What initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in the arts, especially for those who may not be familiar with your background?

I’ve been listening to music and watching my favorite artists since I can remember. I suppose I thought I might be a singer or musician by age 12 or so. I discovered I can sing in front of people around age 15.

Can you share more about your early experiences with music and how they shaped your passion for the arts?

I played coffeehouses with a guitarist friend at age 15. I joined my first band right out of high school. At the same time I was considering being a commercial artist.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your latest single, “St. So and So.”
What motivated you to address the theme of an unknown hero in the context of the current political and social climate?

These thoughts and feelings run around in my head. Eventually they have to get out on paper or on a recording. It gets down to the fact that our democracy is on the line. And it’s because a good portion of the population its blindly enamored with someone constantly in the spotlight, regardless of the evil person he is. They see him as the victim, when in reality, he does not show an ounce of compassion for anyone except himself. Still, they don’t care. So, St. So an So calls for that someone who has the power, the knowledge and the nerve to take him out of the spotlight and hold him accountable for his crimes. sounds like a a typical movie good guy / bad guy premise, doesn’t it?

What themes or emotions do you explore in “St. So and So,” and how do they connect to the broader themes in your recent EPs and music career? The emotions are frustration and anger along with some hope. The theme, I suppose, is the groove and (the spot for my sax solo), that I like a lot of my songs to have.

How has your approach to songwriting evolved over the years, especially considering the social commentary in your recent works? My earlier songs were about love relationships, good bad and ugly. Once again those were the things that were on my mind. I still write some of those. My next tunes will be a combination of love relationship, social commentary and a few covers of songs from the “Summer of Love”.

Can you describe the creative process behind “St. So and So,” from the initial concept to the final production?

I had a track that started as an instrumental. Eventually I kept hearing “Leave my world alone” and I put that down. Soon the music changed and I adapted the words and melody when I came up with “St. So and So” as the title and hook.

Were there any specific challenges or interesting moments during the creation of this single that you’d like to highlight?

I just loved putting vocals, harmonies and sax on it in the studio!

What can listeners expect to experience or feel when they listen to “St. So and So”?
How do you balance conveying a message of frustration and hope while maintaining a strong musical groove? The emotions are really in the words. I depend on the musicians to give it the groove. Gayle, my producer has a way of hearing what I’m attempting in my initial recordings and following through.

Are there any interesting stories or anecdotes from the recording or writing of “St. So and So” that you’d like to share? We record much differently given that Gayle likes to use his own musicians he’s used to working with. Consequently, I’ve never even met many of the ones on my last EP. I’d like to. They are all amazing. But then I also like handing the songs over to my ‘live” band to perform. That’s even better.

Did the song take any unexpected turns during the recording process, or were there memorable moments in the studio? I can’t believe how smooth it all went. I put down scratch (reference) vocals and sax parts at Gayle’s and then the real vocal takes at another studio in Southfield.

As an artist, what are three key traits that you believe define you? Determination, drive, and inability to quit.

How do dedication, semi-obsession, and drive play a role in your artistic journey and the way you approach your work? If you’re truly a musician, songwriter or artist, it’s just what you do. I’m not dictated by age or my level of success. In fact success is relative. You listen to even the Rolling Stones talking about touring at their age. It’s like what we are we going to do, sit around playing cards? (or fill in the blank for whatever activity if you’re retired or semi-retired.)

Looking ahead, what can your fans anticipate in terms of your upcoming projects?

Right now, we’re working on a song from the late 60’s. It’s from a time where many songs talked about “try to love one another”, everyone’s wearing flowers in their hair, love beads and all that. It was a whole movement. Much of it was sappy but the message was definitely there and being sold in mass quantities on mainstream media and culture. I’m tapping into that but with today’s slant and sound.

Can you provide some insights into your creative process for reimagining songs from the 60s and 70s and working on new original compositions?
As far as the 60s 70s stuff I had to really think about how I could realistically recreate that and be myself while at the same time connecting with a new audience. I have to realize that a lot of the songs were popular because people were young, and a lot of time they were stoned. My audience is different and many are older. It’s a very different musical landscape. Forget about doing a 20 minute intro or song, these days, for instance.

Where can readers find additional information about you and your work?

My website katorlando.com, facebook (Kat Orlando) and Spotify.

Besides your website, are there specific platforms or channels where fans can connect with you and stay updated on your latest projects and performances?

I also try to stay visible on instagram youtube and tiktok. (search Kat Orlando).