411 Music Interview with Kate Voegele

Posted by Vanessa Willoughby on 04.24.2009

From TV to music, rising star Kate Voegele talks about her newest CD, her upcoming tour, and her role on the CW's One Tree Hill.



For someone that has established herself as both a notable TV actress and recording artist all before her twenty-third birthday, Kate Voegele is not only talented but refreshingly down-to-earth. If it weren't for her reoccurring role on the CW's One Tree Hill and her debut album, Don't Look Away, Voegele could easily blend in with the average college crowd. Fortunately for us, Voegele is on the verge of releasing her sophomore album, A Fine Mess, and embark on her first headlining tour.

With two albums under her belt, a tour on the way, and a TV spot, what's next?

A vacation in Florida, of course.

Voegele has just finished shooting her scenes for Season 6 of One Tree Hill, in a role that ironically imitates life. The singer/songstress plays Mia Catalano, a young singer and keyboardist that is discovered by label owner, Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton). Voegele, having no previous acting experience, said that it's been "the perfect vehicle," as the added exposure has helped expand her fan base.

Certainly, the role has been a launching pad for Voegele, as she has the opportunity to perform songs from her own album. On her very first appearance, Mia performs "Kindly Unspoken," which appears on Voegele's debut, Don't Look Away.

However, with the forthcoming release of A Fine Mess, set to drop May 18th, it should be noted that the girl featured on her first album has radically transformed into the young woman who penned the tracks for the second.

"The first record, I first started writing when I was 15, when I was in high school. The new album is about me growing up, meeting new people, and having new experiences, stories of the road. It feels very current," she explained.

Unlike Don't Look Away, which Voegele admits she may have filtered some of her vulnerability, her sophomore effort is more melodic and more honest, yet still embodies her appreciation for melody and the song-writing process. Her love of song writing is evident in the "books and books of songs" that the singer wanted to include, but was forced to cut. Some artists have been known to attribute their own style to specific influences, but Voegele assures that her musical palate is as diverse and widespread as the songs on her Ipod.

Voegele confessed, "It's a tough time but a fun process. I definitely feel like the songs were the right ones [for the album]."

It seems that she's always been the multi-tasking artiste, as music has been deeply intertwined with her life at a very young age. Coincidentally, her ear for music has been passed down from her father, who is also a musician. However, Voegele's passion for music truly blossomed in high school, when she first picked up the guitar.

Before pursuing a full-time music career, Voegele attended Miami University in Oxford Ohio, double majoring in fine arts and psychology. Upon leaving school in 2007, her intellectual curiosity has not been extinguished. In fact, one could say that her music and her education share a symbiotic relationship, as she is currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix, who, in addition to Myspace, is sponsoring her tour.

Her tour, which begins on April 24th in Salt Lake City, will give Voegele the chance to call the shots.

"I can't wait. I always knew it [music] was something I wanted to do," she gushed.

In today's musical climate, it's not unusual for an artist to become a triple-threat, branching out into fashion, films and/or cosmetics. Does this mean that Voegele is ready to put down the guitar and trade the stage for the silver screen?

"One Tree Hill made me love acting. I'm open to pursuing acting down the road. At some point, who knows?"

Fortunately, fans can breathe easy. Despite her newfound love affair with acting, Voegele will first and foremost remain a musician.

To get more information about Kate Voegele, including tour dates, check out her website at http://www.katevoegele.com or her Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/katevoegele.