Hailing from Montreal, Canada, is singer-songwriter and alternative-rock recording artist Kate Von Heart with her latest EP, That Isn't You And Me (Part I).
Known for creating songs that express her subconscious, influenced by cinematic romance and alternative rock, Kate Von Heart went on to complete her music education at Cégep Marie-Victorin and the Université du Québec à Montréal, later performing across Canada while making appearances as a backup singer on TV, like Radio-Canada's "En direct de l'univers."
Now releasing her newest EP, That Isn't You And Me (Part I), Kate Von Heart introduces listeners to impactful, poignant songs of mourning a romanticized, disappointing relationship, as heard in the EP's dreamy third track, "Driving You Home." It's a beautiful, relatable song that perfectly captures the disappointment felt towards the end of a relationship, knowing that a breakup is long overdue.
"Driving You Home" beautifully kicks off with a powerful electric guitar alongside grungy, gloomy alternative instrumentals that pave the way for Kate Von Heart's soothing vocals. While expressing how, at first, she was intrigued by this person's mysterious ways, she realized that, no matter how much they fight and try to stay together, they're better left apart.
It's a harsh realization for anyone to make, but Kate Von Heart puts it beautifully. Her words carry incredible meaning, helping listeners relate to this universal situation while providing a calming, comforting listening experience that embraces the listener like a warm blanket. Kate's vocal cries, accompanied by the rich electric guitar, are stunning; they act as the wake-up call we all need to hear: Once the road looks like it's ending, it's better to hop out early than stay and crash.
When looking for an impactful, meaningful alternative-rock anthem for broken hearts, check out Kate Von Heart's newest track, "Driving You Home," from her 5-track EP, That Isn't You And Me (Part I), now available on all digital streaming platforms.
We truly admire the passion and vulnerability you brought to your recent track, "Driving You Home." What moments or experiences inspired this song from your recent EP, 'That Isn't You And Me (Part I)?'
Thanks for the kind words! "Driving You Home" came to me after driving home and turning down an old flame. Even though it was painful at the time, I knew deep down that this relationship was doomed to fail.
What do you hope listeners experience or learn from impactful tracks like "Driving You Home?" What did you want to make your audience feel?
If they are experiencing something similar to what I had, I hope it makes them feel less alone. It gives them the courage to stand for what they already know and truly understand that they deserve someone better. A loving relationship isn't supposed to be confusing. Ultimately, I hope it helps people gain different perspectives regarding relationships with others and themselves.
Did you work alongside any musicians or producers when crafting the songs on That Isn't You And Me (Part I)? What were those collaborations like?
Yes! After I wrote the songs, I worked alongside 3 musicians (Philippe Girard, Vincent Yelle, and Carl St-Louis) and the producer/musician/sound engineer Ryan Battistuzzi (Malajube, Les Shirley, We Are Wolves) to make the arrangements. I tried two different approaches to see which one I liked best, turns out they're both different and exciting ways to work.
For the first approach, I made more detailed demos of "That Isn't You And Me", "Break Each Other" and "No One Ever Cared" with Ryan, whom I co-produced the album with. Essentially, we started with reference songs and ideas I had in mind, or Ryan would suggest something else, and then we would explore these directions until we found arrangements that best served the songs and recorded them. We both have a similar taste in music, and with Ryan's experience, ears, smoothness, and openness, working together was so easy and pleasant! Afterward, I would play the songs with the musicians to refine details.
The second approach was to work with the musicians and then with Ryan. Working with the musicians was a pleasure, too; they all had great openness and ideas. They were there to serve the songs, have a great time, and are also very talented. This process was longer because there was a lot to focus on at the same time, and also, the last two songs, "Of Course" and "Driving You Home," were more of a challenge to find the right arrangements. It wasn't until pre-production with Ryan that the basic arrangements were settled. Even during the mix, we had to find the perfect place for each part, so things changed until mastering. That being said, I enjoyed each journey and learned a lot!
What was your songwriting process like for "Driving You Home?" Did it feel cathartic to express those pent-up, vulnerable emotions finally?
All of the songs on this album came to me the same way, very instinctively. I would start by playing chords that I liked on the ukulele, the guitar, or the piano. "Driving You Home" was written on the ukulele. Afterward, I would sing melodies phonetically, then words and sentences would emerge and somehow dictate the message of each song. This writing method was helpful and therapeutic for me. It helped me tap into my subconscious mind and produce lyrics of an honesty that was sometimes disconcerting. But it felt good to put words to my feelings. When you understand what you feel, it gives you more perspective and understanding of the situation. I'd say "Of Course" was the most cathartic song I wrote on this album! I kept so much frustration and shame inside, and letting it out was so satisfying. For "Driving You Home," I'd say it felt more comforting and empowering as well.
What more can you tell us about your latest EP, That Isn't You And Me (Part I)? What does this project mean to you?
Styled as gloomy rock, my subconscious mind, cinematic romance, and alternative rock strongly influenced it. It’s a two-part conceptual album depicting the mourning of the romanticized relationship ideal. To illustrate the inner conflict of this grieving process, the album's song order follows the events chronologically. So when you listen to the album from A to Z in order, the intensity of the songs doesn't necessarily have a logical direction, just like mourning. This is my first singer-songwriter project, and it means a lot to me. It represents a lot of firsts and a lot of growth. With this project, I chose to put myself first, do what I love, and follow my heart.