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10 Questions with | Katie Fry

Katie Fry is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with an Alt-Country-Pop inspired Folk sound. She writes songs about love, friendship, struggle and hope. Katie Fry released her self-produced debut EP "My California", in September of 2021. Recently she release new single called "Somewhere Far Away". Is a song with lyrics that reminisce of childhood lazy days and dreams of simple times. With a catchy chorus wrapped in vocal harmony and pedal steel guitar, this song has an Alt - Americana vibe. Indie Boulevard wondered what inspired Katie to write this song, and also just to talk about music, life and future plans.

IB: Katie, music has accompanied your life since childhood. You are a professional playing piano, flute, drums, harp and guitar. But what exactly inspired you to write your own music?

Katie: As a teenager I was influenced by the singer-songwriters of the 1990's, specifically women like Jewel, Tori Amos and Sheryl Crow. I could relate to their music and it was empowering to see them playing their own original songs. They were not just singers, but they played an instrument and had a story to tell. That's around the time I began to learn guitar, piano and started to experiment with songwriting.

IB: I know you trained to bring live therapeutic music to patients' bedsides in hospitals. That's really a deep awareness of music, not only as a means of self-expression, but also as a medical practice. It does not seem easy to be a therapeutic musician. What kind of music do you play in therapy? Or do you put yourself in a trance and the music itself flows under your fingers?

Katie: I'm trained to provide individualized music for each patient's needs. I can't quite share any specific stories for privacy reasons, but there is a lot of research out there explaining the ways that music can be used as a tool to help with anxiety and increase relaxation. Music can impact both the body and the mind. It's been especially inspiring for me to witness the power of music for individuals living with dementia. I feel grateful to have had the experience of sharing music with others in this way, and it's helped me grow both as a person and a musician.

IB: The harp is a very magical instrument, and that's exactly how it sounds. Do you also use it when recording music?

Katie: Yes! In my last release, 'Here I Go' the harp can be heard in the mix. Although the song is primarily piano based, if you listen closely, you can hear the harp playing different rhythms.

IB: By the way, your new single 'Somewhere Far Away' has just been released and has already been added to my personal playlist. It's a beautiful, sunny song, and your voice sounds incredibly warm and soft. How did this song come about?

Katie: Thank you so much. The idea of the song came to me while on a road trip. I was sitting in the passenger seat, looking out the window, enjoying the scenery, when I noticed big oak trees on the hillside. It reminded me of this big tree I used to play around when I was a child. I grew up miles away from town, in the country. I remember playing in the creeks, hiking through nature and riding bikes with my best friend (my only neighbor). Over the summer, we felt isolated and imagined all of the kids living in town having a much better time than us. Looking back I now realize how good we had it and I think back on those memories fondly. Sometimes I long to go back to those simpler times.

IB: Your debut EP "My California" was released in 2021. This year you released two singles "Day After Day" and "Here I Go," and now "Somewhere Far Away." Do you plan to release another EP, or maybe a LP?

Katie: I'm actually planning to continue releasing singles, and gearing up for a full length album release.

IB: Your music is so personal, it's almost like you are writing in a diary. Can you remember your first gig?

Katie: My songs are a bit like entries from a diary, personal stories, thoughts and ideas. My first ever gig was in a little cafe, many years ago, I remember performing with the piano then.

IB: Your live performances are incredible, you sing very clean, I mean absolutely clean. All the notes in the right key, how do you do that? Is it musical grammar or a gift of nature?

Katie: Thank you. I'm not really sure, I think everyone is born with their own unique voice. I also think that everyone should sing no matter what they sound like! Especially if they enjoy it. I have worked hard and put in a lot of time practicing over the years to develop my own style.

IB: Where and when can we expect the next concerts?

Katie: I'm just now finishing a season of shows. I have been really lucky this year to perform a variety of places from festivals, street fairs, live radio, cafes and breweries. Some of my favorite places have been wineries with beautiful open spaces and gorgeous vineyards onsite. I plan to take fall and winter off (from live shows) to focus on recording, and will return to live shows next spring.

IB: Creative people, especially musical ones, are often exposed to stress, doubts and insecurities. How not to stop dreaming and not to lose yourself?

Katie: There is always a vulnerability that comes with sharing original music to the world. I'm lucky to have found a community of other musicians and songwriters who lift each other up and support one another. It's important to find people like that who see music as an art form, it should be a shared community experience and not a popularity contest. Overall I keep dreaming and creating because it's what I love to do.

IB: And the last question. What is your favorite instrument?

Katie: That's a hard question to answer, I like to perform with the guitar the most. Its smaller and lighter to haul around and I feel like I can look out into the audience and engage with people more when I play it compared to the piano or the harp. For writing I don't really have a favorite, I think its nice to use different instruments, for different moods.