Interview: Alexander Mays

Photography: Irida Mete

From the front seat of a car, Katelyn Tarver the multimedia artist reveals an unbridled charm. Tarver’s windswept melodies pierce with a sheathing sincerity, and the artist has come a long way since the beginning of her artistic endeavors. Starting to Scare Me, next month’s inclusion to the artist’s portfolio of songs, looms near, and with blonde hair and a laid-back insouciance, the Cali girl with roots in sunny Georgia has been quick to adjust to the ferociousness of West Coast living. Thoroughly reflective, Tarver’s journey has been extensive, and approaching her career with a Vesuvian tenacity, the multi-disciplinarian who acts, sings and song writes was eager to share some of her backstory. A recent signing to a record label, a single on the horizon and an upcoming tour prompted much celebratory talk and naturally there was much to discuss. With a down to earthness, we tried to diverge from the chaos, and conversed in matters regarding what exactly makes Katelyn crack her illustrious smile. As challenging as a move to Los Angeles at age 19 must have been alongside an EP shortly thereafter, the artist, whose resume spans sectors and includes a slew of singles, EP’s, and an album, seems to have only just begun to flaunt her petals. As both of us sat and giggled, we couldn’t help but ponder—what makes a life good? 

With a record deal, an upcoming single, and a forthcoming tour, how do you feel about the year ahead? 

I feel excited! There is always a sense of anticipation and nerves anytime you're gearing up to share something you've been working on. You have all these high hopes and expectations… I hope that the music connects with people, I hope they like it, I hope the tour goes well… but ultimately it’s out of my control, so I’ve just been trying to make peace with that and enjoy the process. I’m proud of what I’ve made and grateful to be able to share it. I also feel really excited to get to partner with a label like Nettwerk, who have been so supportive of me and my vision since the beginning. They are a very artist friendly label and very aware of the anxieties that can plague us and are good at speaking to those and reminding us what’s true. It’s been nice to have that kind of support. 

“I live in a city where everybody’s a critic”, a line from your most recent single…What is it like for you living in LA? 

I’m in a very long term relationship with LA, so I love it deeply, but we’ve had our ups and downs! I love it here. But it’s cutthroat. That lyric is hitting on the element of living in LA and being in an industry that is intense and at times, soul crushing. The opinions of others can weigh on me and influence me and make me second guess and doubt myself more than I’d like to admit. It’s a process to shut out the noise and tune in to your voice and not worry about how everyone else sees it or what they think of it. Often easier said than done. 

How would you say the city of LA has changed for you since moving to it as a teenager?

Oh man, I’m not sure. I think that’s what’s cool about living in a city like LA is it’s always changing. There’s always a new spot opening up in a part of town you’ve never been to, a new neighborhood you’ve yet to explore… but there are also places I’ve been going to since I moved here in 2009 that are still open and still the same and that makes a big city feel small and cozy in a good way. 

Would you say that you have a favorite neighborhood? 

I live on the eastside, and I love it. Los Feliz, Silverlake, Atwater Village, Highland Park… that’s where I spend most of my time, so those neighborhoods are probably my favorite. 

How would you say that your experiences in television and acting have influenced your music? 

I've thought about that a lot myself. I mean I guess in a very literal sense, If I get an acting role, it’s a new life experience for me, and my life experiences are so much of what informs my music! So it influences it in that way. But I’ve also picked up little things along the way from working close to film and TV that affect how I approach songs and albums and my creative process… Like, sometimes I like to think of songs as episodes and albums as full seasons and what’s my “character” going through and what’s the overall meaning I’m trying to portray and how can I explore it from different angles… so yeah. I think they both feed into each other in exciting ways, and I love getting to be in both worlds. 

As such a multifaceted artist, do you ever find it hard to stay focused? How do you stay grounded? 

Sure, sometimes it can be hard to stay focused. It can be hard to balance being a musician, songwriter and actor and trying to put equal amounts of energy into all of them and feel like you’re doing them all well. But, I just try to remind myself that I’m lucky to get to do any of this in the first place, and if my biggest problem is trying to balance them all, I’m doing OK. I try to stay grounded just by having family and friends close. Watching shows, going to dinner, going on trips, just hanging out… I think having people close to you that know you and have known you for a while is really the only way to stay grounded and not get swept up in the chaos.

How would you say that you approach ballads creatively? I know that for a lot of people they can be a source of anxiety. Do you have any helpful tips? 

I think ballads are sort of where my instincts go naturally! Writing an uptempo song is more anxiety inducing for me! (Laughs). I guess ballads tend to be more emotional and introspective, so there’s a sense of vulnerability that comes with writing them. But that’s just what songwriting is. That’s what art is. That’s why music is so powerful. I think the best thing anyone can do in general, but especially as a songwriter, is get to know yourself and live an examined life. It will help you be a better human and a better artist. 

What medium do you prefer communicating in the most? 

I love performing live. I always have. I love getting to play my songs on stage and connect with an audience. That’s why I’m so excited to do my first headlining tour this year. I feel like it’s my chance to really create an experience with fans of my music exactly the way I want to. I can’t wait. 

How can you trace your transition from your first EP ‘A Little More Free’ in 2011, until now? 

Oh man. I mean, in some ways it’s just like any other person's transition from being in your early twenties to your early thirties. There’s so much growth that happens during that period, so of course that’s reflected in my music through the years. Music’s always been a place I go to make sense of what I’m going through. I hear myself doing that on A Little More Free, as much as I hear myself doing that now. It’s just the subject matter has shifted. 

A favorite memory? 

Hmm. I have birthday parties on the brain because I’m currently planning my little sister’s 30th, so it’s making me think of my 30th which is definitely a favorite memory! I think maybe it was even made more special because it was late 2019, so right before the pandemic, so there’s an added layer of nostalgia. It was early 2000’s themed, my friend built this huge photobooth that was a replica of the album cover of “No Strings Attached” by NSYNC, everyone dressed in the theme… It was a lot of fun. 

What are three adjectives you would use when thinking of LA? 

Full of opportunity. Competitive. Home. 

Finally, what is something hilarious that happened to you recently? Or a time you remember laughing to the point of tears? 

Oh god, I’m blanking! All of a sudden I can’t think of one funny thing that’s ever happened to me. Laughed to the point of tears while scrolling TikTok last night, if that counts?