FEATURE: Spotlight: Kat & Alex — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Kat & Alex

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NOT too many Country acts…

have been featured in my Spotlight feature. I am quite new to the music of Kat & Alex. The Nashville-based duo unite Country values with a Latin twist. It is a fresh, exciting, multicultural and colourful blend that has helped to bring Latin sounds and music to a different audience. I wonder whether we will see any other acts like Kat & Alex come through. An inspiring and very close duo, their relationship works in the music’s favour. They have that natural and deep chemistry that one can hear in every song. There are a couple of interviews I want to get to so that we can get to know the duo a lot better. Before that, and from their official website, here is some bio about Kat & Alex:

“For as much as Kat & Alex embody classic country stylings and values, the Nashville-based duo also rewrite the rules altogether with a Latin twist. The husband-and-wife pair shake up country with full-bodied soulful delivery, inventive live instrumentation, and bilingual lyrics, introducing themselves as outliers with just the right amount of outlaw glee. Before their paths finally crossed, Alex worked as a police officer for two years and logged time as a social media influencer for Harley Davidson Corporate in Milwaukee, WI, before he created art around Miami as “Space Cowboy.” Meanwhile, Kat honed her voice and took advantage of any opportunity to perform. She witnessed Alex sing one day, and the two forged an eternal bond after one date. They appeared on American Idol before returning home to focus on writing and recording original music. In 2020, they signed to The AMG for management and inked a publishing deal with Warner Chappell between numerous sessions with producer Brad Hill [Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne]. Kat & Alex made their official debut with the single “How Many Times” and its accompanying Spanish Version. Right out of the gate, it gathered 7.9 million Spotify streams as they claimed coveted real estate on playlists such as “Hot Country” and “New Boots” in addition to rubbing elbows with Bad Bunny and Camilo on Latin playlists. Amassing nearly 20 million streams independently and receiving acclaim from Billboard, CMT, and more, they introduce a scorching signature style in 2021 with new music for Sony Music Nashville ignited by “Heartbreak Tour”.

With some of their best and most personal material released last year, there was a lot of press interest. They will have more dates later in the year but, as far as I can see, the only confirmed short-term date is 8th April at the Tortuga Music Festival 2022. Sounds Like Nashville chatted with Kat Luna and Alex Georgia last year. Since their debut in 2020, they have risen, accrued a lot of news fans and grown as songwriters and performers:

“The duo’s Kat Luna and Alex Georgia rose to national fame during their 2020 American Idol audition. All three judges were completely smitten by their chemistry and vocal prowess, advancing them to Hollywood. Since coming off the television singing competition, the newly-wed singers signed a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville, a publishing deal with Warner Chappell, and management deal with The Artist Management Group (AMG), which formed by reputable industry professionals Rob Beckham and Bill Simmons, and is home to superstars Brad Paisley and Chris Young.

In October last year, Kat & Alex unveiled their official debut single and first ever release, “How Many Times.” A stellar mid-tempo offering, the poignant tune captures the essence of a breakup and the gripping emotions that follow after. Though both singers are happily married to each other now, they say it is something they “can relate to in [their] own separate pasts.” Since its release, the song has been spotlighted on SiriusXM The Highway’s new music discovery show, On The Horizon.

Last month, the rising country duo released two brand new tracks — the larger-than-life ballad “Heartbreak Tour” and the summery, roll-your-windows-down bop, “You and the Radio.”

Sounds Like Nashville got to chat with the singers earlier this month all about their individual journeys to music, American Idol audition, new music and of course, how they met. Hint: Kat saw Alex leading worship in a church, and thence began, as Katy Perry cheekily dubbed it, their “digital love affair.”

How did each of you get into music?

Kat: At a very young age, I was always singing and tapping on chairs. I always loved music. When I was in middle school, I auditioned for this high school, which was a Magnet School of the Arts. I had my audition, sang for them and they were like, “OK, perfect! We want you in our vocal program.” So after that day, I knew I wanted to do music for the rest of my life as a career. Later, I jumped on a show called La Vos (The Voice in Spanish), where I [found out] I really loved performing on stage. I met Alex shortly after, and after I started singing with him, I knew I didn’t want to and couldn’t do it with anybody else.

Alex: Music has been a part of my life ever since I was little. My dad was a drum major in high school and played the cello and flute. Any instrument he picked up, he pretty much learned. He had an acoustic nylon string guitar lying around that his brother had given him. So, I saw it and said, “I want to learn that instrument!” I was maybe 11 or 12. And he was like, “Yeah, here you go! You can learn the guitar, here’s some books, and we’ll get you lessons if you’re interested in it.” So that was really the beginning of me really taking music seriously.

How did y’all meet each other and end up dating?

Alex: I was painting at a place called Wynwood, Miam’s Art District. So, I started attending a church in that area, got on the worship team, played for a Sunday, and it just so happened that that Sunday was the day Kat was able to go back for service since she had not been to [one] in a while. That very day, she picked that very service that I was playing at. She normally goes to evening services, but she went that morning, and that’s where she saw me on stage! So, [it went] from Kat seeing me, to her friend having her add me on Instagram, to I adding her back. We had a “digital love affair”- that’s what Katy Perry called it. (chuckles)

PHOTO CREDIT: Matthew Berinato

How would you describe the sound of Kat & Alex?

Kat: I feel like it’s a mix of latin, soul and country. A latin fiesta!

Alex: Yeah, it’s an explosion! Imagine a cowboy and a cowgirl riding horses together on a rainbow and there’s this sound of country music flowing under it, and Adele is screaming and singing in the background! (laughs)

How much of a role has faith played in both of your journeys?

Kat: I feel like in my life, faith has gotten me through every single thing that I’ve gone through. Every challenge and every bad thing. If it wasn’t for my faith in God, I wouldn’t be who I am today, and as happy as I am today.

Alex: Faith plays a large role [in my life]. When I was in law enforcement and got that injury and concussion, I hit rock bottom. I was depressed and wanted to commit suicide. I honestly wanted to end everything. God really got me through that season because I believe God had a bigger purpose for my life—bigger than what I could imagine. And little did I know, it was to meet Kat and start playing music that would impact so many people. And that’s why, even now, God plays such a big role in our marriage and our career. This is all faith-based. This is a purpose that God gave to us. It’s a responsibility, really, and we don’t take that lightly. So, we put all our faith and trust in Him and know that He’s got big plans for us.

What else do you want fans to know about Kat & Alex?

Alex: As a country duo, like what Luke Combs says, “What You See Is What You Get!” We are as real as it is and we really try to be as transparent as possible with our fans.

Kat: We want people to feel like we’re a part of their family and we want them to feel like they’re a part of ours.

Alex: Yes! Because in the Latin culture, for example, if you’re going to a Latino’s house, they’re going to treat you like family. “You want to eat? You want to drink? You want a pillow to lay your head on? I got you.” So we want everyone to feel like that”.

Before rounding off, there is another interview that I really like. Country Now interviewed Kat & Alex as they were picking up some serious traction and attention. As they were (and are) married, it must be quite a feat to balance and separate their personal relationship with the professional one:

“No one in country music right now sounds like you. What is it like to be trailblazers as artists mixing country and Latin influences?

It’s an honor to hear how we are trailblazing in country music. To be honest, we are just making sure that we stay true to who we are. Even before we came to Nashville, we talked about incorporating our native language into country music because it mixed two of our favorite things. It’s the best of both worlds, and we wouldn’t want to have it any other way. We are humbled and happy to know that everyone else enjoys the mix just as much as we do!

How does it feel when you connect with non-English listeners and introduce them to the country genre?

Being able to connect with non-English speaking listeners and introduce them to country music is an indescribable experience. Music is so powerful, and it truly unites everyone. When we get messages from people saying things like, ‘I am so excited to have found you guys because now I can show my family country music,’ and they can connect with the lyrics, it warms our hearts. People get just as fired up about this blend as we do!

What do you want fans to take away from your music?

We want them to feel like they are a part of the song. We want them to connect with our music and feel like they helped write it. They are our “familia,” which means “family” in Spanish.

As husband-and-wife, how do you balance your personal lives with your musical lives?

It is truly an incredible thing to be able to play music together. Music was already such a large part of our personal lives. Since we get to play music for a living, it feels like we never have to go to work. We get to live out our dreams every day and create music just like we always have since the day we met”.

With one of their best singles, I Want It All, released recently. I wonder if Kat & Alex have an album planned this year – or whether they are going to work on some more singles and tour as much as they can. I hope they get an opportunity to come to the U.K. soon, as there is an audience for them here. Country radio aficionados like the legendary Bob Harris would definitely back their music and support them. Go and back Kat & Alex and follow them. They are a wonderful, close-knit and hugely talented pair whose unity of Latin and Country is quite ground-breaking. The brilliant Kat & Alex are…