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West Side Dave: It`s been nearly 8 years since the release of "Maiden Voyage". What have you been up to since?
Kat Marco: Wow...taking a look back on the past decade makes me realize just how much has happened in my life, musically and all else. It has been the best decade of all. Once I finished my Maiden Voyage and got on the Ship of Dreams, ~+smile+~... I found my way home. Just about the time I met you Dave, I got myself a piece of real estate where I lived for many years with 5 Rottweilers. Remember that? Sad to say I am down to only one Rottweiler left. Most of them went down of natural causes, though one I had to send to bad doggie heaven because he attacked me. During that time I wrote many songs and kept practicing vocals and guitar all the time. I also began an affair with minerology. Pretty much staying reclusive. (but that doesn't mean I don't know how to party, and get into brawls). I got myself in a position to have a new home built on my land which really made things change. By the time I moved in, decorated it with all of my musical instruments and rocks, I had only two of my dogs left. But my life was still flying especially because I met this really great boyfriend who stole my heart. Moving into my new home allowed me to have awesome rehearsal and having passion for Greg opened a whole new world for me. I started recording, and once the first song went down I just kept going. I now have 50 new recordings, more songs to record, and am still writing new ones. I'm running mp3's on my web site, usually 4 at a time, changing them weekly as it stands and gearing up to release my new CD. My days revolve around the music, Greg, my Rottweiler and two cats, and the usual things that make life fun (and interesting) like friends and family and my ongoing love of rocks and minerology. I feel sometimes that my life is a fairytale.
WSD: Are you playing ALL instruments on your upcoming CD?
KM: Yes. Except I programmed the drums. I had ideas of others playing some tracks, and still do, but I got impatient and ended up finding out that I can cut all the tracks myself. I am mainly a guitarist/singer/songwriter, and that is why I do what I do. But to get things done I have become a bassist/keyboardist/drum programmer/engineer/producer as well and really love it.
WSD: Your songs cover a lot of different styles of Rock. Do you find it easier or more difficult to write songs this way?
KM: I try to be as true to my personality as I can be in my productions and go with the emotion I feel for each song and why it was written. There are certain guidelines that have to be followed though, like length of songs and arrangements. I try not to do the same thing too much if possible. And so as my songs have evolved they have taken on the characteristics of my dynamics as a person. I can be a pussy cat or like a panther engaged in feast. I am sure you understand Dave being you are such a dynamic person youself. And you are a very good guitar player too. All of my life I have loved rock music from ballads to bone crushing metal, because it feeds my extremes. To me each song is language. When I play them it is almost as though I am telling them. So I believe it is easier to go with the emotion of each piece resulting in many different styles of rock.
WSD: What are some of the themes that run through out your songs?
KM:I love the Aerosmith song Dream On. That song has mattered to me so much over the years and has been an inspiration not only for it's theme but the cool rock way it's delivered. So doing a remake of that song fell right onto the path my songs take. In fact Dream On would be a great CD title for me. My songs are written from an earthly as well as a spiritual place. Mostly from my life experiences. I actually try to encourage myself and to learn from the songs I work on. I write about Love, Perseside. I want to be good to my lover. To honor my daughters, grandchildren, family and friends. To take care of my pets. And it matters that I continue making music forever.
WSD: Which of your songs do you consider to be the most "Kat-like", that best represent you as a musician?
KM: All of them. Each in different aspects. I feel more Kat-like when I am working on my music than ever, except maybe when I am making love with Greg, which makes me purr and growl too. Everything that I am is there in my songs. I am very proud of the song Redemption for my guitar work, and of my vocals on Dream On. Trust me when I tell you that I have done some productions that I suck on and have scrapped. So in my opinion I am honest about whether my musicianship is coming across. Some of these productions came as a big suprise. When I record a song Dave, I just do it. I have the song laid out and just go for it. I leave mistakes that work and get excited about them. I try to forget what I am doing physically and allow the music to come forth from my emotion. I have to go back and relearn everything that I have recorded especially my solos which I just riff on for the most part. I grab my hook and let my soul go free. Several of my favorites are Reign of the Diva, which is on the lines of Rebel Renegade off Maiden Voyage, and I am proud of All Nite, Cry No More, Heart Of The Lonely One... Out of 50 that I cut in the past year there are 40 of which I would let anyone hear, the other 10 I will have to redo sometime. I have hundreds to record still and keep writing new ones, I will never catch up! Can't wait for you to hear my version of Barracuda which I plan to record soon! And my song Breathe which I just recorded in the past couple of months.
WSD: What inspired you to pick up the guitar, and was that your first instrument?
KM: I always played around with music and instruments but when I got serious about doing the music thing I was mostly singing and song writing. The first instrument I wrote songs on was a synthesizer, but that didn't last because I wanted the guitar as the main focus. I loved the sound of rock guitar. I recorded and performed with many guitarists for a while, but found myself having to rely too much on others to get my songs done. I decided that I need to get a guitar and bam it was like an arm I had lost. So now the past 20 years I have been a guitar/vocal/song freak. Playing the other instruments is like breathing. I know what I want and it is very easy for me to fuss around until I hit it. I like to work alone, in private. That way I can try things and risk sucking until I find it without having to answer to anyone. When I play guitar, sing and perform my songs I feel like I am a flower in bloom. Except when I make a mistake and crash, then it's like a train wreck. ~+smile+~
WSD: List 5 albums that you consider essential listening:
KM: Live: Birds Of Pray
Evanescence: Fallen
The Guess Who: These Eyes
Josh Groban: Josh Groban
Mudvayne: The End Of all Things To Come
WSD: What equipment are you
currently using?
KM: I keep it simple. I play my BC Rich, and an Acoustic that suits my style. I still play through my Crate Amp and Marshal Speakers but I do most of my work now with my Boss Recording Gear. It is self contained and has all the sounds I need to get the big production I like. I run it through an Exciter and a Virtualizer. I put most of my focus on vocal tone, fingertips and emotion.
WSD: In your opinion, what can/should music "accomplish"? [for lack of a better word!]
KM: Music should touch the mortal heart. It should reach right into the core of our emotion where what ever we are feeling can be met and brought to the surface. Music can show that like the wind sometimes changes from a gentle breeze to a whirling tornado so do our emotions and that they are all suppose to be a part of the cresendo.
WSD: What matters most to you as a person?
KM: I just want to be myself and let others be as they are. Standing up for others, Forgiveness, Heaven, Passion, Being your own person, Victory and those things that make me a better person. Which I have a long way to go to get there. Trust me I have many faults, but I usually don't write too many songs about them. ~+smile+~
WSD: What are you currently listening to?
KM: The latest CD I have been obsessed with is Live: Birds of Pray. But mostly this past year I have focused on my own productions.
WSD: What inspires you, both as a musician and a person?
KM: Loving and being loved. Drama. Passion. Excitement, Fear and Hesitation. Dynamics!
WSD:The final word is all yours, Kat!
KM: ~+smile+~
You live dangerously too I see Dave! Giving a woman the final word. I could really run with that if I hadn't already said so much in my songs. I would like to say as a final word though how happy I am. Really and truly happy. I feel that I have come into my own musically as well as personally. It's been people like you who have appreciated me for who I am that have shown me the way there. Thank you for your interest in my life and my music. I am honored, especially knowing what a great musician and person you are.
[Is she the greatest or WHAT? Thanks a million, Kat; you are truly the Goddess Of Rock!]
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