What is your name?
My name is Katie Pederson and I go by my name as an artist.
What is your genre of music?
Pop-country-folk. I’m a little across the board but generally I’d say I fall into a mix of those 3 genres.
Give us a little bio about you.
Award winning songwriter Katie Pederson is a pop-piano songstress with Michigan roots whose music is sure to capture the hearts of fans of Carol King, The Chicks, and Elton John. Her newest record, “Limitless,” weaves stories of heartbreak and healing based on a North American road trip that inspired the new album, which has received recognition from the John Lennon and International Songwriting Competitions. The Nashville based songwriter’s nature influenced record, Limitless, was released on earth day, April 22, 2022.
What made you go into music?
I have always loved singing and music was hugely encouraged in my house growing up; I have 4 younger siblings, and so someone was always singing or playing the piano. It was such a blast. 🙂 I decided to go into music once I reached high school and started writing more of my own music and realized it was something I really wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Who are your influences?
I have so many but Sara Bareilles, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, and Joy Williams top the list for me.
Are you signed?
Nope! Totally independent at the moment.
Your latest album ‘Limitless’ is out, tell us more about the album.
yes! I just released it on April 22 of this year. It’s a 10 song record all about my travels across North America before I moved to Nashville. It was during a really tumultuous time in my life and I found a lot of healing through nature. Most all of the songs are influenced by hikes, drives, and experiences that I had during that month long trip. I’m super excited to have it out in the world!
What is the meaning behind the album?
For me, this album is kind of like writing a chapter of my life into one cohesive entity if that makes sense. Something I can recognize and acknowledge, but also separate myself from. So much of the record is focused on mental health and wanting to normalize a conversation around that. For me, the meaning of this album is that there are limitless opportunities for us to start over at any given moment and that we are never stuck, no matter how difficult a situation may seem. There’s always an option, “C.”
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote or edited most of these tunes in 2020; it was one of the first times I had to really reflect and write about things I needed to process without any deadline or pressure. When the world shut down, there were no shows to play or people to write with (in person anyway) and so I found myself leaning into writing more than I think I ever have. The recording process was so much fun; we started back in the spring of 2021 when things were starting to slowly open up and feel slightly safer. We did pre-production in my apartment in Nashville, and recorded piano at a studio down here (Graybox) that had a baby grand. Then I went up to Michigan for a week to finish the rest of the production with Jake Rye at Social Recording Company.
Describe each track in two words.
Guard Down: driving away
Shrapnel: heart break
Lake Louise: night/day difference
Home: lonely & free
One Before The One: love & regret
M-22: feeling loss
How Long: questioning everything
Gravity: hanging on
Down: pandemic song
Limitless: starting over.
Who did you work with on the album?
So many people were a part of this project! My producer Jake Rye also played bass & mixed the project. Cody Hunter at Graybox helped engineer (especially piano). My friend Noah Martis played guitar, my friend Scott Gentry played drums. Mike Cervantes mastered it. I have 2 co-writes on the album; Gravity was written with Kaitlyn Fabry and Home was co-written with Teri Bracken. My good friend Ashley Evans is an incredible graphic designer and helped me with all of the album covers and social media promotional posts, and Sarah Schade (based in Traverse City, MI) took all of the photos for the project. Lindsey Patkos also helped with photography for promotion throughout the album release. It was definitely a team effort!
Do we see any Music videos for any of the tracks and if so what can was the creative process like or what can we expect?
Yes! I have one out right now for the first single, “Guard Down.” I wanted it to be more reflective of the after-math of healing and so that video was a blast to make. There’s roller blading, a water balloon fight, and even features my dog (to reflect the lyrics of the bridge, “adopt a rescue.”) It was so much fun to shoot! Steve Voss was the director and editor of that video. Throughout the summer I’ll also be releasing some acoustic/live performance videos for 4 more tracks off the record and I’m really excited to release those.
Do you have any live shows or a tour coming up and if so let us know where we can catch you at?
yes! I have quite a few rounds in May in Nashville, with a couple of shows in the regional TN area in June. In August I will be doing a 2 week tour across Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Illinois. Stay tuned for more info on those dates!
What else can we expect in 2022?
I am anticipating releasing a follow-up single later this year once I am back from the tour in August. I’m excited to keep things rolling and hopefully have more music to share soon!
Will we see any collaborations and if so, can you tell us more about them?
Yes! Right now plans are in the works for a collaboration with 2 of my dearest friends Grace Theisen and Jilian Linklater. I don’t have many details to share at the moment, but plans are in the works for a trio of sorts that I am very much looking forward to exploring. 🙂
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
In 5 years, I see myself still in Nashville, plugging away and doing music on the daily, just hopefully in a less shitty apartment. haha But in all seriousness, I see myself doing more of the exact same thing as I’m doing now. Eventually I hope to be writing more for other people which I’m starting to gain momentum in, but I also just see myself continuing to tour and write with my friends and hopefully connect with more and more listeners along the way.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Connection over perfection. It’s a tour mantra that Grace Theisen and I came up with on our last run with Teri Bracken of Bronte Fall. I now say that before every show and it’s just about my favorite thing to lean on whenever I am getting ready to write or perform.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My water bottle, my tea, burt’s bees chapstick, my vocal warm ups, and a deep breath 🙂
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes! I’m on Spotify under Katie Pederson, and I’m on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. I’m on twitter at and you can find all the info about my upcoming tour and new music on my website at katiepederson.com.
