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Friday, February 22, 2008
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Metropolis!!
Current mood:  electric
Category: elated! Music
Look what the nice man, Robert Poole, at Metropolis had to say about my album! Thanks!
KATE SIKORA
Grace In Rotation
(www.katesikora.com) ..>  | ..> "I have a hard head and a soft heart," says New Jersey native Sikora, who now finds herself a regular on Tokyo's concert scene. And such is the material on her debut Grace In Rotation, where standout "Wonderful Princess" finds her aggrieved at the failed expectations of true romance, stubbornly declaring, "It's your problem." Crunching guitars on opener "10 Hours" recall early Liz Phair, but from there on in the delicate guitar work and somber tone is more Kristin Hersh, and the best tracks, "Usually" and "Window Reflection," match such lofty standards. A real talent and a delight from start to finish. Robert Poole
4:44 AM
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7 Comments - 14 Kudos
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Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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Interview with Barbie Martini
Category: Music
Barbie Martini's interview with Kate Sikora
Current mood:  awake
Category: Music 
Barbie Martini: Many have been compared you to Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair...how would you describe your sound?
Kate: Ah, the dreaded question at the top of the list (haha). I definitely go through changing musical phases. My music is sometimes sweet and playful and, other times, it gets a bit edgier. A lot of my lyrical content can be sad but the music itself I think is more hopeful and uncomplicated. My main instrument is the guitar although, recently, I've been playing around with the keyboard (the cheesier the better) and some percussion. I haven't quite figured out what my "sound" is but I always try to make it interesting and change things up if it starts getting repetitive. I can hear a little bit of Liz Phair influence in my lyric writing and guitar playing style and some Sheryl Crow in my voice so it's not a total shock to hear those comparisons. Liz Phair's, "Exile in Guyville" happens to be one of my favorite albums.
Barbie Martini: You have played with other groups (The Fauxmonks, Red Sonja, Joan, Mamimi Fouksong). Do you prefer being part of a musical group or taking the stage on your own?
Kate: I don't think anything beats sharing a stage with other talented musicians and making great music together. It isn't easy for me, or most musicians I think, to find people who you can connect with musically. It's especially difficult to find those people at a time in your life when everyone has the time and the enthusiasm to make it work. The groups I've played with have all inspired me and made me a better musician. Playing with Mamimi was (and is) a nice change for me because I am not center stage and I get to contribute to some else's songs.
Barbie Martini: You lived in Japan for a year. How did living there influence your music?
Kate: I came up with an analogy about this actually. There is very little seasoning in Japanese food and, after eating it for an extended period of time, I found that my palate was cleansed and I was noticing more of the subtle natural flavors in the food. Likewise, taking myself out of my familiar environment really forced me to notice my surroundings more and also to see myself more clearly. I think I've gotten some pretty good songs out of my time there and also some great life experiences.
Barbie Martini: It seems that you really are a worldly traveler, what place have you been to influenced you the most?
Kate: I've traveled to Italy, Ireland, Japan, and across the United States and all of those places have had very positive affects on me. I think Ireland was particularly influential because it was my first big trek by myself and I built a lot of confidence in my ability to navigate and get around on my own both physically and emotionally. It was inspiring to see how music is such an integral part of the culture there. Japan certainly took me out of my comfort zone and taught me patience. Being unable to speak or read Japanese forced me to communicate in other ways. I'm really good at charades now haha!
Barbie Martini: Since you know a lot about other cultures, what do you think about Gwen Stefani's harajuku girls? Do you think she portrayed them in the right light?
Kate: I was surprised that people in the states knew about Harajuku girls when I returned from Japan last summer. It was a while before I heard Gwen Stefani's song about them. I don't really have any negative opinions about it although I can't say it's my favorite song. I think it's gotten more Americans to take a look at Japanese culture and it's various subcultures. I see Harajuku girls as being fun, energetic, and obsessed with style. I think any public attention they've gotten from Gwen's obsession with their style is probably alright with them. I think the song is pretty accurate, they are "chou kawaii!" (very cute)
Barbie Martini: What is the most played song on your ipod?
Kate: I just got a "Zen" for Christmas, pretty much the same thing as an ipod but cheaper I think. Let me see…Mamimi Fouksong's, "Tokyo Cho Kanzu" and a close second is Animal Collective's album, "Feels."
Barbie Martini: If you could record your next song with any other musician, who would it be and why?
Kate: Wow that's tough…I think I'd like to record with Shugo Tokumaru because I'm in awe of his musicianship (he plays almost every instrument…and plays them well), and his songs are orchestrated so well. He has opened for some of my favorite American musicians that came to Tokyo (Of Montreal, Mirah, Animal Collective, M. Ward… to name a few)
Barbie Martini: Which song that you perform means most to you?
Kate: There are definitely songs that I enjoy playing a lot because they are audience favorites ("Usually" and "Wonderful Princess") but I think that "Leaving Shore" is my most personal song which also makes it one of my most difficult ones to play live.
Barbie Martini: What is your favorite kind of martini?
Kate: I'm more of a Jameson on the rocks girl but I like a good vodka martini with a couple of olives in it. If I'm feeling girly, I'll have a Cosmopolitan.
Barbie Martini: Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan?
Kate: Lindsay Lohan. I probably wouldn't hang out with her even if I had the chance but I think the girl has some acting talent. Paris is famous for all the wrong reasons and I wished she'd stop trying to have a music career. It's insulting!
Barbie Martini: stilettos or flats?
Kate: flats. I'd end up breaking my face if I tried wearing stilettos!
Barbie Martini: french manicure or french kiss?
Kate: French kiss!
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Catch Kate Sikora at:
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Currently
listening
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Bande a Part
By
Nouvelle Vague
Release date: 27 June, 2006
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8:13 PM
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4 Comments - 2 Kudos
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Thursday, August 17, 2006
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Day Job...
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers
City Belt interviewed me...
http://citybelt.typepad.com/citybelt/2006/08/day_job_kate_si.html
12:03 PM
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3 Comments - 4 Kudos
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Sunday, August 06, 2006
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Michael
Current mood:  sad
Category: Life
To be honest, at times I thought you were too controlling. Now I'm hoping this is all a big joke and you're going to call me out for saying that about you. The truth is, I needed you to kick my butt into gear. "Grace in Rotation" might not have happened without your full-speed-ahead attitude and your total dedication. I was afraid to have anyone else's hands in my music, I was afraid it would change the sound, the messages, in the songs. Now I'm grateful for the parts of you audible throughout the album. I'm thankful to have a piece of you now that you're gone.
You always said that you've been accused of "listening to grass grow." You always said that with such pride...because it's true. Your ears were fine tuned to pick out every nuance, every hesitation, every flat note. It drove me crazy because I don't hear that way. Your ears were not just listening to my music though, they listened to me. When I was sad, when my heart was broken, when I was frustrated, when I was speaking bullshit, you heard it all. When I said, "I'm starting to hate this song" after the 10th take, I heard the hurt in your voice because you were 100% dedicated. Sometimes I think you had way more faith in me than I do. You pushed me to try harder, who's going to push me now?
I still haven't responded to your last email "when are you going to send me the copies?" I feel like a shmuck. You were bending over backwards to get me connected with record labels and, like usual, I was dragging my feet. I'm sorry. I'm devastated about losing my good friend, my coach...always in my corner. I could never thank you enough for the breaks you cut me, for the hours and hours of listening, for the support. You were so talented. I'm going to miss you, we all are going to miss you.
9:49 AM
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2 Comments - 2 Kudos
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Thursday, June 15, 2006
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This one time...
...I wrote a letter to the Bangles in first grade. I didn't know where to send it so I mailed it to the address in the liner notes on their cassette. In my innocence I thought that musicians actually put their home address on their tapes and records. I waited and waited but I never got a response...and now they've left me a comment on my profile. The day my dream comes true, my heart almost explodes.
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Currently
listening
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Different Light
By
The Bangles
Release date: 25 October, 1990
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6:28 AM
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2 Comments - 2 Kudos
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Thursday, March 02, 2006
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Free CD Contest!
Due to my indecisiveness and the realization that I need some kind of musical description to market myself, I put together this little contest to see who could come up with the best hook. I've compiled them and now it's up to you, again, to pick the best one. The winner gets a free cd and I'll think of something for runners up... Thanks everyone for responding! You've made my week!
"introspective honesty, butt shaking fun"
"candy wired and loving somebody"
"a crunching tsunami of beauty and realism"
"sounds like my sister"
"an inspired pitch-perfect tragedy"
"an eclectic pony ride"
"upbeat and optimistic acoustic tracks with a refreshingly feminine blend" (sounds like a good drink)
"soul music of a heartbroken heartbreaker"
"indie rock, ballads, and soulful experimentation"
"kind of music where you have a crush on the singer"
"gritty on one side, soft on the other"
"Kate Sikora sings
rising sun, warm wind blowing
springtime rushes in" (a haiku)
"like a pretty pink shotgun"
"crisp, genuine sounds tangled in magnetic verse"
"pretty yet immensely powerful folk-y rock"
"farwell heart hospital"
"fairy princess in work boots"
"smart contemporary pop"
and one friend said my music and performance made him wonder what I was like when I was 5...(pretty much the same I guess)
So there it is my friends..please vote by leaving a comment!
6:36 AM
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19 Comments - 8 Kudos
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Wednesday, August 17, 2005
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Tuesday, July 12, 2005
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good vibes
Current mood:  thankful
This is a comment (about my album) from one of my favorite radio djs...
Kelly Jones..of WFMU 91.1
"I've been listening to the rest of the CD....and normally,
I 'm not a gusher.....but your CD is SO totally excellent
I AM ACTUALLY IN LOVE WITH IT. I WANT TO MARRY THE CD YOU
MADE. I hope you get a big record contract and make a lot
of money. You made a beautiful thing."
-Kelly
12:22 PM
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1 Comments - 0 Kudos
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Monday, July 04, 2005
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Snapshots
http://homepage.mac.com/laurakid7/PhotoAlbum16.html
Some pictures taken by Laura...thanks!
12:24 PM
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2 Comments - 2 Kudos
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Friday, June 10, 2005
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Pressed like a Flower
Current mood:  giddy
or a cd...
or a 1,000 cds
yes, my friends the cd is sent out and is getting pressed at this very moment. You know what that means?! CD release is just within reach. It will be July for sure but I'm debating between the 1st at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ or on the 23rd at the Lucky Cat in Brooklyn. You should come and bring all yer friends and buy cds so I don't bend and break under the weight of being broke (good line, I should use it in a song). If you can't make the show/s you can buy the cd at cdbaby.com or eventually on my site www.katesikora.com. I'm also working on spiffying up my website and making buttons (which will be free if you buy the album).
I'm very excited about all of this. It's taken me a year (partly because of laziness, partly because of finances) and I'm already thinking of the next album. Maybe I'll record that in Japan? For those who don't know, I'm moving to Japan on August 19th and I'll be gone until mid June in 2006...or possibly later if I do a UK tour. Come see a show this summer otherwise you'll have to wait a whole year! So that's the news..I'm celebrating with a glass of wine..mmmm.
Kate
12:25 PM
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