The future is female: Grown up as a shy outsider on the countryside of North Germany katie drives now raises her powerful and dark voice over distorted guitars and driving drums. She brings back the 2000s sound aesthetics and at the same time provides a fresh breeze of female power in the modern alternative scene. In her lyrics, katie deals with personal issues that also burden many other young adults. Coupled with her natural manner, she thus ensures a high identification potential.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello katie drives. Can you tell us about your early career? Where did you get the idea for the music industry?
As child I grew up to classical music, played the piano and sung in choirs until I was a teenager. Then I discovered a huge passion for music and deep in my heart I imagined a job in music industry for when I’m older. I’m from the countryside where companies don’t even exist but after school I actually found studies called „popular music and media“ on the internet and knew that’s how I could find a start. It was my best decision ever, I worked for MTV, Sony Music and Universal Music and now I work in the music industry full time. Most oft he workers are or were musicians themselves so I’m one out of many that combine their passion and their job. On the one hand it makes it easier for me to run a music project because I have the best knowlegde how the music business works but on the other hand it is very challenging to do such a project besides another job and I wish I could I had more time to work harder on both of my careers.
Where do you start when producing songs?
Whenever I have an idea for some lyrics melodies or sound aesthetics I take notes in my phone. From time to time I sit down to structure them and work them out. Then I go to my producer and he brings to life what’s in my head.
Your latest song is 'Anywhere But Here'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I showed my producer some songs that currently inspire me and on that basis the had a pattern in mind and I immediately loved it. All in all, due to lack of time, we worked on it over a year which is way too long haha. At the beginning I thought it might be too close to an existing song but we made to work it out into another direction so it became as unique as it should be.
What was the most difficult challenge you faced?
Katie drives was born in times when I was personally struggeling a lot as well as most of the people I worked with. Last year when working on the new EP it got even worse on my end. A heavy challenge in my family. So many different liabilities are difficult to handle at the same time and I feel lots on inner pressure on me.
What is your goal in artistic activities?
Playing cool shows, playing support tours with bigger artists, releasing an album. Making super cool music videos. Let’s see how hugh I can make it :)
How do you know when a work is finished?
It’s more my producer who says at some point I have to come to an end haha. Artist-problem that you always find details that might not be perfect yet, sometimes you change your mind over time, find new ideas. But then you would never release anything so it’s a good thing to have somebody else telling you to stop.
What is your trademark? It's about unique sounds or behaviors on stage.
My voice might not be the most beautiful and trained one but it’s kinda unique. Most of my songs sound edgier and darker than I appear, often it’s the other way around when I look at artists. And I move my left hand too much when holding the microphone in the right one haha.
What are your biggest achievements so far as an artist, but also personally?
I was able to impress and inspire some people with my own music. Something you can’t messure but it means a lot to me as I always dreamed about that.
What memorable responses have you had to your work?
There was a 9 years old girl at a gig of mine and she was so obsessed with me, she said it was the best day of her life because of my concert. That was so cute and emotional for me.
What are your plans for the future?
Achieving the goals from question 5 :)