Interview w/ Katie Dauson

Hot on the heels of her critically-acclaimed sixth studio album Pure Katie, Canadian singer-songwriter Katie Dauson returns with a bold and buoyant new single, “That Volcano”, a rock-driven, surf-tinged, yacht rock anthem that’s equal parts playful and powerful.

We sat down with Katie Dauson to discuss her new single ‘That Volcano’, her musical journey, and more below!

Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?

Thank you for having me here. As to your question, I was playing guitar for years, just for fun, but didn’t have the confidence to actually write songs or perform in front of an audience. After the pandemic, I was feeling really down, and I went to a local pub to pick up some food when I saw an open mic sign. It piqued my interest, because I always wanted to play and sing in front of an audience since I was four years old (I used to day dream back then of playing a blue guitar and singing with my friends in a band). So, I asked some questions at the pub about the open mic nights, and a few weeks later, I played some covers, and to be perfectly honest, I was terrible because I was terrified. But, the crowd was behind me, and they were very nice and encouraging. I felt a massive rush of exhilaration and joy, and decided to try it again. I went back again, and again, and again just playing cover songs. Then, one day, my Dad told me that if I wanted to be serious with music, I needed to write my own songs. I then wrote my first song that same morning, called Virtual Sky, but I didn’t perform it right away because I didn’t think anyone would like it since I was the one who wrote it. A few weeks later, I ended up performing it along with some other cover songs, and no one could tell the difference, that I wrote the song instead of some well-known artist. After my set, I got a lot of compliments on Virtual Sky, which gave me a little bit of confidence that maybe I could write songs. Ninety four published songs later, I haven’t looked back.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?

There’s so many that it’s hard to list them all, but my favourites are the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Donovan, just to say a few. I love Fats Domino and George Thorogood too. Also, Jimmy Buffett, as well as the Allman Brothers Band, Little Feat, Oasis, Wanda Jackson, Joni Mitchell, and Liona Boyd. The list goes on and on and on.

Congratulations on your brand-new release 'That Volcano'—what inspired this particular release?

I was listening to Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hits album on vinyl, and I always put the cover on a lit up display stand near the turntable. I looked at the cover, and I thought to myself, that I loved the colour of the parrots on the cover, so I would really like to write a song about a parrot. After the album was over, I did just that. There’s a deeper meaning to the song, but on the surface, it’s definitely about a parrot.

How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music?

It’s unconscious when it happens. I really don’t think about putting personal experiences into my music. I’ve only consciously done that once, for a song on my first album, Past the Sea. I just want listeners to enjoy my music, and I really hope it makes them happy, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Each aspect of music—writing, recording, practicing, and playing live—offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?

For writing, when I wrote the song I Wanna Rock on my second album, Full Nelson, I was actually going to record a demo tape of another song, when the words and tune came to me at the same time. I ran downstairs to write the song, and I ended up writing it in ten minutes. I think it turned out pretty good. For recording, there isn’t one single meaningful experience; I have a lot of fun recording with my producer/engineer, James Nickle. He keeps things light and fun, and I just have a great time every time I go to his studio. I always look forward to recording with him. For practicing, the most meaningful moment was when the real meaning of my song, That Volcano hit me. I was rehearsing for the recording session, and the first couple of run throughs, I was singing it without much enthusiasm. On the third run through, I hit the bridge of the song, and at that moment, I realized what the song actually was about, and I started to smile and sing with a lot more gusto and enthusiasm. It hit me that, That Volcano is really about telling my naysayers that I really am good enough to do what I want to do, and do it well. For playing live, my favourite moment was my June 2024 concert in Toronto. My first concert in November 2023 in Richmond Hill was very subdued and polite, and that’s what I expected for my next show, but I got the complete opposite: it was a raucous party of a concert and the best concert that I’ve ever been too. And it was my own concert! It was absolute mania and it felt surreal.

Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?

Probably, I would have to say, the song As Time Goes By from my first album, Past the Sea holds a lot of deep personal meaning for me. It’s basically a back history of my adult life, and all the things that didn’t pan out. It’s a rather sad song put to an upbeat tune. I was inspired to write it because I was feeling a little down about myself at the time, but it turned into a really good song, and it inspired listeners as well.

What are your goals for the future with your music?

I want more and more people to recognize my music and actually listen to it, and hopefully it inspires them and makes them feel good too.

What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?

Hope and inspiration. Just anything positive, really. I don’t want to be a downer with my music. I want people to feel good when listening. Isn’t that what music should be all about? Music should also tell a story, whether it’s got words or not.

To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Just don’t give up on yourself. I’ve been there; I languished for a long time because I did give up on myself, but in the end, I still came through and found myself. It’s not easy. It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Everyday is still a struggle, but I don’t ever give up hope.