Meet Kate Engelmeyer | Singer/Songwriter & Freelance Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Engelmeyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I was incredibly creative as a child, and some of my interests included photography, creating home movies, drawing floor plans and portraits, and making magazines with my friends. When I was in 5th grade I started playing violin, and soon after I picked up various other instruments, including the guitar. I loved being creative through music, and I especially enjoyed singing and writing songs. By the end of middle school, music had become my greatest passion and I knew that I wanted to pursue it as a career. As an introvert, I discovered that songwriting allows me to express myself in a way that I never could otherwise. I began performing regularly in high school and realized how much I love sharing my music with others. Since then, I have dreamed of making a positive impact on the world through my music.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a singer/songwriter, I have always found it difficult to place my music in any one genre. I create my own sound with my unique voice and guitar playing that combines strumming and fingerpicking techniques. Although I have enjoyed listening to many different types of music throughout my life, elements of the pop, rock, and folk genres are most reflected in my music. My lyrics are introspective and meaningful, written from my personal experiences.

I believe I am set apart from others as a performer because I appeal to a wide variety of audiences. When I was a teenager, one of the first places I performed outside of church and school was at a retirement community where I volunteered. I wanted to play music that the residents might recognize, so I learned oldies from the 50’s and 60’s. It would be several years before I started learning modern pop music! One of my favorite places to perform in my hometown, Pensacola, was at Artel Gallery for the city’s monthly Gallery Night which took place downtown. People of all ages visited the gallery and enjoyed my music while admiring the artwork. Currently, I try to appeal to a wide variety of audiences by playing music from different genres and decades. Many of the cover songs I perform are by modern pop artists, but I also enjoy playing some rock, country, jazz, and R&B songs. In my original song repertoire, there is something for everyone. Some songs sound folky, some are pop or rock inspired, and some songs have elements of all of these genres.

A couple months ago, my debut EP “Soft Spoken” was released on all major streaming platforms. I have been writing songs since I was 13 and the release of this 5 song EP was a dream come true. I really enjoyed the recording process and am so impressed with the finished product. I am excited to start recording another EP soon, which will feature some of my newer songs.

Although I have been performing since I was 15, I did not consider myself a serious freelance musician until recently. Shortly after moving to Miami in the summer of 2022, I made it my goal to turn my gigs into a job instead of just something I do every now and then. It was difficult to get started in a new city with no connections, especially as a solo artist, since many venues are more interested in booking bands or DJs. My approach has been to reach out to as many places as possible throughout South Florida. At first I was worried that I would not hear back from anybody, but I was determined to keep trying. I am grateful for the gigs I have gotten so far and I have really enjoyed performing at such a variety of places, including restaurants, breweries, wine bars, markets, and more. The main lesson I have learned from this is that persistence pays off and I should keep working towards my goals.

I would like the world to know that my original music is written from the heart and performed with passion. Although my songs are based on my personal experiences, I hope that other people can relate to them and be impacted in a positive way. Whether people experience my music while I am performing at a restaurant or discover one of my songs on Spotify, I hope that it brightens their day.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend came to visit me in Miami, I would take them to one of my favorite places in the city, Crandon Park. I love the drive across the bridge where you can see both the skyscrapers of downtown Miami and the beautiful blue water. I enjoy walking down the beach trail that leads to the observation deck overlooking the fossilized coral reef. My favorite part of Crandon Park is the garden that used to be a zoo. It is a wonderful place to go for a stroll and I love that there are so many iguanas, peacocks, and other animals there. After all this walking around, we can eat lunch at the picnic tables and then relax on the beach. I would also take my friend to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, which has a collection of beautiful old train cars that we can go inside and feel transported back in time! If we want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, we could go out to the Redland agricultural area and visit Heritage Market, which is one of my favorite places to perform. Before my friend leaves the city, I would definitely take them to Z Ramen in Kendall for some noodles and boba. In my opinion, these are some of the best places in the Miami area and can be enjoyed by people of all ages!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize my parents, who were there for me every step of the way as I discovered my passion for music. My older sister is also influential in my story because she inspired me to sing and write songs. In addition, I would like to thank my husband, who has supported and assisted me in so many ways.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemusic98/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katemusic98/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@katemusic98

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26vdwKpBCb4Fjv0q39SzAs TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katemusic98

Image Credits
Joseph Herring