Tag Archives: singer/songwriter

Who, What, Why, When, Where…Zat!

John Roy Zat

John Roy Zat is a talented singer/songwriter, fiddle player and guitarist from the Sonoma Valley. His songs are relatable and thoughtfully written. John’s songs range from the point of view of a waitress in a small-town café to the point of view of a salmon swimming upriver. All with an Americana feel and sound.

Recently KC Café Radio Music Director Kathy Forste spoke with John via Zoom. He performed songs from his highly acclaimed newest album “Where Zat.” They chatted about how attending songwriting workshops have helped his songwriting over the years. He also talked about how Covid affected his usual recording process, and gave us insight into the writing of our favorite songs on the album “Where Zat.” Check out John Roy Zat’s website at royzat.com.

Watch the interview here:

David G Smith Puts the Artist Hat Back On

By: Maria Smith

Singer-songwriter David G Smith has music in his blood. He and all of his siblings started playing piano in second grade due to their parent’s wishes, but the singers love for music only grew from there. He taught himself guitar, which brought out a love for writing and singing his own music. His newest album First Love is very popular on KC Cafe radio for good reason. His music brings forth emotions that you didn’t know you needed to feel.

While Smith calls Bluegrass, Iowa home, he finds himself spending a good chunk of his time in Nashville. That is of course when he isn’t out touring, something he has been doing more and more over the last few years.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste caught up with Smith via Skype. They chat about songwriter heroes vs. guitar heroes, co-writing and more.

Listen to the interview here:

Download the interview here: Interview with David G. Smith, 11/20/2018

Raveis Kole: A unique musical duo born out of unique synergy

Perhaps it was luck. Perhaps it was some kind of divine intervention. Or maybe it simply was a case of being in the right place at the right time. What is absolutely certain, however, is at the moment when Laurie Raveis and Dennis Kole first met, a synergy was born that would blossom into one of the most talented singer/songwriter duos around today.

At the time, Dennis had been working in a law firm. There was something else nagging at him intellectually however, and music seemed a perfect fit. He was first introduced to music at age 8 when his teacher put a cardboard cutout keyboard in front of him. His mother had bought him a violin, but he was more partial to the guitar, and at 14 purchased his first guitar. He played mostly classical music, but occasionally made up his own tunes, mostly revolving around “primitive teenage” themes.

Laurie Raveis comes from a long line of teachers. She had been teaching marketing in Boston Massachusetts, but also felt the urge toward the performing arts. Her first introduction to music came about thanks to the piano lessons she took at a young age growing up in Connecticut. Later she would try her had at various performing arts, and found she liked music the most. Later in life she would perform in various bands, including an all-girl band.  Eventually she would be asked to sing in some of those bands.  Her singing would lead to songwriting, exposing her to a whole new world of expression.

The two met at a guitar festival in Montana.  They had both attended the same guitar jam, where Dennis found himself impressed with Laurie’s inventive and original style. It wasn’t  long before the two began playing together.  They would continue to collaborate their musical talents, which eventually lead to the dynamic musical duo we know today simply as Raveis Kole.

Their newest album, Electric Blue Dandelion is an excellent representation of the “chemical reaction that ignites the human spirit by melding Raveis’ caramel smooth, emotive vocals and percussive, groove driven acoustic guitar rhythms with Kole’s fingerstyle and harmonic explorations.” Indeed, it is the essence that is Raveis Kole.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste talked with the duo via Skype. They discussed their lives growing up discovering their unique musical talents, that moment when they first met, and how they have grown together musically since then. They also talk about their contrasting approaches to writing music, and how that contrast is the “magic” behind their synergy.

Listen to the interview here:

Listen to the interview here: Interview: Raveis Kole, 5/10/2017

Allan Frank: A Songwriter’s Songwriter

Singer/Songwriter and KC Cafe Radio Performing Artist Allan Frank has been surrounded by music practically all his life. Growing up in the American Midwestern town of Peoria, Illinois, Frank was caught playing on his grandfather’s piano, making up stories as he played along, at the ripe young age of 3. It wasn’t until age 16, however, when Allan picked up his first musical instrument, a guitar his parents had given him.

As he got older, he became involved in musical theater, and eventually graduated from college with a theater degree. He also discovered his guitar playing skills were in high demand in theater, and he began toying with putting lyrics with song. It wasn’t long that Allan found himself writing for events and issues outside of the theater, and a new songwriter was born.

He later traveled to Europe, and eventually relocated to California, where he continued to hone his craft as a songwriter. His skill as a talented songwriter continued to develop, both in Los Angeles and in Nashville. He became involved in collaborative efforts with some of the most influential songwriters around, including Gary Burr and Chris Tompkins.

Allan’s first full-length album is called The Road So Far, and represents his journey as a genuine singer/songwriter. A blend of Americana, Country and Roots tunes, The Road So Far takes you on a heartfelt journey down the by-ways and back-roads of Middle America. Allan’s gentle down home manner is evident in his songs, reminiscent of the classic stylings of Burl Ives, Pete Seeger and Doc Watson.

Recently, KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste spoke with Allan. He tells the story of growing into the art of songwriting, and how he has approached the craft over the years. They talk about the benefits of writing alone versus collaborating with other songwriters, and Allan discusses at length about songwriting as a craft, and the importance of connecting with the listener.

Listen to the interview here:

Bill Abernathy still Finds a Way

Just 10 minutes. That’s all the time singer/songwriter Bill Abernathy needed to complete the task he was working on at the office. He had just received the call from the hospital informing him that his dad had taken a turn for the worse, and is not expected to live much longer. He figured it would take another 10 minutes to compete what he was working on, then he would be off to be by his dad’s side. When he arrived at the hospital, he found that he missed his dad’s passing by just 5 minutes.

“I think that everybody has this vision of how they would like to spend their last moments with people they love,” Bill said. “Mine was clearly being able to sit with my dad, hold his hand and tell him I loved him one more time and just watch as the lights of this world go away and the lights of the next come on. I didn’t get that chance, and it was because I had prioritized my time poorly. I had lost that balance.”

Bill Abernathy: Find A WayThat defining moment in Bill’s life would become the theme for his latest album, Find A Way. “The real theme of the album is based on something that my dad taught me,” he said. “His comment was always that if you want something bad enough in life and you’re willing to put in the blood, sweat, tears and toil, you could always find a way to make that happen.” The album cover artwork he commissioned with artist Damijan Fric, depicts the great chasm that exists for many of us in life, between the demands of work life and the things we cherish in life. Yet the message of hope inspired by his dad resounds clearly in the title song – that it is indeed possible to find a way.

Bill grew up in a musical family, so putting thoughts and feelings into song isn’t too difficult for him. He grew up hanging out with his older brother and associated musician friends, listening to the likes of Peter, Paul and Mary and others. It would be Dan Fogelberg‘s 1972 album Home Free that would inspire him to pick up the guitar and learn how to play. “I learned how to play that album from start to finish,” Bill recently told KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste in an interview.

Bill also loves guitars, and has amassed quite the collection over the years, including a rather unique 9 string guitar. Recently, Bill talked with Forste via Skype. They discussed his unique guitar collection, as well as Find A Way and the story behind it’s songs. They talked at length about the struggle most musicians deal with between their musical passion and work life demands, and how he has managed to find his own way.

Listen to the interview here:

Download the interview here: Interview: Bill Abernathy 11/18/2016