Kat Myers

Kat Myers’ first band, Kat Myers and The Buzzards, described by Noisey as “a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll with a lot of heart,” were one of those projects that kicked into high gear the moment they hit the ground. In 2014, the Ohio native made LA her new home, and music her mission, after avoiding the inevitable for far too long. “The Buzzards flowed together quickly…made the whole thing seem relatively easy,” recalls Kat. Music milestones were met with the same momentum, and soon LA Magazine fell for their vintage feels, noting them as one of five up-and-comers to watch out for, and applauding their “tailor-made for early 70’s AM radio” vibes. Critical acclaim from tastemakers such as Vice, Pop Matters, and No Depression, was garnered from their debut EP, Owe Everybody Money (mixed by Nashville heavyweight Vance Powell). They went on to play notable festivals, including High Sierra and Joshua Tree, as well as coveted opening slots, including Chris Robinson Brotherhood. By 2018, the band had shared bills with Ween, Deer Tick, The Record Company, Andrew Bird and Blues Traveller, to name a few, while “winning over crowds with their starry-eyed twang.” (Tahoe Onstage) It was a wild ride, and a brief yet defining era for Kat Myers and her music. However, for the next stage of her journey, she’s going out on her own. 

“2018 has been a crazy year, to say the least. I suppose sometimes you need to go through gut wrenching life shifts along the way as you step into yourself. I’m realizing that it’s a process that takes time, and for me is paving the way towards finding my true, authentic sound as an artist. I moved from Venice to Echo Park, which, you know, in LA music terms is akin to venturing across the globe. I’m really starting over, and it’s a process that has to happen on my own.”

Kat’s cover of ‘Til Tuesday’s 1985 classic “Voices Carry” (written by the band’s frontwoman Aimee Mann) made its way into the recording studio as fluidly as her first band started. “I hadn’t heard the song in years, and then all of a sudden I’d turn on the radio, and it would be on. I’d walk into a store, and there it was in the background. It was stalking me.” Apropos, perhaps, that the songstress, born in the mid 80’s, is called to rebirth a song from her first decade of life, as she walks this new path and steps wholly into her sound. “I’ve been writing and writing, and reflecting, and writing some more, but it became clear that this cover would be my first release.” The move to Echo Park has ushered in a brand new musical community for the artist, and with this community, the pieces fell together instantly. After an introduction to Australian producer/engineer Callum Barter (Courtney Barnett, Kurt Vile), with whom she bonded over countless commonalities (including the fact that he was married to a fellow Ohioan), they just clicked. That week, he showed up at her apartment with a mini portable studio and they demoed it. Soon after, they found themselves at 64 Sound Recording Studio in Highland Park, with a beast of a band of talented women.

“’I found myself surrounded by extremely gifted and inspiring female artists this year. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, there has grown this unspoken bond between women, and in an industry that has been traditionally male dominated, it was refreshing to all of a sudden realize that us women can converge together, and elevate one another.”

Acclaimed Aussie musician, Jess Cornelius, came on to co-produce with Barter, while also providing backing vocals, and tasteful rhythm guitar. With Liv Slingerland on lead guitar, Elizabeth Goodfellow on drums, and Allee Futterer on bass, the moment was too good not to capture. And so, yet another powerhouse woman, Juliana of Giraffe Studios, came by to get it on video. The result is a smooth indie sound honoring the much-loved anthemic chorus of this classic, with Kat’s expressive, dreamy & emotional vocal delivery, and her band’s timeless indie edge. While one could liken Kat’s vocal prowess to that of Aimee Mann’s, the sound is truly unique – a real sonic rebirth, while maintaining the song’s integrity. 

For a woman who only recently stepped onto her path as a musician, Kat Myers has become a prolific and dynamic songwriter, with a hell of a lot to say, and the presence to command an audience to listen. “Melodies find their way into my head, and then what I write for them just ends up being really honest. My songwriting heroes are people like Warren Zevon and Courtney Barnett – I just get the most out of songs that are really real.” The press has taken notice. Last year, Pop Matters applauded Kat’s band’s single, Reluctant Love, as being “driven forward by Myers’ soulful alto, carrying the song with a particular vocal yearning for the greater sense of awareness in the modern world that it’s lyrically centered around.” 

As 2019 approaches, expect to hear about shows in the works, as Kat brings her notebook full of songs to life, and puts the pieces together for her first solo album. “I look forward to continuing to play with inspiring artists from my new music community,” says Kat, as she slips in that she wouldn’t mind keeping a powerhouse of strong women around her. When asked if this next project will embody the vintage/70’s vibe that the Buzzards honed so well, she stresses that the honest and witty lyrics that she brought to her former band are her heart and soul, and that sensibility will not change. What’s going to embody those lyrics sonically will be part of the musical exploration that these next months will entail as she peels a few more layers, to find what’s waiting to emerge.