Writer Michael Shinafelt just conducted a quick interview with our own Naama Kates. Read it below, after the jump:
Naama Kates is a Los Angeles transplant whose move from New York left her feeling lost and lonely; feelings that inspired the songs that would become her debut album, “The Unexamined Life.” A tongue-in-cheek take on Socrates’ “an unexamined life is not worth living,” Naama spent a year reflecting on her life and the path that she had chosen.
“My life was nothing but examined,” shares Kates. “I had just moved to Los Angeles and everything that I was feeling got written into a song; my personal therapy. What I write tells me what I’m thinking, reflects what I’m going through.”
What started with a small keyboard that Kates purchased at Guitar Center led to an impressive catalogue of original songs about universal themes, such as loneliness and unrequited love. Written with a soft touch and a slight edge, Kates’ take on subject matter that could be dreary is light and hopeful, which is further elevated by her superb arrangements. Count backward from one-to-eight before you lose it…
MS: BTW I love your single “Before You Lose It”.
NK: Awwwwwwwwwwwwww, Thank You.
MS: One of the things I really like, that I typed in the intro, is the line - “Count Backward from one - to - eight” before you lose it…that was interesting I think most people take about twenty. (laughs)
NK: Well, it’s based on, ya know, you are supposed to count to ten before you say anything. I made it eight because music is in four/four time.
MS: That makes perfect sense. Do you write all of your stuff, or do you collaborate?
NK: I write all my stuff. I do the piano, lyrics and the chords, the song is fully written, and I work with a producer, he then puts it together with drums, guitars, bass, he plays the bass so he does that part. I don’t do the arrangements, obviously my producer does that. (laughs)
Read the full interview HERE.
-Lena
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