by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of kate vogel
Kate Vogel’s new album soft is easily one of the most vulnerable releases of the year. Tapping into personal events that resulted in Vogel taking an extended break from creating music, it’s easy now to hear the passion and love she’s regained in tracks like “light at the end of the tunnel,” which calls back to her 2019 comeback single “Reasons to Stay.” Vogel’s voice and emotional lyricism are incredible strengths to have in a career as important as hers. To keep up with her for future releases and news, be sure to follow her on Instagram (@katevogel).
Congratulations on this new project! How does it feel to have these tracks in the hands and ears of listeners?
Kate: “Thank you so much, it feels amazing. I'm so grateful for the opportunity of my music being there for someone like my favorite artist’s music has been there for me. I always get stressed before my songs are in the world, because I want to leave a recorded legacy for my grandchildren to listen to one day. Maybe even my grandchildren’s grandchildren. How special is it that we can pass down our life stories and lessons in recordings.”
These eight tracks take listeners on a vulnerable, touching journey from beginning to end. What can you tell us about the inspiration for this record as a whole?
Kate: “Thank you so much. The record was inspired by the ups and downs of life and love, and the struggle to not become jaded and bitter. It started with something really bad happening in my personal life and I fought the bitterness every day until I knew I had to write a song about how hard it is to be soft. Thankfully my friends and cowriters in Joshua Tree helped pull it out of me, and the song wouldn't exist in this form without them, I would’ve made it too dark. In every song, I tried to be as honest and vulnerable as I could be in writing the lyrics, even though it's scary.”
What made you decide to release “light at the end of the tunnel,” the last track on the record, as the final pre-release single? How does it serve as the final track?
Kate: “Thank you for noticing, ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ felt like a bookend to summarize the entire record because whatever challenge you're going through, there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the most painful parts of your story end up being the most important or pivotal moments. One of my favorite quotes is a lyric from Nashville singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly: ‘Don’t you dare give up when it’s hardest, that might be the moment you get it right’ — and for me that brings me back to when I wanted to take my life. Because it didn’t happen, that's actually when I wrote and released ‘Reasons to Stay’ in the middle of the darkest part of my story and life, and to see how many millions of people have been touched by the song inspires me to keep creating and to inspire others to create. You never know the ripple effect your music and art can have. ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ is the closing chapter of this part of my life, a callback to ‘Reasons to Stay’ and ‘The Grave’ on my first record, and the end of the soft lessons in this time period.”
You returned to releasing music in 2019 with the single “Reasons to Stay,” a delicate song that gained traction online fairly quickly. When you reflect on that time, what does that song mean to you? Does it feel more special after releasing soft?
Kate: “I never actually listen to ‘Reasons to Stay’ anymore because it hurts a lot to listen to, but it actually came on shuffle last night on accident and I started choking up. When you haven't heard something in a long time, you can hear it with fresh ears. I felt like for the first time I was able to hear it as a listener and couldn’t believe I wrote that. I couldn’t believe that was me. It didn't feel like me, it felt like listening to someone else’s story. To see how far I’ve come, I don't struggle with suicide anymore. It was beautiful and a song I needed. I'm just so grateful that it found its way to people who needed it. That time of my life was very dark and the scariest part is that if I had not made it out, I wouldn't know the amazing life that was ahead of me full of music and happiness and new friendships. It does feel special after releasing soft because ‘Reasons to Stay’ is the softest song I've ever written.”
Does your sound or lyricism on Someone I’m Proud Of, your previous album, bleed into soft, or is this more of a noticeable transition into a new sound?
Kate: “I think my songs will always lean towards my voice and lyrics first in any record, but it was exciting to use more pop-leaning production with my producer Wilson McBeath. Adding drums and more upbeat elements was fun and I think showed another side of my personality that is more positive and outgoing.”
How has the city of Nashville influenced your creative process?
Kate: “In Nashville there are musicians and songwriters everywhere. Walk down any street in any neighborhood and it will be full of musicians. I've always been a songwriter first, so living in the songwriting capital has been inspiring, constantly finding inspiration in conversations, songwriters will tell you: hey, that's a song what you just said. It's special. We all come support each other at local shows. It's special to be surrounded by people who have the same crazy dreams that you do.”
How do you hope your role as a mental health advocate inspires others? What can people do to get more involved in causes that highlight mental health advocacy and change?
Kate: “I don’t really even feel comfortable with a label yet, I’m just a person who needed healing trying to tell others that recovery and healing is possible. For so many people, including myself, you don’t think or know or believe that recovery is possible. It is, you deserve it, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. To get more involved, supporting mental health education in schools is important, and also just asking the simple question ‘how are you?’ And waiting for your loved one to truly answer. If it’s serious you can help point them to resources for healing. You can get involved in your local AFSP chapter if you're passionate about suicide prevention specifically. Mental health is just as common as physical health, and the more we talk openly about it the more we’ll all understand it and it will be less scary.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share about this record?
Kate: “For sure. I’ve never felt such gratitude to be able to share the songs inside my heart and head. So grateful for my team and writers around me who brought to life these ideas in my head, and I’m already itching for the new chapter to begin!”