Kat Edmonson Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 8th 2010 11:30AM by Lonny Knapp
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Critics reference diverse artists from Bjork to Billie Holiday when describing Kat Edmonson. While flattering, these comparisons don't paint an accurate picture. She's a jazz artist with a jones for genre-defying tunes and a voice that at times exudes the raspy confidence of a veteran soul singer, and other times recalls the coquettish quality of a silver screen starlet.

A native of Austin, Edmonson won't have to travel far to take part in this year's SXSW. Spinner caught up with Edmonson to chat about her sound, her plans for surviving the party, and late-night talk radio.

Describe your sound in your own words.

My musical foundation is jazz, but it's not my only musical influence, or my only love. By incorporating well-written songs from other genres into this jazz context, I try to create a sound that is genre defying. I don't want to label it jazz, pop, or rock and put it into a box, but in record stores you will find it in the jazz section.

What are your musical influences?

Initially I learned music through musicals. I grew up listening to the music of Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart and Cole Porter, and when I started listening to my Mom's records, I found those same songs in the jazz repertoire. When I first got into jazz, I was listening to Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra, but I came to love this oldie station out of Houston and discovered Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson and the Shirelles. Later I discovered James Taylor and Carly Simon and Neil Young. I never really tire of finding new music and I draw influence from everything that turns me on.

What's you biggest vice?

Procrastination.

What's in you SXSW survival kit?

Last year I got sick during SXSW. It's seemingly a time to let loose and just party, because there are so many people in town, but you can get sick very easily. You need [to get] ample sleep, take a lot of vitamins, drink tons of water and pack some sunscreen.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Marlon Brando. In the musical 'Guys and Dolls' he was so cool, confident and just incredibly handsome. His character is trying to win the heart of the ingénue, but in the end he wins the heart of every woman watching.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles.

What is the crazy thing you've seen or experienced on tour?

After driving all day long from Boston and playing two shows that night in New York City, I was slotted to go on the Joey Reynolds show, an all-night talk radio show. The other guest was John 'Cha Cha' Ciarcia. He is famous for playing gangsters in Goodfellas and the Sopranos and as result, he leads these gangster tours in New York.

So, it was two in the morning and were sitting waiting to go on air, and 'Cha Cha' had brought all this food from his Italian restaurant. Finding myself in the wee hours somewhere in New York's financial district chowing down on ziti and doing my best not to fall asleep, was pretty bizarre.