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A Dirty Dozen with CAT RIDGEWAY – October 2024

| 13 October 2024 | Reply

Photo credit: Gabe Lugo

According to a recent press release: “Orlando’s favorite singer songwriter/indie rocker Cat Ridgeway has released her first single “Epilogue” October 4, an in your face stomp and holler-esque punk rock explosion, hinging off a recklessly played overdriven banjo. The song serves as an introduction to her upcoming album Sprinter, out Spring 2025. Self-described by Ridgeway as “indie rock for overthinkers” and a departure from her previous Americana success (more on that later), her music is a fiery blend of indie-rock and punk with hints of dream pop and folk. Though “Epilogue” is the only true punk song on the album, it firmly cements Ridgeway as an artist you need to know. Ridgeway, along with the revolving members of her touring band, The Tourists, create a sweaty, energetic, exciting party with each live show. It’s not uncommon to see them play musical chairs as they switch places and instruments on stage. You never know where a band member will end up or what will happen, from seeing Ridgeway jump behind the drums or watching a mosh pit open up in the crowd.  Anything and everything goes.  Expect the unexpected. She will be playing her new music to live audiences throughout the country (see dates HERE).” We get Cat to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The new record is my favorite work I’ve ever created. It’s definitely more indie rock-leaning than my previous releases, and it’s been SO fun to play live. As far as nuggets go, one thing I really love is that the bridge lyric in “Epilogue” nods back to my very first album On a Windy Day. I recorded that project when I was still in high school, and the title track opens with the lyric, “I hope the Good Lord takes me on a windy day / I’ll need some help to heaven if I’m headed there anyway.” I always loved that line, so I reworked it into a completely different setting. Very cool and full circle for me personally.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

When I was little, I wanted to be cool like my big brother and learn guitar, too. I tried, but my hands were physically too small to get all the way around the neck, so I jumped to drums briefly (then piano, then trumpet, then trombone, and then back to guitar). I never really got trained on guitar once I got my bearings with basic chord shapes, so I didn’t know how to play much of anything when I first found my way to it. When you don’t know how to play much, you start making stuff up… and one day you realize you’ve accidentally made up a lot of stuff. When I was about 12 or so, I showed my parents the first full song I’d written called “Parachute,” and they realized that I’d possibly stumbled upon the beginning of a beautiful life path. So, my parents took me and my brother to a local recording studio to cut the song because they wanted us to have the experience of seeing how records are made. Once I heard one of my own songs – something I wrote in my bedroom – fully produced blasting through studio monitors for the first time, I was hooked. I knew I had to make music forever.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Yes. One of my first favorite bands was Tegan & Sara (specifically around the era of The Con and Sainthood). I was in middle school when I took a deep dive into their work, and during that time, Tegan was a guest host on CBC Radio 3. The show she hosted was the most beautifully curated indie / alt playlist with fantastic banter between the songs, and it was essentially my introduction to indie rock. Coming from a private Catholic school background, I wasn’t exposed to much music like that, and it was like someone handed me the entire genre on a silver platter. I still have the episode saved on an out-of-issue iPod that (very thankfully) still works.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I’ve been deeply inspired by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver for years. Have you ever heard the 22, A Million record? YOU CANNOT COMPARE THAT TO ANYTHING. It is simply brilliant, and I would freak out if I had the chance to work with him and be a part of creating something that unique. Plus, I find his approach to lyricism extremely interesting. Half the time, he makes up words or uses existing ones in very left-of-center ways to paint the picture of an emotion. Even if it doesn’t make logical sense, you just get it as a listener, and I think that’s very, very cool. It’s like sonic telepathy.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I’m hugely into coffee, and I love the craft of making all sorts of drinks. It’s actually extremely scientific when you get past the surface, and I love tinkering with all the variables that go into it. To unwind, I love being in nature, moving my body, traveling, and meditating. I’ve been wanting to get into tai chi lately.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I’ve jokingly dubbed it “indie rock for overthinkers.” I think the new record lives somewhere on the corner of indie rock, folk, dreampop, and punk – there are a lot of different elements and influences going on.  And I was once described as an alt-country act, and… uh… I don’t know how I feel about that lol If they meant it in the way Pinegrove is alt-country, then hell yeah. If not… then, hm.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I’m definitely the one cooking or making coffee. I feel like John would be the drink instigator, Nat would start the singalong, and Christian is the one who remembers exactly where everything is in the van.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Lucy Dacus definitely thinks I’m a dweeb. And she is completely correct. (We roomed together at a festival a couple of years ago, and I fangirled pretty hard… but like…CAN YOU BLAME ME?)

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part for me is not only being able to make something out of nothing when songwriting but being able to do it with people you love. Then you get to share it?! And have people connect to it and care about it?! Insane. It’s beautiful to feel seen and understood, and music allows that to happen for both the performer and the listener at the same time. I’ve always joked that if music didn’t pan out for me, I’d LOVE to be a white water raft guide. I freaking love being on the water. I could also definitely see myself getting into becoming a sommelier or coffee consultant, too. The more realistic side to this answer, though, is: Before I went full steam into music, I was studying biotechnology, and I still adore the sciences. I could easily see myself going back to school to get into that world. I could also totally see myself getting deeper into graphic design, too, though. Through creating so many of my own posters and social media posts, I’ve learned enough to be dangerous, but I’d like to understand the methodologies and the programs better.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I feel like a fun question would be: “What’s your best record store find of all time?” And my answer would be an original copy of The Talking Heads’ 1985 smash hit album Little Creature signed by David Byrne that I found in the used bin for $7. The question I think I’m most tired of answering is just the one I get asked the most because it’s a necessary one: “How did you get started?” It’s a great question, I just don’t know how many more fun ways I can find to answer it!

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Honestly, not really. I only wish I’d had the confidence to make the art I truly felt called to make sooner. But then again, would it be as good if I hadn’t worked my way to it?

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would have LOVED to watch the creation of Dijon’s Absolutely. It’s one of the most sonically daring recordings I’ve heard come out in recent years, and I’d be extremely interested to observe Mk.Gee’s production approaches. I just know the spirit of collaboration between the two of them was electric during those sessions. That album reminds me of a very tender time in life when I was overcoming a lot of anxiety during the fallout of some medical issues (I’m ok now), and I love how emotionally raw it is. There’s just so much conviction in the vocals, and I believe anything Dijon says when he sings.

CAT RIDGEWAY LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews

About the Author ()

ToddStar - that's me... just a rocking accountant who had dreams of being a rock star. I get to do the next best thing to rocking the globe - I get to take pictures of the lucky ones that do. I love to shoot all genres of music and different types of performers. If it is related to music, I love to photograph it. I get to shoot and hang with not only some of my friends and idols, but some of the coolest people around today.

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