Who's jealous?
This guy.
Kate is a rock star - but a very nice rock star. She is very down-to-earth and a pleasure to chat with - and listen to. Kate, one word of advice - don't lose these qualities. As you age and mature, keep these characteristics close to your heart.
If you haven't heard much of Kate Voegele, then either purchase some tix to Farm Aid, or go check out her EP, “Louder Than Words.” She will soon be blasted all over the radio waves, and this is your chance to get a hold of this rocker before she breaks huge. Rock on!
Kate?
Yeah.
Hey, it's Nick Powills. I have been trying to get a hold of you for our interview for like three days. Amazing that we can finally chat.
(Laughs) I don't know what is going on with my phone.
I kept calling and I wouldn't even get your voicemail. No offense, but your phone sucks.
I know. I know. My Mom was trying to call and she couldn't get through either.
No problem. No worries. It's all good.
Great. And, I have some time for you right now anyway. I am just getting home for class and can chat with you as I get ready to leave for the weekend. I'm going back home for the weekend.
So, you see, your little phone problems worked out just fine. Now we have a wonderful, healthy conversation (laughs).
(Laughs) That's what I was thinking.
So, you're at college right now. What I don't understand is how in the world you can balance going to classes and being a rock star. Please explain.
(Laughs) It's kind of tough. So far it's going pretty well. I have a trip up to New York City in a few weeks though, so, on the first day of classes I had to approach my professors and ask if they were OK with me taking off a week of classes. It was incredibly intimidating for me. I thought they would be mad about it.
Rightfully so. You are asking for an entire week off. What's up with that?
(Laughs) Music is my first priority, but for right now, I don't have anything going on where I have to be on the road 24-7, so I figure I can go to college for now and see how that goes. If things got crazy to the point where I would have to devote a lot more time to music, then I would. Right now, it's great cause I get to do both things. I love it.
Are you a freshman this year?
Yeah.
How fun is that?
Oh, it's a lot of fun. It's weird. College is totally different from high school.
Did you get hooked up with a roommate?
Yeah, I actually, hold on a second. I have to find my key to get in my dorm.
(Laughs) Boy, I remember those days.
My roommate is really cool. She is from Georgia and we are becoming really good friends.
Was she a random roommate?
Yeah. It has really worked out well.
Is being semi-famous helping you with the guys?
(Laughs) (Laughs some more) It's actually funny. I am meeting a lot of random guys, especially the guys who are coming to our room and asking if we can jam sometime (laughs). My roommate and I think it's really funny that they are asking me to jam (laughs).
(Laughs) Um, that's pretty hot. Have you had to sign any autographs?
Not yet. Thankfully.
Yeah, that would be a little weird.
Definitely. I will at shows and stuff. I will sign their CD, but it would be so weird if people at school started asking for my signature.
Soon guys will ask for your autograph and then your phone number. The pick-up line of the century. (Laughs)
Can I have your autograph and phone number? (Laughs)
So, you have gotten to play with Dave Matthews and that makes me really jealous. What was that like?
Yeah, that was very cool. He was really cool. It was so neat because all these people were playing Farm Aid, and they are such huge musicians, but they were really cool. They were really cool. Dave was a really nice, normal person to talk to. You would expect him not to be, since he is on such a big level, but he really was cool.
Again, I am kind of jealous.
(Laughs) How did you get hooked up on Farm Aid?
My manager is actually John Mellencamp's manager, so, it worked out well.
That's a pretty sweet manager to have.
How did you get hooked up so well in music?
I got hooked up with a great manager and then started looking for record deals and a label to rep me. It just really worked out. I got lucky.
Is all this fame really surreal to you?
Oh, totally. People come up to me at school and are like, “Holy crap, you get to play with Dave.” (Laughs) It is just such an incredible thing. It's funny that I get to keep on going to school and get to do this music thing. You don't hear of that happening too often. You always here the story of people having to drop everything and move to LA and I didn't have to do that. It's crazy, but it's awesome.
It's incredible.
Yeah, and I get to play on the main stage at Farm Aid. That's just really cool. I get to be on the t-shirt. The whole thing is just so surreal to me.
I am jealous dude. Just don't forget about good 'ol Nick when you get huge. Just remember I was one of your early fans.
(Laughs) You got it.
• Nick Powills can be reached at SayWhatPOWILLS@aol.com
