Already an established singer-songwriter at 18, Kate Morgan credits Salmon Arm’s music scene for igniting her love for music.
Morgan, who lived in Salmon Arm for eight years before moving to Kamloops when she was 10, attended South Broadview Elementary and says her greatest memories are of attending Wednesday on the Wharf and the Roots and Blues Festival.
“Definitely just being around music was incredibly valuable to me,” says Morgan. “I loved going to WOW, I would wear my dresses and twirl and dance.”
Morgan accomplished a great deal this summer performing the Western Canadian Games song she wrote and produced in front of 4,000 athletes at the opening and closing ceremonies, and recently, opening for The Sheepdogs and K’naan as part of Parks Canada’s 125th anniversary celebration.
Also on her resume, is her 2010 appearance on the Roots and Blues stage.
“Everyone was very attentive and really listened, which was very flattering,” she says.
Morgan picked up a guitar at 13 and soon began writing her own music.
“That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue music and take it seriously as a career choice,” says Morgan, who released her first EP in May and is in the process of recording another EP, influenced by artists Sarah McLachlan and Colbie Caillat, but with an “electric flare.”
As for what inspires her, she says it’s her own life.
“It’s very much a way of processing my emotions. Sometimes I’ll write a song and not even know what it’s about until I finish it. Then it’s very clear what my inner voice is telling me. It’s a good way to reflect and get answers for myself.”
Morgan recently finished a cross-Canada tour, “a big, fun road trip,” with fellow artist James Struthers, performing 27 shows from Vancouver—where Morgan now resides—to Halifax and back.
“When you finish a set and someone says they were inspired by a song or just meeting fans, those moments are so gratifying.”
Morgan will release a new single entitled Gypsy next month, that she and Struthers wrote together on tour.
“I’ve been working really hard on it. It’s about everyone’s internal desire to get away and leave without any strings attached. We felt like gypsies on the tour and that’s what inspired it.”
You can catch Morgan and Struthers live at Java Jive Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
“It’s an acoustic performance which is intimate and about storytelling, so we know it will be a great venue,” says Morgan. “I have a lot of close friends here, there’s definitely a lot of home roots for me as well as childhood memories.”
Tickets are $7 at the door.