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New York based indie-pop/folk singer, Kate Copeland creates fresh new music that expands across several different genres, making her a true musical chameleon. Her debut album, ‘Recollection Room,‘ is a harmonious delight full of lush arrangements and intricate vocals. GroundSounds recently caught up with Kate to talk about her latest project, musical inspirations and more, check out the exclusive interview below.
For those just discovering Kate Copeland, can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I have been playing music all my life. My dad, Mark Ettinger, is a singer-songwriter and composer, so I grew up with music in the house and started playing piano when I was 5. This developed into songwriting when I was 10, and by 13 I began to take an interest in more formal composition through studying with Myra Melford. By the time I was in high school I was pretty certain I wanted to be a full-time musician when I grew up!
What was it like growing up in Port Townsend, WA? What is one thing every visitor should see or do?
I actually grew up in New York City and moved to Port Townsend three years ago. It’s a really special place with an incredibly close-knit community of people who have known each other forever. I would definitely recommend visiting Fort Worden, and also grabbing a slice of famous Waterfront pizza!
Can you tell us about working on and bringing your debut album ‘Recollection Room’ to fruition?
Working on that album was like climbing a mountain and realizing every 10 feet that you need another piece of gear you accidentally left at the bottom, so you have to climb back down and get it before proceeding. It’s my first real studio album, so naturally it was a huge learning experience. My main collaborator on the project, Alex Overington, was also learning things as we went, so it’s unsurprising that we encountered some obstacles along the way. Ultimately I think it turned out really well, even if the process was much more drawn out and complicated than anticipated.
What inspired the name title ‘Recollection Room’?
Naming this album was so difficult! I actually decided on a title for it three years ago, while we were still tracking, but then the project took a long time to complete and by the time it was finished I saw that two other albums had been released with that same title! So back to the drawing board I went. I settled on several different titles before Recollection Room popped into my head one night as I was falling asleep. It just instantly felt right, because for me, writing songs is a process of revisiting memories and the feelings associated with them. I also like that the word “Recollection” has the word “collection” inside of it, since an album is a collection of songs. Lastly, I liked that the word “Room” has an intimate quality to it, and who doesn’t appreciate alliteration?
Can you tell us about the writing and creative process involved with your single “My Cruel Tongue?”
That song was a very immediate and visceral response to a messy break up I went through in college. Despite knowing that the relationship had to end, I found myself meditating on my use of language, and feeling terrible about certain things that I had said and words that I had used to convey my feelings. Language is incredibly powerful, and I wanted to write a song that captured some of the remorse I felt. When it came time to record it for the album I knew that I wanted it to feel jagged and heavy – almost uncomfortable in a way, never truly settled into itself – since that reflects how I was feeling when I wrote it.
What musicians/bands are you currently listening to?
I love The Oh Hellos, Gabriel Kahane, Baths, and Big Thief these days. Of course there are artists I’ll always come back to, like Fleet Foxes, Bjork, and Radiohead!
Can you tell us about filming the music video for “Breaking?” What was this day like?
We shot on two locations over the course of 3 days. We spent 2 days filming the “story” scenes in New Jersey, then over a year later we shot all of the infinity wall footage during one day in Seattle. Because my life has been essentially bi-coastal for the past 3 years this somehow felt appropriate! I had an amazing production team working with me, nearly all of them dear friends from elementary school, high school, and college. It was a mad scramble to get all the footage we initially wanted in New Jersey, but when we went to edit the video together I realized there was a missing element, and so we decided to get the B-roll footage with me singing at the camera and falling to pieces. Ultimately I think that was the right direction to go in for this song, since it’s about slowly realizing how destroyed you feel, but simultaneously refusing to be defeated.
What was the inspiration for your track “Ten Silver Apples?”
I wrote this song on an airplane several years ago, entirely inside my head. I have a form of shorthand notation that I use to jot down my ideas for songs when I can’t record them, so I did just that! My mandolin was my carry-on so I was able to play through the song during my layover, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it seemed to work out! The lyrics were inspired by the poet W.B. Yeats, a favorite of mine. I wanted to write a lullaby that felt otherworldly and enchanting somehow – something that would transport the listener into a moonlit dreamland.
What’s next for Kate Copeland? What can fans look forward to?
I’m about to hit the road with Seattle-based psychedelic rock band General Mojo’s who I sing and play keys with, and we have a brand new EP we’re hoping to release this fall. I’m also producing NY folk-rock artist Dougmore’s debut LP, so I’ve just been in the studio recording the rhythm tracks for that project. It’s coming together really nicely. In the meantime I’m sitting on a collection of new songs that I’d love to turn into something, so you might hear more from me in the next year or so! Stay tuned!
