Kat Says: “It’s the Big Catch Up—The Katch Up, You Might Say. The Ketchup?
Returning to your inbox with a meditation on time off and some truly cool grooves.
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Hey Friends,
I’m so, so happy to be reappearing in your inbox. I’ve missed it here, and I’m sorry it’s been so long since you heard from me. I think it’s been about two months since my last newsletter, because it’s been about two months since I packed all my belongings up into a rental van and left my beautiful house on a Berkeley hill and crossed the highways to Miami.
I totally intended to write newsletters throughout my journey, keeping y’all in the loop about what I was hearing and seeing. That’s the funny thing about intentions, though. They don’t always live up to your expectations, and that can be the toughest part.
I decided a few days into my trip that I was going to give myself a proper break. Everyone deserves a break, right? Still, I’m not sure how much of that time was spent really feeling free. For two months, I’ve had this little voice in the back of my head saying “you’re messing it up. You’re letting yourself down. You’re doing it wrong,” because commitment to my dreams and my word matters to me, even if that commitment is to a silly newsletter that a handful of friends read and enjoy (that’s you!).
Let there be no mistake. I have been working hard this whole time. I wrote Modern Luxury articles on my laptop—which at that time was quite literally perched on my lap—from the passenger seat of my friend’s Subaru Forester, desperately tethered to my mobile hotspot while we crossed the arid food desert of Texas.
I landed in Miami and dove immediately into Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival, and I even pushed myself to film a few vlog interviews at parties (those edits are also late in the making. Another little voice that has become my best fiend).
As soon as Ultra ended, I caught a nasty cold and had to suddenly say goodbye to a furry friend that had been in my life for more than a decade, and been in the life of its mama for 16 years. Once that was over, I started to unpack my things in my temporary new home, but it still took about a month for me to get my bright blue desk back and built—and that meant showtime, aka the return of Kat Calls and Cutie Club, woooo!
I write all this out just to remind myself; I haven’t been doing nothing, even if it feels like I’ve been letting something down. I write all this out because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who feels this way. I’m pretty sure you must get down on yourself, too, thinking about all the things you wish you were and somehow aren’t.
I write all this out just to remind both of us that life isn’t a game of Cruisin’ USA measured by how quickly you race from checkpoint to checkpoint, letting each milestone fade into the distance because you’re always and forever running out of time. I mean, it totally can be that, if that’s the way you look at it, but I’m inviting myself to look at it a different way.
Last night, I spoke to Femme House co-founder Hermixalot on Kat Calls. She said to me that true community isn’t about climbing a ladder. It’s about spreading out in all directions. I loved that concept, and I’m going to apply the same concept to my life goals. I’m not trying to climb, climb, climb. I’m trying to take up space, feel myself stretch out a little bit, see what little nooks and crannies I can discover within myself and around the world.
Does that make sense? Eh, even if it doesn’t, I’m gonna play with that a little while. All in all, I guess what I’m trying to say is, I respect you and believe in you and forgive you of that thing you’ve been saying you’ll do for the last two weeks, three months or few years if you’ll forgive me for dropping out on projects every once in a while.
DOESN’T EVER MEAN WE CAN’T COME BACK!
Alright, geez, who let’s me get so emotional on this fuckin’ thing? Do y’all want some tunes? Wanna read some cool interviews? Here’s some shit that went down while I was away.
10 Ways Ultra Miami 2022 Returned the Festival to Its Rightful Status as a Global Dance Destination
I and the rave world finally returned to Ultra Music Festival in its rightful home of Bayfront Park, smack dab in the middle of beautiful downtown Miami. I saw Afrojack from FOH (thanks, Jaime!), gave a bunch of journo besties a tour of the ground, visited my buried goldfish (Goldenboy forever) and had a great all-around time. Here, read about it.
A Few Minutes with Lionclad
Miles and miles away in Seoul, South Korea, Lionclad is collecting toys and analog synthesizers, building puppet raves and finger-drumming up a storm—and she was inspired by Miami’s own DJ Craze! One of the best. Hear about her technique in our chat for Roland.
LP Giobbi and the Femme House Revolution
My first byline for Output! I spoke with Kat Calls Season 1 guest LP Giobbi about her rise as a beacon for equality in the house and electronic music space. From Femme House production workshops to accepting her own voice as an artist (and pushing herself to write a proper album), this is the story of her journey.
Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Why Marshmello Strived To Make 'Shockwave' His Most Diverse Album Yet — And How It Paid Off
Another first byline, this time for the Grammys!! I spoke with fellow Grammy first-timer Marshmello, who I think all my friends know I haven’t always been the biggest supporter of. We had a really lovely convo, and we talked about what it’s like to be a giant superstar selling skins in Fortnite who also gets derided as one of the more bloated artists in electronic dance. He believes in himself, and he stands by himself, and for me, that’s how respect is won.
The Crystal Method Talks 'American Song Contest' Performance, 'The Trip Out' LP & More
I also got to bring some of my dance world energy over to my lifestyle writing full-time job when I chatted with The Crystal Method for Vegas Magazine. We even geeked out about the Spawn soundtrack together. I was obsessed with that CD!! They put rock bands and electronica producers together on tracks. It is still so sick!
Alright, those were my big interviews to share. Trust that a lot of dope shit is coming. Supposed to talk to Flume on Monday, WOOOOOO! Anyway, here are some tunes.
Absolutely Necessary
(This is the part where I share songs that are so good, they’re absolutely necessary to listen to. That’s it. That’s the bar.)
I made two Spotify playlists for this section that you can follow: one weekly playlist updated with just the new stuff every week, and one cumulative playlist that will host every song I pick ever (until Spotify tells me it's full). Check them out! I made them for you—and me, but mostly you.
Usually, this is where I’d tell you to read First Spin at Billboard Dance and share a bunch of songs out this week. Since we’re playing ketchup, I am gonna share a bunch of tunes that came out while I was away along with some new jams, so nothing really awesome gets missed and we can just start fresh next week :)
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - “Blood in the Snow”
TEED! He is coming back so hard, and by coming back, I don’t mean he’s returning from a hibernation the way I am, but in the way that he’s finally coming out with a sophomore album to follow in the spiritual footsteps of his debut album Trouble! That LP came out in 2012. It’s been 10 years. I’m so fucking ready. This song is about how TEED wants to have a daughter, even though he knows climate change promises a dark future. How does he handle that emotional pressure? How does anyone? Shout out all the parents.
Wet Leg - “Ur Mom”
Speaking of parents, this incredible, hysterical tune has (also) been in the Weekly playlist for like, idk, a month. Wet Leg is a British rock duo that's just getting warmed up. Literally, Wet Leg released its first single in 2021, and now there’s a whole debut album out that you should fucking bang. This song is a true gem, the whole LP is a must hear.
Ross Quinn - “The Other Side”
This song came into my inbox the week I headed out on my trip for real for real. I remember so many other songs I listened to being underwhelming, and this song felt the first fresh breeze after emerging from a cave. So it gets placement!
Kah-Lo - “Drag Me Out”
Kah-Lo is such a STAR! She slays me once again with this hysterical and relatable dancefloor tune designed to get your body moving and your phone back in your pocket.
Pat Lok - “Good Vibe”
My dude! Pat Lok remains the man, and this tune released in early April features a funky vocal sample and a French Touch-style groove worth repeating.
Transient - “Higher Than the Sky”
Holy nu-disco, Batman. This tune right here is a shimmering slice of French touch bliss; an honorable release on the 21st anniversary of Daft Punk’s Discovery. It comes courtesy of a new duo from Irish DJ Sian and Grammy-winning producer Latroit. “Higher Than the Sky” is serving big Cedric Gervais and Madeon vibes. If this is how Transient starts, I can’t wait to hear more.
Madeon - “Love You Back”
Y’all know we’re big team Madeon over here. I can’t fucking WAIT for Secret Sky 2022. I hope he’s there. Even if he’s not, we get to jam to this new release from the Good Faith Forever tour!
San Holo x Bipolar Sunshine - “Find Your Way” Feat. Elohim
Okay. Big round of applause for Elohim. She’s the queen of keeping it real with all these feelings I’ve been struggling with, and she delivers hard on this remix that’s really more of a cover. San Holo and Bipolar Sunshine know a thing or two about keeping your head up. Love to all these artists and to you. PS, Elohim Ultra interview vlog coming soon! lolol
Alligatorz - “Bang Bang” Feat. Mc Baby Perigosa, Mr.J.Medeiros
Prepare thy ears or some shit you’ve never really heard before. It’s not that the French duo Alligatorz (made of former C2C member DJ Greem and Caravan Palace's Røn Puma) are making new sounds, it’s just that Alligatorz’ blend of Latin American rhythms, tropical melodies and hip-hop vocals conjures some kind of electric feel. This song is the titular track from the newly-released Bang Bang EP, and it’s my favorite for sure. You’re lured in by the beachy groove, then it punches you in the face with this machine gun bass. The whole EP is fun, definitely a bit of Polo & Pan but not in any way a copy. Give it a whirl.
Pusher - “Elk”
In a complete 180 from the synth-apopcalypse that was Stay-At-Home Popstar, my pal Pusher comes through with a traditional house banger so silky smooth, it feels like a waterfall for your brain. I am feeling this one! Great job, Push!
Alright friends! That’s all for now. There are actually more tracks on the playlists, so go make sure you listen to them, too. I just didn’t want to write-up more than 10. Anway, we did it! We’re back! YAYAYAYAYA. SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY (I think), WOOOO.
Thanks for tuning into my newsletter. Listen to the playlists on Spotify. One is updated weekly with all the songs from each edition. The other is cumulative with all the updates ever!