top of page
Search

The Nine lives of KAT VALENTINE..

Writer: goldenstateservicesj
goldenstateservicesj
Mar 18, 2022
8 min read

“I think there’s something off about me that people want to figure out. My sound can be hard to place. I try to do what I do for the girls, for their gaze and their power fantasies. But I think there’s something for everyone. I want to make an effort to connect with people and fans and become a reflection of what they want to see in an idol, because I don’t think fanservice is a bad thing. Fanservice is what I live for.“

At first glance singer and songwriter KAT VALENTINE gives off a different vibe. And thats exactly how she likes it. First rule of engagement, is to get to your attention. Whether its direct, or by distraction in order to disarm, capture and hold you. The more than obvious images of the vocalist, exudes alternative, suggestive or even Goth vibes, Given her chosen look and style .. “I don’t really consider myself goth. I guess my style is alternative, but even then a lot of alternative people would say my style is tame cause of the lack of piercings and/or tattoos (though I plan to change that, I’m just indecisive as hell)..” states the Windsor, Ontario native. Who began her career a short 7 years ago as a contestant on a Canadian version of American Idol.

I personally met the young ingenue many moons back. I am always in discovery mode. Especially when it comes to music and the artists who make it. Living in Detroit a.k.a “Motown” has its privileges for the music head in you. A talented and interesting array of exceptional artists in the local music scene as well as the region. But Detroit is also a Border town, and the music from close international neighbor and Canadian gateway, Windsor, Ontario, Has exceptional artistry of its own to offer to the region. So imagine my delight in discovering the young talent right across the river. I used to produce a Live music showcase, where I sought out young R&B artist to feature as performers . I always looked for artists or performers who stood out and commanded attention. Both onstage and off. Authentically. They just got that air about them. Some call it the “It” factor , I call it Good Air. And Kat Moscone had the kind of air around her was Immaculate. It was something that came about naturally.. “I’ve loved music all my life. I begged my parents for six years to audition for The Next Star on YTV, and when I was 13 they finally let me. They weren’t expecting me to get a golden ticket let alone go to the end, but I’ve always believed in myself. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. It opened up some doors for me and taught me a lot about the industry, but going back to a normal life after instilled in me the drive to keep making music. I’ll never not be an artist, I’ll always chase the spotlight.” And once the spotlight got to shine on the young performer, it never dimmed. After placing fourth KAT, continued her journey and sought to find herself both musically and more. She began the indie artist route performing in and around her Province of Ontario while finishing school and beginning college. She also released her own Independent music. “I think I have a unique story that offers me a unique perspective. It may be something people expect to see in my lyrics but I think it expands beyond that. My lyrics are stylistically inconsistent, subtly nonsensical, because I form songs instrumentally and aesthetically before lyrically. My genre, my image, it’s unlimited. I want to have a legacy that’s multidisciplinary. I want to be the lead creative on all of the content my name may produce.” says VALENTINE, on what makes her, and her music a necessity for an already hemorrhaging music industry. KAT VALENTINE is a chameleon- esque/ multi thronged mutation of an artist. Her R&B/ Pop creations recall or suggest she is every bit the next coming of the Rhianna/ Katy Perry influenced generation of the 2000s/ 20 – tens. While her imaging and branding (All artist self designed) suggest a wilder side vibe.” Her music , is still the lightening in the bottle. And make no mistake, KAT isn’t about Style over substance when it comes to her music.. “They (music and image) are equally important to me. Music is a multisensory experience. We all may not taste color or see sounds, but many of us are transported to powerful memories when we hear a certain melody. Many of us play our music loud enough it shakes our bones. Many of us make love to our favorite songs. If an artist can find a way to mediate those experiences, optimize every dimension and every sense, they can make the ultimate connection with their fans.” states the Canadian artist who has built a strong reputation in her native Windsor and looks to build on her young career with more music and performing. One thing a lot of artists often run into. Is comparisons. Because like it or not. People gravitate to the familiar. And if you remind them of a particular artist, its all to the good. It means they can relate to you and your music. And they’ve become a fan. Vocalist VALENTINE takes comparisons as nods to her own influences.. “I’m inspired by legends like Erykah Badu, Aaliyah, Timbaland, and Sade, But i find myself heavily influenced by newer artists like Sevdaliza, BANKS, Tinashe, and SZA. My list of influences goes on forever. Professionally I look up to artists like Taylor Swift, who have a plan and an idea around every aspect of their artist identity. The way she spins her drama and tragedy to work for her, the way she creates and delivers a narrative through her music. I love artists with lore. She is perfect pop.” Citing her own inspirations and influences. She gets it. Whether its ambition or tradition. KAT VALENTINE , also has a plan that she is following toward total domination. And takes an active hand in her plans in all aspects. She expects and directs herself toward her goals in every calculated move. From music, to image to visual treatments. She has her own ideas and works to implement them as much as she can.. ” I’m super into the music video process of things. I want to make a short film with a music video as the script in the next couple years. I’ve also been working on a line of refurbished and upcycled vintage. I wanna do it all. I produced most of my album too and I can see myself doing that for others. Anything that allows me to take creative control I wanna do. ”

If I dare to give observation. I would say for those who dig the Victoria Monet’s, Normani’s and Teyana Taylor type of artist. Then KAT VALENTINE is your flavor. American audiences of late are welcoming our Northern neighbor’s musical children at a much higher rate than in the past. And making them Worldwide Superstars. With the influx of Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Carly Rae Jepsen and of course Uber Artist, Drake. A good number of Iconic musical artists in the first quarter on the 21st century, are Canadian born and bred. Speaking on the comparison between the Candian and American music markets, KAT has an onstage view, “It’s funny when Americans don’t recognize super popular songs or artists from my childhood; I forget how isolated– or rather exclusive– the American media is. I think its the case that if artists want to succeed internationally their best chance is through the American market. With my proximity to Detroit especially, I’ll be making through to the US soon enough. But my preference… can’t go wrong with that universal healthcare. I think my homebase will be in Canada even as I expand.” Still keeping her roots are very important to the young singer and songwriter, who’s music also touches on Pop. Although its always a given the Black artists are expected to do R&B by Nature. KAT, believes its a title that artists are not solely identified by. “I feel like more artists are branching out of that term. I don’t think I’d call myself primarily an R&B artist, I don’t think I listen to primarily R&B. I think it’s a term that’s plastered onto a lot of black artists because of a history we don’t talk about or know about. But regardless, look at an artist like Ariana Grande; runs for days, trap beats, down to the women she says she’s influenced by (Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey) and yet no one hesitates to classify her as Pop. In a way I think R&B is dying, or expanding. Black artists are feeling comfortable identifying themselves within different genres, or creating new ones, and I think that’s awesome.” Her latest EP “Sirens Pt. 1” is a build up that started in 2020 and culminated with the release in 2022. Full of self written and produced materiel, KAT has delivered a very well oiled batch of bangers. KAT VALENTINES style gets a visual treatment with the songs “Please Me” and an extended Visual for “Casualty”. The latter of which KAT displays her capable acting chops. As a songwriter, KAT always had a strong pen game. But with help from other producers, now she has grown into producer in her own right, creating a solid landscape around her compositions. “The sound engineers I work with have been instrumental in making my music come to life. I work with Avius Recordings and MAD Recordings out of Windsor. Avius produced Please Me, my first single and the last track on my EP. other than that song, everything else has been me. I’ve been working on a budget so the stems were all produced and arranged in GarageBand before I brought them to the studio.” state the talented young artist on her creations. Her sound is groove heavy mid to up-tempo productions, that allow her lyrics.. sultry, sensual and enticing, a strong bed of sound for her strong and capable vocals to ride on. Always thinking with her inner eye, KAT takes her inspirations form many directions. Especially her strong belief in Female Empowerment. She takes the usual stereotypical observations and flips them to build her own views of femineity.. ” I think pink is a femininity thing. The more I learn about it, the more I question my own gender identity, but as a black woman I feel society tries to deny us our femininity. Either we are demonized or shamed for it, or we are told we aren’t enough of it. But pink can’t be denied, it’s my protection. Not from other people’s ideas of me but from letting them affect me. I’ve fully embraced the girly, the femme, for the fun beautiful thing I think it is. Anyone who can’t see that, is deciding not to.” The self described “Kitty Kaos” has been prepping for her destiny for a while and is lashing out to make her presence known and remembered. Doubt anyone will forget nor regret coming across KAT VALENTINE. Some plan and live a lifetime trying to make their mark if only for a short time. Thing about this KAT, is shes just getting started. And making sure you know her not just for this Lifetime. But for all nine.. Terry Martin for RnBInTheD.com

Email: katmosconemusic@outlook.com

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page