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KIM DICK
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She's adorable, she's sweet, she's
talented and she Rox.
Katie Rox, a native Albertan (she's from
Airdre) turned west-coast songstress, is touring and making a stop
at the Ottoman Lounge this June.
In her young career she has already split
from her former group, Jakalope, recorded and produced her latest
album in her closet and is now hitting the road — with only
an acoustic guitar in hand.
"What I really wanted to do was an
intimate tour," she said. "It's a bit scary putting yourself out
there like that, but it very rewarding and liberating."
Katie is touring with fellow Vancouver
musicians, The Matinee who have stripped down to an acoustic set
for The Wanted Tour.
As for the recording in the closet –
the News will let Katie explain.
"I recorded and released the album High
Standards on my own," she said. "It was actually recorded in my
closet using Garage Band.
"Every night I just went in my closet and
worked on it."
But sometimes she wasn't alone, in fact,
she was joined by a few friends on instruments and vocals on the
CD. "Yeah, a bunch of my friends spent time in the closet with me,"
she giggled. "Yeah, it's a walk in."
If it was intimacy she was looking to
capture (well she was recording in a closet), she got it, with an
album full of honest, simple melodies filled out with her charming
vocals.
A long way from her work in the industrial
rock sensation Jakalope, High Standards offers a glimpse into this
songstress soul, something she wanted to showcase as a newfound
solo artist.
"The process of recording was something I
wanted to do for me," she said. "I kind of wanted to show that I
could do it myself...I didn't want to rely on studio trickery and
the best of the best to make me sound good."
For a gal that's worked with the likes of
Dave Ogilvie (Jakalope) at Bryan Adam's The Warehouse Studio,
branching out in a different direction was key.
Thankfully the critics and her peers
approved.
"I am very fortunate, I had no idea what
was going to happen because it was such a departure from the band
(Jakalope)," she said. "I think when somebody does something, no
matter what their job, when you do something genuine and from the
heart, I think people notice that.
"I'm really lucky, I thought I would lose
a lot of fans, but they've stuck with me and supported me."
Katie is excited to be making a stop in
our city, as she fond memories from her childhood at the Medicine
Hat Exhibition and Stampede.
"We raised black angus cattle, I was in 4
H and all that stuff...we used to go there every year," she said.
"I remember going to see a night show with Brooks and Dunn, and I
was seriously like 10, and I waved at the guy and he waved back and
threw me a guitar pick.
"I am blushing right now telling you this
story...that's what I remember from Medicine Hat."
The Alberta stops on The Wanted Tour were
important to her as she realizes how much she's proud to be an
Alberta girl.
"It's so much a part of who I am and I
wanted to go around Alberta and play for what's inspired me," she
said. "We go from Cold Lake to Lethbridge and everywhere in
between."
Katie Rox and The Matinee play the Ottoman
Lounge, Tuesday, June 17 at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the show are $5 at the
door.
For more information check out Katie Rox
online at www.ktrox.com and The Matinee at
www.thematineemusic.com. |
