Kristi Kates - Press - Express Magazine Cover Feature

We'll Be Hearing From Kristi Kates
by Adam W. Sanders

Catching up with Kristi Kates these days isn't an easy task. Finally tracking her down during a flight layover at Detroit's Metro Airport, I was able to sit and talk with this engaging artist about her latest release and the stories behind it. Even a bit rumpled from her flight, she still looks lovely, well-rested, and ready to talk, in spite of the long day ahead of her. We settled into a coffeeshop for the interview - but first, a little background.

With the release of her first full-length CD, Tangle, Kristi Kates quietly gathered a multitude of loyal fans who identified with her intelligent, poetic lyrics, contagious melodies, and evocative vocals. A series of live shows across the Midwest and the Eastern U.S. saw her hitting the road with ever-changing incarnations of her backing band - members frequently couldn't take the grueling schedule and fell by the wayside. "I can't really blame the people who weren't willing to carry on," Kates comments, "with touring, it's certainly very rewarding to get that immediate reaction to your songs that you don't get in the studio. And it's great to actually speak with the people who are taking the time to go to your shows and buy your records. But it can still be difficult to maintain the rest of your life, your personal relationships, and it's hard to feel as grounded as you might like to be. So it's understandable that not everyone wants that for themselves."

But the shows were the thing that mattered, whether Kates was headlining her own shows at colleges and clubs, or opening for other bands - critics and fans alike couldn't help but notice Kates' natural effervescence, her graceful good looks, (she's a striking 5' 10") and her enthusiasm for her work, in addition to her obvious musical talents. Now, with the release of her new CD, The Avenue A Sessions, Kristi Kates takes the next step in her career.

While bringing around demos of her work in New York City late last year, Kates had a chance meeting with Paul Smith, an engineer who is well-known for his work at Manhattan's famed Hit Factory studios. Smith, who has worked on sessions for the likes of U2, Live, and, most recently, Paul Simon's Capeman album, took an interest in Kates' work, and offered to work with her on some of her new material. Interest in Tangle was increasing, and Kates' new website was generating even more interest in her music - including airplay in not only the U.S.A., but also overseas. So, the decision was made to record a new 4-song CD EP, in order to give friends and fans something to listen to until Kates could find the time to complete another full length album.

"I would've really liked to record another full length disc, but, logistically, it just wasn't in the cards for right now," she states, "but it seemed foolish to pass up the opportunity to record again, especially with Paul Smith offering to work with us." In a collaborative "trade", Smith also asked Kates if she would contribute to another band's album, the East Village alt-rock band Thirst, who were enjoying success with their first album on Iguana/Interscope Records. As a result of those sessions, Kristi's haunting background vocals may be heard on the song "Two Turns of the Wheel" on Thirst's newest release, The Dangerous Cousin of Dogmatism.

In addition to Kates' regular guitarist, Brandon DeGeorge, and keyboardist, Scott Morley, several of the members of Thirst stepped in to provide Kates with the exceptional backing tracks that are heard on The Avenue A Sessions. Drummer/percussionist Lex Dunbar and bassist Frank Collins have also chosen to divide their road time between Thirst's and Kates' touring schedules, and Thirst singer Mark Christensen contributed soulful backing vocals to Kates' dark, moody Sessions ballad "All These Days". Another new Kates song, "If I", was captured in an acoustic "unplugged" format during recording - just Kates and bassist Collins, with only guitar, bass, and vocals bringing the melancholy beauty of the song into focus. "If I" didn't make it on to Sessions due to track limitations, but it proved to be such a favorite among the studio crew that it will be released as a special limited edition CD single early next year.

"It's been a great experience working with everyone in New York," Kates says, "there's such a good creative energy going on, which is especially beneficial to the songs themselves." But isn't Kates the sole songwriter? "Well, essentially, yes," she answers, "but it's still a very collaborative thing. The songs that I write do stay the same as far as lyrics, chords, and melody - but working with such talented people helps infuse the songs with a bit of newness, a freshness that might have been lost to me, just from reworking them, or performing them live over and over so many times. Helps to keep me on my toes, too, and it's super to have made so many new friends. I feel very lucky."

So what's next for this gifted singer-songwriter? Well, the lucky ones among us will be the ones who get a chance to see her live in concert. Currently in the planning stages for upcoming tour dates, Kates is in rehearsals in Manhattan with her backing band, and is in negotiations to hit the road again sometime in late winter. Although she enjoys the travel, when she does get a little free time Kates often plans trips back to Chicago, Boston, or Lake Michigan, all of where she spent time growing up. "I'm just glad I'm able to travel enough to have a point of comparison," she says, "I do look forward to my time in New York, and our time on tour, too, of course - but it's hard to beat a Lake Michigan sunset."

Kristi Kates' CDs, Tangle, The Avenue A Sessions, and the If I single, are available via her Official Website at www.kristikates.com.
Adam W. Sanders is a freelance writer from Chicago, and yes, his name is often confused with Adam Sandler - but he's not as funny.