(ROCKWALL, TX – September 23, 2015) When listening to local musical talent Katie Stewart’s recently released first album, “High Tech World,” it becomes clear that the messages of her songs are just as unique as the music itself.
“I think of myself as a songwriter/singer, not really a singer/songwriter,” Katie said. “The message to me is more important than the voice. A lot of my music is consciousness of the human mind.”
Take the totally impromptu pieces with the cello heard in the album, for instance. According to Katie, an off-chance meeting with Alan Steele – the principal cello player of the Fort Worth Symphony – during one of her shows at a random party eventually led the two to meet up and play music together. Alan showed up in his coattails and tie because he had 20 minutes before a rehearsal downtown and the two started playing a couple of Katie’s songs in a scene that might’ve looked like something out of a movie.
The improvised session gives the two tracks on the album a very raw, powerful feel, a sound that one of Katie’s friends described as “haunting.”
“I love that word, especially when you know the backstory that it was totally impromptu, nothing was rehearsed, it was just two people literally sitting in a chair in the breezeway of the apartments,” Katie said. “I wished we could’ve captured the moment on film, because Alan was in his performance wear – he had a show that night – and we literally just had enough time to play two songs before he had to go.”
Katie grew up and attended school in Rockwall, and from a young age learned to play the piano from Carol Mehaffey, who still teaches private lessons in Rockwall today.
“She’s really fantastic!” Katie said. “She’s affiliated with the Texas Music Association, and so I was able to compete under her teaching. She’s a really excellent teacher and was eccentric enough to let me be creative and work through emotions.”
Katie said a lot of her music is inspired by the experiences and the difficulties she faced as a young girl growing up with divorcing parents, as well as how the ever-changing and rapid advancement of technology has affected society.
“That’s been a driving force in my writing, just to not be consumed by certain things and to take inspiration and material from experiences that speak to me in some ways.
“… I feel like it’s a high-tech world, and eventually everything will be digital and eventually everything will crash. I mean, think about all the database hacks that happen all the time. What’s going to be left? Songs will be left. Art will be left. That’s why I feel it’s my duty to share stories through my music.”
Although Katie acts as her own manager marketing her album, making promos and booking shows all herself, a run-in with Rockwall Mercantile and Apothecary co-owner Lisa Cauble during a performance at the Uptown Downtown Art Gallery and Studio led to a great business opportunity for Katie and her album. After hearing Katie’s music, Lisa asked her if she would like to have her business sell copies of her album. After paying a visit to the store, Katie couldn’t help but say yes to the exciting prospect.
“I was totally blown away,” Katie said. “I didn’t know what to expect, and it was like this little gypsy paradise right in the middle of Rockwall. Lisa is such a wonderful person, inside and out. I couldn’t ask for a better place to have my CDs. She’s been really participatory and active in helping me sell my CDs, other than just by telling people about my music. She wants to be involved and it’s really awesome.”
Katie hopes that people can appreciate the meaning behind the lyrics of her music, regardless what else they choose to take from it.
“I may not convince you to believe anything,” Katie said. “But if my music in any way – be it the sound or the message or whatever it may be – if it makes somebody stop and think, then that’s all that matters to me.”
To hear some of Katie’s originals visit reverbnation.com/katielynnstewart.
To share your good news and events, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.
Please click here to LIKE our Facebook page, so we can reach more people with good news like this!
Local talent Katie Stewart makes music with a message added by Editor on
View all posts by Editor →