Five Questions For: Singer/Songwriter Kate Eppers!

Photo by Furnace Fashioned Photography

From the first moment I met Kate Eppers, her vivacity, artistic drive, enthusiasm, and joie de vivre were as evident as her talent. We quickly became friends - you can't help but become friends with Kate - and it wasn't long before I realized that she was a singer, musician, and songwriter as well as an actress. She's written and recorded a solo album, collaborated on a metal Christmas album, and wrote the theme for a new indie film series, the Amber Oak series, all while raising a child and taking on the world. To understate the case, the kid has talent!

Here, she talks about the creative process and what she hopes her music will bring to the world.

1. When did you begin recording? What made you pursue music?

I had always sang in theater and in the choir my whole life, but I didn't start recording until 2014. Acting/theater was something I had done since I was eight years old, but music is my calling truly (if I HAD to pick). There is definitely a huge learning curve with recording (for the first time), but all these years later and now having our own home studio, it's a whole different game. It's still challenging because without being on the clock at someone else's studio you can spend FOREVER trying to nail those vocal takes, ect. At some point you have to declare your work is done, but it's easy to be a perfectionist and take way too long with something.

2. I love your album, The Wishing Well: its magical and feels both new and old-school. What inspires your music?

I am so inspired by musical theater (Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and West Side Story being my faves) and of course Disney. Not to mention all the 80s fantasy movies I grew up with that had the most magical of soundtracks (The Neverending Story, Return to Oz).

​Plus, just like you, I was an avid reader and it kept my mind always going. I think the impact from all the fantasy books I read eventually formed melodies in my mind that stayed with me forever after. Some of the songs on my album were from a few of those melodies, others were written on my keyboard while living through some of the best and worst times (mostly best). ​

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3. You write a lot about love and hope. What do you hope people get from your music?

I hope people can use the emotions from my songs to help them through a difficult episode in their life. My hope is that the songs speaks to them in some way. Whether it be therapeutic or just purely enjoyable. I hope I can put a melody in someone's head and have it stick, in a good way. My wish would be that my songs can paint a picture the listener can visualize or experience with me. That I can take them into my world. ​

4. You mentioned that you’re working on a new song – tell us more! What is your new song about?

I was working on an original song that was going to be about… shocker .. FANTASY and a beautiful fantastical woman in some far away dream land surrounded by magical creatures but I put it on pause for the moment. (It's going to be called The Princess Room).

​Separately, I am focusing on music for my other project CHRISTMASFORCE, which is a Christmas themed power metal band I have with my fiancé, Brian Murphy. The season snuck up on us fast and we are working on getting new music out for December. With our love of both Christmas and power metal I'm surprised we didn't start this project sooner. Last year we covered the entire 60s movie Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer soundtrack and put out a couple music videos.

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5. Not only are you a musician, but you’re also an actress and a model (with a wicked cool portfolio!). Tell us more about that! Does your acting and modeling inform your music?

The two are pretty separate, except I should mention I did become more heavily involved with fantasy shoots/cosplay as a result of music. I performed at a Comic Con and met my now great friend Robbie, the photographer behind Furnace Fashioned Photography.  I was dressed up like Elektra from Daredevil during my set, and the rest is history.

6. BONUS! What’s next for you?

In the short term finishing up CHRISTMASFORCE music to release for this season, and then getting back to working on that new single. Someday I would love to do an EP of 80s music with a few originals complete with, of course, music videos. Acting is my other passion and with the birth of my daughter I have slowed down with that understandably, but I would love to keep doing indie films as well as completing a script for a comedic short I have been working on. So many dreams, so little time!

You can find Kate on her Website, www.kateeppers.com, Facebook and YouTube! And if you love Christmas and metal, make sure you check out CHRISTMASFORCE!