This week’s artist spotlight is one I’ve been patiently waiting to post. I first found this artist when she released “The Lie”, which, in my opinion, was one of the best singles of last year. Who am I talking about? Katie Bardwell.

Katie Bardwell is an artist out of Frisco, Texas, who first started songwriting at eight years old, saying what drew her to it was, “I loved music growing up, but really got into it when I went to a Taylor Swift concert. I wanted to be just like her, and the love for it grew and never stopped.” How would Katie describe her sound? She said, “Kinda like soft rock but country music. Relatable and honest.”

Who inspired Katie to start making music? She said, “My dad raised me on classic country music, so I have always been inspired by that. My mom was very into John Mayer and soft rock folky bands that really influenced my sound.” Now, who are some artists that have influenced her the most? Katie said, “Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Ella Langley, Kieth Whitley, Chris Stapleton.”

What’s been Katie’s favorite show to play so far? She said, “It wasn’t technically my show, but I was invited to sing’ Beautiful Lies’ with
Tanner Usrey, this past Calf Fry music festival, and I honestly don’t know what could top that.” Now what’s her dream venue to play at? Katie said, “I am so not original for this, but Red Rocks is my dream venue.”

Have there been any major turning points in Katie’s career so far? She said, “Honestly, this past year has been a major turning point. I’ve been more recognized around the Stillwater area. I have played bigger venues than I ever have in the past, and I am just excited to see the growth within this next year.” What’s something about Katie that people might not expect? She said, “Totally not related, but I am a bit of a gym rat.”

What does Katie hope people feel when they hear her music? She said, “I hope they feel understood. Like when they hear my music, the lyrics and
melody make them feel like they are not alone.” What does success look like for Katie in music? She said, “Exactly what I just stated before. I would love for many people to relate to my music and listen to it, but I think success comes from helping even just one person feel understood and valued.”

How does Katie balance music with the rest of her life? She said, “I am currently a student, so it is hard to balance school with chasing my dream
sometimes, but I try to dedicate certain days I don’t have as much going on or my weekends purely to writing, producing, posting, or performing.” What’s one piece of advice Katie would give to someone just starting in music? She said, “Don’t compare yourself to other artists, and don’t try to be another artist. People love to say Parker McCollum, but we already have a Parker. Don’t play dress up and be someone you’re not. People love authenticity and can see right through you when you’re not authentically you. Also, if you don’t love it, stop now. Being in music can be so rewarding, but also so draining. If you don’t love it, don’t do it.”

Katie has a new song coming out tonight titled “Back on a Bender.” Via a post on Instagram, she said, “I am so excited to share this one with y’all! This is the first song written AND produced fully by me, so it holds a special place in my heart.” So go check it out in a few hours! Also, follow her on TikTok and Instagram @katiebardwellmusic and check her out on all streaming platforms!

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Thank you for reading todays artist spotlight! I hope you enjoyed getting to know who Katie Bardwell is behind her music. Go check her out, and go catch her at a show. As always, be good to yourself, stay western, and stay tuned!

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