A Dirty Dozen with KATERINA NICOLE – January 2025

According to a recent press release: “Katerina Nicole is the voice of a storm — a haunting presence where fragile whispers rise above crashing waves of sound and the thunderous weight of darkness. Her music exists in contrasts: delicate yet unrelenting, a dance of light and shadow, where beauty and brutality intertwine. Each song feels like a ritual, unraveling themes of transformation, resilience, and the quiet strength found in chaos. With her debut EP, Serene in Violent Oceans, Katerina invites listeners into a world as turbulent as it is breathtaking, offering a glimpse of the beauty hidden within the storm. The EP arrives on February 21.” We get Katerina 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?

1. “What I Know Now” came to fruition pretty quickly in the studio. My producer Jordan Chase started composing some riffs and I instantly felt this sense of melancholy. I was remembering many times in my life that I tried to push music away because I felt like what I had to share wasn’t valuable enough to be heard. If you listen closely you’ll find familiarities within yourself. The moments you hid behind a mask because you were too afraid to show your true self.

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

Each member of my family has a different taste in music so I was constantly hearing new sounds growing up. I just remember always asking people around me if I could perform something for them every chance I got.

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

I think the moment I knew that music wasn’t going anywhere was when my grandmother took me to the local Elvis festival. Seeing the energy on that stage and resonating with the crowd was electrifying.

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

I will never forget the night I was working at a pizza place in 2007 and “Crush Crush Crush” by Paramore came on the radio. I stopped what I was doing and yelled at my coworker to turn it up! I had it on repeat nonstop after my shift until I learned it word for word. I am definitely someone who is deeply moved by certain individuals and Hayley Williams will forever be my dream collaborator. The way she writes, and creates the most beautiful melodies is something I aspire to do.

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 grew up learning to cook Mediterranean dishes in my Greek culture. I find great pleasure in creating new dishes or randomly baking for those I love. I am a big time foodie.

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 like to introduce myself as a pop metal artist. This gives something more enticing to the larger crowds but warms up an idea of something more intense. I recently had one reviewer refer to me as a “trad wife”. At first I was deeply offended but then quickly laughed because I realized that I do have a classier look to me and it can come off out of place at first, but that’s what I’m going for!

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?

Those who have worked with me know it’s very normal for me to never show up empty handed to anything. I can’t go very long without consuming things so I just assume the others want in. As a current indie artist its always a nice surprise when my team whips out a guitar to show off.

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

I attended The Eras Tour this past spring in Stockholm, Sweden with my friend. She was going for Taylor, and I was going to see Paramore open the show. We ended up going two nights in a row because the experience that Taylor Swift gives you is something from another dimension. I still can’t comprehend exactly how one single human being can put on a three hour show and deliver to that capacity. That woman is a machine.

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?

I am so grateful to call myself a musician because I get to truly express myself, and collaborate with other beautiful artists. I love intimate studio time to connect and let the feelings go through me, and then being able to let everything go on stage when it’s time. I believe that we can really have it all if we try hard enough. I am always finding the way to have what I love surrounding me. I take great pride in working with animal shelters. I have been fostering and rescuing animals my entire life. Almost to a fault, I will empty my pockets to make sure every animal is treated, fed, and loved.

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 have yet to create many music videos but I would love for an interviewer to ask what I would NOT do for the art. My answer would probably be nothing.. I love adrenaline and extreme sports. Unless you asked me to eat bugs or something. Ew. There’s not too many things I would be tired of conversing about, I’m a pretty open book.

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?

In the past I would beat myself pretty bad if my performance was not perfect in my eyes but I’m learning to accept my imperfections a lot quicker now.

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?

Siren Song of The Counter Culture By Rise Against in 2004 was really impactful on my adolescence. The combination of those lyrics with the melodies had me listening to that album top to bottom everyday. I resonate pretty hard with Tim Mcllrath.

KATERINA NICOLE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews