Nashville Voyager | January 23, 2023
Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie James.
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
From a young age, I always knew that I loved music. I’ve been writing songs since I was in first grade and singing ever since I can remember. Growing up I tried to get involved in as many musical opportunities as possible and ended up joining many choirs.
However, everything really changed for me when I decided to move to Nashville for college. Ever since then, I’ve been playing 2-5 shows a week just around town. The support I’ve gotten has been incredible, and every day I feel like I learn something new that I can put toward achieving my dreams.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As much as I would love to say it’s been a smooth road, I just don’t think that that is the reality of it. When I first moved to Nashville, I got a lot of no responses when I reached out to local venues and other opportunities.
However, once I started to get my foot in the door a little bit, that all started to change. Another obstacle I’ve faced is the mental battle that goes along with chasing your dreams. Many people will tell you that it’s improbable and that you should find a real job. However, through that hardship, I know that I have incredible support and people to lean on who always encourage me and I am so grateful for that. Besides, I truly believe that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a 19-year-old singer-songwriter, I would say I am probably most proud of the fact that I’m putting myself out there and really trying to achieve my dreams. Additionally, I think what sets me apart from others, besides my songwriting and singing, is my determination. I will stop at nothing to achieve my dreams and I will work day in and day out because this is something I truly believe in.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I feel like it always surprises people a little bit when I tell them that I do more than just perform, I also handle my behind-the-scenes work! That basically just means that I’m reaching out to venues, running all my social media, editing my videos, etc. But I think that doing all of that has certainly made me more well-rounded in my craft. And at the end of the day, I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to work on those things and enhance my abilities.