“The best thing my Dad ever taught me was you’re not done till’ you're old and you’re not old till you're dead.”
That perseverance has remained a staple in the 25 year old singer-songwriter's life. Kate Stephenson creates music that fuels the soul, reflecting on experiences we all shared simply by being human. Her discography blends soft beats and melancholic tones, while others are more lighthearted. Stephenson’s work mirrors everyday life with words that linger and moments of doubt we relate to. In retrospect her music is a memoir, and a complete dive into her thoughts, experiences and emotions. The album, This Is What You Get isn’t just a collection of songs, but a year-long archive that has been shaped by romance, heartbreak and courage to stand for her beliefs.
Kate's inspirations derive from her childhood. “Part of what was really helpful is that both my dad and mom are classical musicians. Growing up, my dad played trumpet and my mom played violin in the same orchestra. I learned that if you love music, what you do is make it.” Early memories involved running around in the balcony seats with her siblings during rehearsals. They would be up there, “Getting the stink eye,” she laughs.
Kate started making music with her sister very young, putting them on iTunes. Once her sister went to college she picked up guitar and honed in on her career. One of her first major accomplishments came with her album King of the Hill. “My first real professional album was King of the Hill. I had a co-producer. I felt like I was finally achieving a sound that I had been chasing with self-production. Authentic and homemade vibe.”
When asked about her process Kate is very introspective. “It became a diary. I wrote during it to get through it. Being nice, that got me into trouble when people were doing things that were actually wrong. I would be like that's ok—then go hit the ceiling of my car.” She finds humor in it. That song [ “If This is What You Get”] was a brutal moment in my life. I wrote the song and now I feel better.”
Throughout the album This is What You Get, Kate manages to have a variance of being specific while also being universal. “I put little hints in it for myself-like, this is what happened. But I try to keep it vague enough so people can relate.” Every lyric is written with pure intention and simply meant to capture the feeling so that others can see themselves through it. The album offers that clarity, each song its own story.
Through all of this Kate has remained humble and comforted in her roots with her family. “My mom and dad are my biggest inspirations. It wasn't easy raising four kids while playing in an orchestra. And back then, a lot of parents didn't support music as a career.” With her values held close to her heart, her drive was the other half of the puzzle. Stephenson emphasizes to always teach yourself and put yourself out there. “I can hold my own because I learned what I needed to know.”
The closing song of her album, “Fare Me Well” highlights one of the main takeaways of her music journey, which is self-actualization and the art of letting go. In a world where there are so many external factors that tell people how to behave, act or feel, she states “It’s hard for people to accurately process what they’re thinking.” Music has allowed her to learn how to self-soothe and look inward. She advocates heavily for journaling and reflection. “Fare Me Well” was written under the shooting stars during a desert road trip. She had learned to let go. “I don’t even care,” she states “Nobody can hurt me. I’m cool where I’m at. You can meet me here or not.” By the end of the album Kate isn’t just reflecting on the year she experienced in writing, but she has ultimately found clarity within it.
Stephenson closes the album the same way she started it, with honesty, grace, and finally, peace.