Cat Myles Interview | Respect the Artist
How did you get your Artist name?
I wanted to separate my artistry from my regular job. It allows me the freedom to express myself when writing and performing.
How did you get into creating?
I have been singing since I was a small child. I took piano lessons as a kid and loved it but my passion and love was always for singing. When I was a senior at Curtis High School, something in me just clicked and I auditioned to be in the school play. I landed the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. That experience changed me forever. It sparked this drive in me to finally create my own music.
Where are you from?
I was born in Brooklyn but have always lived on Staten Island.
How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?
I think being a New Yorker in general is a one of a kind experience. It is unlike any other place as far as the mentality, the vibe, the opportunities and the people. Growing up in Staten Island allowed me to experience both rural and urban. It helped me connect to so many people and build a network because of how small it is and how much of a community it is.
What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?
If I am being honest, I have only taken less than a handful of voice lessons. But I practice and sing and work on my vocal range every day. As far as writing, I go through phases where I can write a whole album and times when I got nothing. I write about my life and my experiences.
What does your current setup look like?
My husband/partner, Frank Lazarus, and I have a home studio. You can find vinyl after vinyl and poster after poster of some of the greats and artists who have inspired us. I grew up listening to a lot of soul and R&B music while Frank grew up listening to rock, metal, country etc. That is reflected in our space. We have LED lights that we can change depending on the mood and a small vocal booth set up in the corner. We have a vinyl player, a keyboard and several guitars. We created a space to be able to go to and relax and create.
Who inspires you?
It is hard to narrow it down to just one person. I am inspired by so many people around me. From listening to Mariah Carey as a child to listening to the local musician in the ferry terminal, I am inspired by them to create. I really love going to see art exhibits, live music anything creative. I think it is just amazing for anyone to create something and to express themselves through different outlets. One thing about Staten Island, is that we have so many inspiring and talented people. But if I’m in the car I am most likely listening to Anita Baker, 90s R&B/Hip Hop, Amy Winehouse or rocking out to Alanis Morissette. Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Summer Walker, Coco Jones and Ari Lennox.
What is your goal when you create?
My goal when I create is to tell my story, get my feelings out and hopefully write something that will help others be able to connect to my voice and that story. Creating an album is like a snake shedding its skin. It can transform you into the next version of yourself.
Why do you create?
I create because I don’t know how not to. In my overly professional life, it lets me lose myself in the feelings and experiences that I have. It gives me the space to be the person I want to be that I can’t in my real life. It makes me feel empowered through telling my stories through music.
How has choosing your creative path affected your life?
It has given me so much. It has been my therapist when I needed to cry. It has brought me so much happiness. It’s gotten me through breakups, makeups, tragedy but also allowed me to document the great moments too.
Did you have to overcome any obstacles along the way?
Who hasn’t, right? Struggling as an artist to make a mark in the music industry in an overly saturated market has been super difficult. Going to audition after audition and not knowing who to trust and who is being genuine is really hard.
What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?
My go-to song is Underneath the Stars by Mariah Carey. That whole album means so much to me because before I sang in front of people, I would play that album and that song over and over again in my room. I would sing into a hairbrush listening to it on my C.D. player so loud that my mom would burst through my door because she had tried calling me down to dinner 40 times but I was lost in the music.
What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?
My dream as an artist is to continue being able to make music and perform it. Music has always and will always be a part of who I am as a person. I get to share it with my children now most importantly and it is something that connects us so deeply. It is so important for them to see me work hard at the things I love so that one day they could do the same in whatever inspires them.
What would you tell someone else with a dream?
I would tell someone else that has a dream that dreams keep us going. They motivate us to keep working hard on something that we care about. There is more than one way to achieve a dream. Dreams also change as we change.
Tell us about your most recent release
I recorded my album ‘Shade’ in 2017. But we never properly released it and will be releasing it in the new year. This album is so important to me because not only did I push myself vocally more than I ever have before but I wrote on this album more than I ever have on any of my previous albums or projects. Because I became more comfortable in my writing, I was able to dig into the sounds I wanted to project. We made sure this album was R&B the way I feel it.
Share a link to your most recent release: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERKfqfPy2go
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/catmylesmusic
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Website: http://www.catmyles.com
Photography credit: All photos were taken by Frank Lazarus Photography
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