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••• Peace, Joy, and the Music •••
“You know I enjoy creating a sound that… had never been created before,” Teague said. “I think the whole idea of creating is interesting to me. I just kind of [get] like a release or a high from doing that…”
Her passion followed her on into college where she minored in music studying vocal performance at the University of Mississippi. Her senior year she began performing in the band Reels playing shows and recording an EP.
After a year together, the band decided to go their separate ways, and Teague took a break from her own music accepting a job as the executive director of Thacker Mountain Radio Hour in Oxford, Mississippi.
According to Teague, taking a break from music to focus solely on Thacker made her feel as if a part of her were missing. It wasn’t until someone she worked with pointed out how her lack of creating music had changed her that she realized how music was vital to her sanity.
“It’s something that alleviates me I guess,” Teague said. “I really find a lot of inner peace and joy [from it]… That’s the reason I began creating it myself was cause I like the way it made me feel, and I wanted to be able to kind of create more of that for myself…”
Starting her career again as a solo artist, her boyfriend convinced her to release her first single, Lowlife. Now, she plans to record her first solo EP with the recording label Muscle Beach Records at Delta Sonic studios in Memphis, Tennessee.
Graham Hamaker, project manager at Muscle Beach Records and Teague’s friend, said when it comes to the EP Kate can do whatever she wants. After the EP’s release in the fall, their plan is to do a full press and radio campaign as well as touring to try and build her profile as an upcoming singer/songwriter.
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Music & Mississippi, one woman’s passion leads to peace on her path to success
Imagine being able to slip into a world of peace whenever you wanted to. For Kate Teague, a self-proclaimed classic singer songwriter, this dream is a reality.
From an early age, Teague’s father fostered a love of music in her introducing her to some of the great musicians including The Beatles, Prince, and Led Zeppelin. Teague’s face lights up remembering how she used to steal her father’s iPod so she could listen to music whenever she wanted.
“My sister and I grew up with him just constantly playing music around the house…” Teague said. “Just his passion for music meant a lot to me and affected me, and [it] definitely catapulted me to really start including it in my daily life.”
Since she was constantly surrounded by music, it was no surprise when Teague started bringing music into every aspect of her life. From attending a performing arts studio to later performing in choirs in high school, music was always one of the things at the forefront of her mind.
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“She should be an inspiration to current Ole Miss students – work hard, believe in yourself, chill when necessary and never give up,” Jim Dees said
“The first time I saw Kate play was probably when I saw her live for the first time with her old band Reels,” Hamaker said. “It was immediately clear how skilled of a musician she was – she just has an incredible voice, and the projection and execution of those older Reels songs was just the beginning of what I felt to be an artist we’ll be hearing a lot more of over the next few years.”
While Teague is a skilled singer and can play both the guitar and piano, she also writes her own music drawing inspiration from her everyday life, personal situations, and relationships.
“I wish I could venture out and be more worldly and write songs about politics or world peace but that’s just not where I am at right now so it is all just really based on like personal convictions,” Teague said.
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When it comes to what influences her music, Teague said it has changed over the years. Once creating sounds on instruments was enough to spark an idea for a new song, now she is influenced by other artists drawing inspiration from what they have created and making something of her own.
“You know I enjoy creating a sound that… had never been created before,” Teague said. “I think the whole idea of creating is interesting to me. I just kind of [get] like a release or a high from doing that…”
One of Teague’s co-workers at Thacker, Jim Dees, said it’s an interesting phenomenon to work with someone and then go experience them taking part in their own art. According to him, watching Teague perform her own music is kind of mind-blowing because of all the time and demanding work she has put in to perfect her craft.
Some might say she’s livin’ the dream, but actually her hard word is paying off,” Dees said. “She should be an inspiration to current Ole Miss students – work hard, believe in yourself, chill when necessary and never give up.”
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For more of Kate’s story, click the video below
According to Teague, she is still trying to figure out what her goal is when it comes to her music. While she hopes music is always a part of her life and respects the lifestyle of musicians, she does not know if that career path is for her.
“My abilities to create come from a place of relaxation and peace and tranquility and like concentration, “Teague said. “I just don’t see myself thriving as a performer if I’m going to try and do it full time. It’s definitely something I’ve realized over time probably just through being in music business and really watching these people.”
Despite her doubts, she is enjoying riding out her passion for the time being and just seeing where it is that life takes her.
“There are days where your passion is tested. I think that will always be that way whether I start doing my own music as a career [or not],” Teague said. “When something becomes a necessity and it’s something you have to do, it’s hard to keep that passion alive, but it’s still there.”
Hannah Hurdle
Author/Photographer/Videographer