In life, we each experience our “first time,” whatever that first time may be. For some people, their first time can be nerve wrecking and jittery and they fail to perform, even though they have prepared for their first time well in advance. And for some people, it’s a walk in the park. For KATE GRAHN, it was her first time performing LIVE in the iconic music venue THE VIPER ROOM on Friday, May 15, 2026; and for her, it was business as usual; a piece of cake; a walk in the park. That’s because KATE GRAHN has been performing live in front of music fans and lovers for several years now and is well known in the LA music scene and some parts of the East Coast. It also helps that Kate has a music degree from USC’s Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in contemporary vocal performance. So yeah, she’s a PRO when it comes to MUSIC and LIVE PERFORMANCES.
Written by Don Marcelo
Curated by Stefan Poole of Dirty Mondays/Dirty Gigs, KATE GRAHN commanded another strong and passionate performance on stage in a packed house where she got the full attention of her adoring fans—old and new—who were all left breathless after her explosive and emotional show, as always.
With an alluring and rich and penetrating quality of voice and an electrifying stage presence, KATE GRAHN combines a strong sense of emotional depth in her lyrics and writings and powered with her wide range in singing, full of total control leaving the audience in a state of visceral reaction that forces them to be in tune to the present and be in the moment with her.
Kate’s natural ability to make an impact on the audience is brought on by her ability to swell in singing from a soft and sweet voice to belting out thunderous yells and screams of high notes that are full of textures and structural control without compromising her dynamic range of overtones. All of these while playing guitar as well and dancing, jumping, levitating, and kicking on stage. Always full of raw and unapologetic energy.
On this night at The Viper Room, KATE GRAHN teamed up with her musician friends as one band who were all on point on this epic night, playing with pure passion with their instruments. KATE GRAHN’s band consists of the following amazing artists:
- KAMBER FISHBEIN – Bass
- TOMMY GOLDSTEIN – Drums
- BRYAN LAZAR – Lead Guitar
Overall, KATE GRAHN’s performance will always leave you breathless and in awe no matter where she plays. Her music is great, thought provoking and relatable. Her voice slices through the air like a samurai sword worthy of honor and respect. Her performance, always electrifying. If there is one word to describe Kate Grahn’s powerful voice and stage presence it is this: AWESOME!
INTERVIEW
Hi Kate! Thanks for taking the time to talk to me and S.L.R. MAGAZINE and answering a few questions. I can’t believe how serendipity came into our lives when I first saw you perform as a backup singer for a cover/tribute band back in 2021 on top of a roof at a back house in Beverly Hills, CA. I was so impressed by your vocals on that night that I couldn’t wait to see you perform on stage somewhere in LA. And since then, I’ve seen so many of your performances that I lost count, from Grant Owen’s WFNM residency at The Black Rose (now closed forever) to Bar Lubitsch, to The Resident in DTLA, to Hotel Cafe, to Universal Bar and Grill, and now at the famous and iconic music venue, The Viper Room.
So here’s my first question. Can you tell me and your fans and music lovers from all over a little bit more about your background in music growing up. Your influences and heroes/heroines. Your musical journey in your youth and your time at USC. And now.
KATE: I wasn’t born into a family of performers, but I was raised by one. My mom is an actress, and my grandparents were choreographers at a local theater in Chicago, so musical theater was essentially the soundtrack of my childhood. One of my earliest memories is belting ‘Defying Gravity’ in the backseat of my aunt’s car at six years old, while strangers turned to stare like I’d just performed witchcraft from a booster seat. That was the first moment I knew I had a voice.
I was probably too young to be singing songs from Rent, or performing a lesbian duet from it at a child’s bar mitzvah while the adults quietly wondered whose kid I was. But those moments lit a fire in me. In seventh grade, I joined a rock band with three boys, and that’s when I discovered Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Heart, and Pat Benatar. Fearless women singing about real, messy, human experiences. I was hooked. Around that same time, I started writing my own songs about mental health, identity, anger, and love. Music stopped being just something I loved and became my preferred language.
At USC’s Popular Music program, I got to go deep, studying everything from Motown legends to Fleetwood Mac to Beyoncé, sharpening my songwriting and understanding of production. Artists like Hayley Williams, Alanis Morissette, and Grace Potter are huge touchstones for me too. That blend of raw emotion, standing for something that matters, and serious vocal power is something I’ve always gravitated towards.
Every phase of this journey has shaped who I am as an artist, and it has all reinforced one truth I carry with me: in this industry, passion isn’t optional. You have to want it. And I do.
How was your first time experience playing at the famous and iconic music venue The Viper Room? Anything memorable for you on this night you can share with all of us?
KATE: Honestly, it was surreal in the best possible way. In some moments it felt like just another gig, which I think is a sign that I’ve grown as a performer. But then these random waves of shock would hit me mid-set, like wait…I am standing on the same stage as Green Day, The Strokes, Courtney Love, Avril Lavigne, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers… and CHER. I mean, CHER!? It’s hard to play it cool when that thought crosses your mind between songs.
There’s something almost spiritual about a venue like the Viper Room. The history lives in the walls. You can feel it. And getting to add my own small chapter to that story was something I won’t forget. It reminded me of why I do this, and honestly, it made me want to keep pushing to belong in rooms like that
When it comes to writing your music, do you write only when you are inspired to write or do you specifically go to a special place where you write the music based on your experiences or perhaps thoughts you wrote down in a journal. Please give us an insight on how you write your lyrics and the actual music.
KATE: My writing process is really two different creatures depending on the circumstances. When I have scheduled sessions, whether writing for myself or for another artist, I can always find something to write about. There’s a discipline to it that I’ve learned to trust. But then there are the other times, when emotions get too heavy and feelings get too heightened, and I just have to get it out or I will spiral. Those moments don’t ask permission.
After hearing about the ‘rape academy’ news, I was so upset and angry that I immediately went to my room, grabbed my acoustic guitar, sat down on the floor, and wrote a song. It just poured out of me. That’s what music does for me. It’s where I put the things I can’t carry.
As for the actual writing, it really depends on what’s finding its way out first. Sometimes it’s a melody that gets stuck in my head and I have to run to my voice memo before it disappears. Other times it’s pure word vomit, just every thought and feeling crammed in my head needing somewhere to go. I follow whatever comes first and build from there.
There’s no single formula. I just stay open, stay honest, and trust that the song knows what it wants to be.
My top 5 favorite songs from you are RAGE ROOM, SCOT FREE, HAPPY SEXY SKINNY PILL, HONESTLY I’M DISAPPOINTED, and RAGDOLL—obviously I love more than 5 songs from you, but for now let’s talk about these 5 songs. Can you dive more into detail about these songs and what they mean to you and share any type of story you would like to share about them?
KATE: These five songs are really a window into who I am as a person, not just as an artist. Every single one of them is rooted in a strong emotion or a real life event that happened to me, and I think that’s why they connect with people the way they do. Turns out a lot of us are feeling the same things.
RAGE ROOM is exactly what it sounds like. When Trump got elected for the second time, I genuinely saw red. I wanted to throw things against a wall and smash everything in sight. So I did the next best thing and wrote a song about it. It was pure, unfiltered rage and I make no apologies for it.
SCOT FREE was one of the hardest and most vulnerable things I’ve ever written. It’s about someone who took advantage of me and faced zero consequences for it. If the world wasn’t going to hold this person accountable, I was going to find my own form of justice. Writing that song was it.
HAPPY SEXY SKINNY PILL is about something a lot of people don’t talk about openly, which is the impossible balancing act of managing your mental health while also living in a society that judges your body. I was on a medication that was making me gain weight, so I switched to one that wouldn’t. That medication is nicknamed the ‘happy sexy skinny pill.’ I was losing weight on it, but I was absolutely miserable inside. Angry, crying constantly, a nightmare to be inside my own head. And yet I still had to wrestle with that decision because of the pressure we put on women’s bodies. It’s a song about how unfair that impossible choice even exists.
HONESTLY I’M DISAPPOINTED is my most streamed song, probably because it’s the most relatable. It’s about dating men. Enough said.
RAGDOLL came from something a music industry guy said to me after watching me perform in college. He told me I had a good voice but just looked like a ‘nice college girl.’ And I thought, well… I am in college and I am nice, so congratulations, you nailed it. What made me angry was the idea that I needed a ‘brand’ to be taken seriously. I am me. That has always been enough. RAGDOLL was my answer to that.
You often go to NYC and perform over there. Do you see any differences in regards to the music scene over there compared to over here in the West Coast, the fans, the venues, the promoters, etc.
KATE: There is definitely a difference and I notice it every time I go back. New York audiences are just hungry. People there are more eager and willing to come out to shows and try something new. There’s an energy and an openness to discovering new artists that feels really alive. And honestly, public transportation probably has something to do with it because nobody has to worry about finding parking and/or driving home, so why not go out and see a show on a Tuesday night?
It’s also just easier to book things like Sofar Sounds gigs over there, which says a lot about how active and accessible that music community is. The infrastructure for independent artists feels really supportive in a way that makes it easier to get in front of new people.
I love both coasts for different reasons, but there’s something about New York that keeps pulling me back. The city just has an appetite for live music that you can feel the second you step on stage.
Success means different things to each person. Define success for you in regards to your musical journey. What are your goals? Where do you want to take your music next and what are the steps you are taking to get to this next level of “SUCCESS?”
KATE: Perfect, I have everything I need. Here’s my full answer: My idea of success has really ebbed and flowed over the years and I think that’s actually a sign of growth.
In high school I wanted to be the next big thing. In college I didn’t really know what I wanted but as long as the cool music nerds respected me as a musician, I would be okay. And now I’m in a place that feels a lot more grounded and honestly a lot more exciting. I want to make a living doing this full time, writing for myself and for other artists, touring and performing around the world, while also having the flexibility to one day comfortably raise a family when I’m ready. That balance matters to me. And isn’t that the dream?
Artists like St. Vincent and Hayley Williams are huge inspirations in that sense. They’ve built respected careers on their own terms, made music that means something, and used their platforms to stand up for things that matter. That’s the kind of career I’m building toward.
My main goal right now is to build something sustainable. Consistently releasing honest, emotionally resonant music. Growing a deeply engaged audience through real human connection rather than just chasing numbers. And developing a cohesive sonic and visual world that truly reflects who I am as an artist. In all honesty though, it really is a difficult thing to do financially.
Over the next several years I want to create bodies of work where the sound, the storytelling, and the imagery all feel intentional and interconnected. I’m committed to collaborating with writers and producers who push me creatively, expanding my live presence, and continuing to grow as a behind the scenes writer too.
At the core of all of it is integrity, collaboration, and emotional depth. That’s what I’m building. And I’m just getting started.
For the youth who got the bug in playing music and performing in front of a live audience, what kind of advice would you like to give to them?
KATE: The first thing I would say is that no room is too small. Ever. I have played to a chair before. Literally a chair. But it still gave me performance experience and it still gave me practice. I played to a room of three people once, and years later one of those three people remembered me and ended up referring me to a casting director for a Nicholas Sparks movie because the character sings. You genuinely never know who is going to be in the room, so you show up and you give it everything every single time.
Don’t wait for the big moment to take yourself seriously. Treat every performance like it matters, because it does.
And to the young women and girls out there with the bug, I want to say this as clearly as I possibly can. Be loud. Make your voice heard. Take up space, especially when people want you to be small. This industry will sometimes try to shrink you, define you, put you in a box before you’ve even had the chance to figure out who you are. Don’t let it. Your voice, your perspective, your presence, all of it is valid and all of it is needed.
The world doesn’t need a smaller version of you. It needs exactly who you are, turned all the way up.
Finally, if you were to become a super hero/heroine character, who would you like to become and why?
KATE: I’ve thought about this and I don’t want to be anyone who already exists. I want to create my own.
She has three powers. First, she can speak to and understand every animal on earth, because animals are pure and honest and frankly better than most people.
Second, she speaks every language in the world fluently, because I love to travel and I always feel bad when I speak very little of the country’s language if I can speak any of it at all. Duolingo…HELP
And her third power, which is honestly the most ambitious and possibly the most impossible, is the ability to sit down with a MAGA supporter and have an actual intellectual, productive conversation where they can genuinely understand why so much of what this administration is rooted in is hate. Not yelling. Not shutdown. Just real understanding breaking through.
If I’m being honest, that third power might be the most supernatural thing on this entire list.
FINAL THOUGHTS
WOW! I can’t THANK YOU ENOUGH Kate for being super honest and real for answering all my questions. I’m sure your fans and music lovers will love all your authentic answers. I know I do. I am truly honored to have met you and heard you sing, seen many of your LIVE SHOWS, and photographed many of your powerful performances from this night and from the previous years. I can’t wait for more music from you and I look forward to your continued success and growth in this finicky industry.
AND TO ALL MUSIC LOVERS FOLLOW KATE GRAHN on all her socials for more great music and check out the photo gallery below of her LIVE PERFORMANCE at The Viper Room.
Kate Grahn links
Photo Gallery by © Don Marcelo Photography 2026
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