bridge, but know when to walk away for self-preservation.
CS: What can we expect from your musical near future?
KR: The duo is gearing up to accept gigs hopefully before the end of October. So far this is all covers, and we play and sing over some incredibly great canned music that Dennis created.
The trio is unknown as of yet. We hope to get out to a few more open mics, and we are in the process of writing some originals.
Additionally, I would love to do some “tribute sets” like 3-5 songs from Fleetwood Mac/Stevie, Eva Cassidy, and more.
Personally, I hope to be finishing up some of my own originals, and I also hope to learn to play guitar and piano to the point that I can pull off a solo gig but we’ll see…
CS: And how do we all stay in touch with your music endeavors?
KR: I will be making more use of my Facebook page, Kat Rushmore. Keep your eye on the Maplewood postings as well as Uncle Jimmy’s Live Local Music Local Artist Original Music Group page.
CS: Thank you Kat for taking some time to chat with us here at Sounds of Syracuse.
KR: Thank you so much for inviting me to share! I really appreciate being able to perform for anyone who wants to listen.
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