Pop-funk powerhouse, Kat Graham, is developing a sound that is entirely her own; by combining sounds from the past with today’s music trends, Kat’s music can be enjoyed by any generation. Her music is backed by some of the biggest names in the industry, including pop legend Prince. As the anticipation of the release of her new album continues to build, Kat stopped by the Vydia booth at SXSW to give us a little preview of what to expect and some more insight into her musical background:
Where is she from: Kat was born in Geneva, Switzerland and moved to Hollywood at the age of 5.
Fun Fact #1: Kat can speak four languages including English, Spanish, French and Hebrew.
When did she start playing music: Around the age of 15, Kat decided she wanted to focus on music. She used the money she made from guest starring on television shows like Movie Surfers, Lizzie McGuire, Hannah Montana, and CSI to invest in her own recording studio and began producing her own music.
Who has she worked with: Prior to launching her solo singing career, Kat can be seen in some major music videos including Akon’s Mr. Lonely, John Legend’s Used to Love U, B2K’s Why I Love You, Nelly’s Just a Dream, and Diddy featuring Usher’s Looking for Love. Kat’s vocals were are featured on Will.I.am’s Song About Girls (I Got It From My Mama) and The Donque Song.
Who are her mentors: Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Randy Jackson and Prince.
Where does she draw inspiration: Kat’s pop-funk sound stems for her love of classic pop music. Her debut album, Roxbury Drive, was heavily influenced by 90s and was reminiscent of the music of TLC, James Brown, and The O’Jays. Her upcoming album taps into 70s and is shaped around the style of Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder.
Current single: All Your Love
Major accomplishments: In addition to being a professional singer, producer, and actress, Kat is the proud owner of a music engineering degree. Her original sound caught the attention of music legend, Prince, who was a major influence and guide for her upcoming album.
Fun Fact #2: When Kat was a teenager, she spent some time as a back-up dancer for Bow-Wow, Missy Elliott, and Pharrell!
What to watch out for: Kat Graham has big plans for 2017. On the music side, she is looking to drop her newest single, Sometimes on March 31. She is also slated to release her new record, Love Music Funk Magic, this June. On the acting side, Kat will be starring as Jada Pinkett in the upcoming Tupac biopic, All Eyez on Me, to also be released this June.
Kat is currently taking SXSW by storm. You can watch her full performance at the Vydia Booth where she gave us a sneak peek of her new single Sometimes. You can also catch Kat as she headlines the UNITE at Empire: ACLU Benefit concert this Saturday (3/18) from 12-5pm. Stay up-to-date with news about your favorite Vydia artists, like Kat Graham, by following along our Vydia social media and reading our weekly blogs.