Kate Voegele In Cool Cleveland's ongoing vYbe feature, we hook you up with 20-somethings who have something more to offer creatively and intellectually. Kate Voegele may look like the girl next door, but this seventeen year-old pop singer/songwriter from Bay Village recently headlined with Dave Matthews. And touring around the country promoting her unique style of music isn’t the only thing on her mind; she is on the brink of landing a national recording contract while balancing graduating from high school. Cool Cleveland spoke with this local talented student who is opening for the national act Los Lonely Boys at the Odeon on 12/11, and performing at House of Blues on 12/18. She'll also be part of the Fresh Tracks Music fall college tour. http://KateVoegele.com or http://www.FreshTracksMusic.com

Your career is getting ready to move from a local to a national scene. How are you preparing yourself for this transition?
I don’t want to be presumptuous because first of all, the music industry is insane. You just don’t ever know, so I am taking it day by day. I am applying for college because this could go one way, or it could go the totally opposite way. I am prepared to go to college and get my education. If my music takes off and I do take a few years off, I still want a college education. So right now, I am playing both parts and it’s feasible.

You recently headlined Farm Aid with John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Willie Nelson. Did that experience affect you in a new way?
Yes, it was incredible. There were 10,000 people in the Red River amphitheatre - this was nothing like I ever played before. The biggest crowd I played for before this was 400 people, but the best thing about the concert was that it was for a good cause. My mom’s side of the family had a big farm, so it was close to home for me. It was also great to classify myself with really successful people who are being true to their art. People like Neil Young, who aren’t buying into that cookie-cutter image that is out there today; then I saw Dave Matthews in concert from the lawn in July and a few months later I was hanging out with him backstage. All the artists were really down-to-earth people.

You’ve got a positive attitude about your growing career, but how long has music been a part of your life?
Music has been my life forever. My dad was always playing the guitar, whether we were on vacation or he was writing his music while we were in the coffee house. He would always be making up songs, whether they were about why we need to clean up the house or just all sorts of stuff. My grandma would always be playing the piano, especially during holidays. My dad bought me a guitar when I was 10, but I really never played it. I learned a couple of chords but I really didn’t get into it until my freshman year of high school. I then started getting into the '90s singer/songwriters like John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch and Dave Matthews. All these people are topping the charts but they are staying true to their art. Also, I am a visual artist, I love drawing and painting. If I do go to college, I want to study photography. I thought songwriting and visual art go hand in hand.

When did your interest in writing music really begin?
We were on spring break and my dad usually brings his guitar on vacation, but he didn’t bring it this time. So he bought a little Baby Taylor so he can play it on the beach. I picked it up and I stole it all week. I started strumming it and remembering the chords I learned a while ago. I then asked my Dad if he could teach me how to play. He taught me how to play and I really enjoyed it. When we got home, he bought me a little four-track recorder so I could put my stuff down. I starting writing and thought this is awful. I didn’t want anyone listening to it. But my dad snuck into my room and listened to it anyway. He’s got a better recording system in his studio. He said, “you should let me help you record this stuff; I think it’s good.” So we put it down and then backstage during a Michelle Branch concert we bumped into a PR guy from Warner Brothers. My dad asked him if he would give it a listen. He then distributed my song to local music stations with a few other local artists asking them which one would you consider playing. They all picked mine! This was really encouraging to me.

When did you start playing live?
My dad also gave my demo to a few people that he knew. There was a guy from Pittsburgh who was with Clear Channel who said it would be cool to have me open for a couple shows. I thought, “wow, this is sweet” because I had just been playing the local Arabica. This was the summer of 2003. I did side stage for John Mayer and side stage for Patti Griffin. This was the first time I really played live.

Did you create your EP after you started gathering some steam playing live?
We needed a little better product we could sell at these live performances. Something better than what we could create from our home studios, so we hired a local producer Michael Siefert. He is very talented and helped us put together this demo. It has served us very well over this last year and a half. We hired a publicist, Mike Farley, and he has been amazing. He has gotten me so many gigs and so much publicity.

What impact has local music legend Mike Farley had on your career?
Having someone that is distributing your stuff who has been an artist is comforting. He can relate to my situation. He has been an excellent influence. He is getting the music out to the right people; this has been the catalyst.

What are you working on now?
We first needed to determine what our road map was going to be. We hired a new manager and a lawyer over the summer. We decided that Marshall Atlman was the right guy. He recently produced the Mark Broussard record. We are now putting together a new demo that features a mixture of new songs and some tweaking of old songs that we can shop to labels to say this is the beginning of the record. Sign us and we’ll finish the record.

What was your inspiration for the new songs? When did you have the time to write the new songs?
Marshall and I sat down and completed these two new songs in one day, “Kindly Unspoken” and “Facing Up”. This was the first time that I ever collaborated with someone. Co-writing was great because there were some things that I may have never thought of and vice-a-versa. The new demo has a great mix of stuff on it and I hope the labels will see that.

As a role model, what would you say to fellow teenagers following in your musical footsteps?
I never ever thought I would be doing this for anything more than a hobby. This is so much fun. It sounds stupid and totally cliché, but you never know what is going to happen. People get too wrapped up in the fame. I don’t care about my face being on a magazine. My definition of success doesn’t necessarily entail #1 on the Billboard charts, even though this would be awesome; it is being able to do what I love. I want people to relate to my music and say I really like listening to your songs. Because so many people have inspired me, there are so many songs that I listen to that describe exactly how I feel. It’s exactly what I want people to say about my music. Being able to play music, have a good time and influence people is as successful as I want to be. Do what you love and have a good time doing it. Don’t pressure yourself. Don’t give up. It is a very unpredictable industry, but that’s a good thing too because you can get opportunities that never seem possible.

Are you familiar with the Cleveland music scene? What advice would you give to local Cleveland bands?
Yes, I am. Mike [Farley] put on a local artist showcase at Scene Pavilion this summer. It was awesome because I was able to see a lot of the local bands. I was able to meet a lot of bands I only heard about. It’s important for local artists to form a coalition and be close to each other. Everyone should be supportive of each other because everyone can benefit from one another. I think local bands should put on shows with each other. Let people know that Cleveland artists support each other. We are a city with good music. We have a ton of talented musicians here.

On the other hand, what sets you apart from other Cleveland musicians?
My music is uniquely me. I am still a girl with guitar-written songs. I just don’t think you can necessarily compare people because everyone is different. My songs aren’t just stuff I made up. My music is me and my life experiences. Some people write a diary, but I write a song instead. I am different because of all the musical influences that I have listened to come together and come out of me. Everyone is set apart by who they are.

Who are your musical influences?
My biggest musical influence is really talented but underrated - Patty Griffin. Her CD “Living With Ghosts” is unreal. It is very stripped down with just vocals and acoustic guitar. It is so organic and real. Other artists like Jewel and Sheryl Crow have influenced me too. Then I can’t forget about the classics that I grew up on like Carole King, Eric Clapton, and James Taylor.

What did you think about the Ashlee Simpson lip-sync debacle on Saturday Night Live?
I actually feel bad for her because she has to come out looking perfect every night. I think it’s hard because there is a lot of pressure to sound just like your record. I wouldn’t lip-sync because it’s not my thing, but I am not going to sit here and rip on her. There is a lot of pressure on artists these days.

Is there a lot of pressure on you these days?
There is some pressure and some pressure is good. I work well under pressure, however I try to not let it get to me. When it stops being fun, I shouldn’t do it anymore. I want to stay true to what I want to do. I am having fun!

How would you classify your music? Pop rock?
Yes, my music is pop rock. It is acoustic-driven music that is mainstream, but is still very artistic.

It seems like you have a unique relationship with your family. Have they have been behind everything that you are doing?
Yes, my parents have been great. They have supported everything I am doing. So many other parents would probably say get a real job, but they have been behind me all the way. My sister Courtney has been great, too. She comes to all my shows and tells all of her friends to check out my music. from Cool Cleveland correspondent Marc Majercak marc@majercak.com

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