Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Katy Crawford is a singer-songwriter and Worship Leader who grew up in the church ministering alongside her family. Combining her love for Jazz, Bluegrass, and pop, Katy writes original songs that communicate the fulfilling relationship she has experienced in Christ. She released her first EP in French, Pour Te Louer (To Praise You), in 2015, followed by her debut full-length project in English, Our Love Story, in 2016. In November 2017, she released the EP, Closer, followed by singles, "Grace That Saves the World" (2019) and "By My Side" (2020). Her latest EP, Dwell, recorded in Nashville with Producer Billy Smiley, includes songs written from the Psalms.
What is your earliest memory of music? And, how did you get started in music?
What a fun question! I think my earliest memory of music is singing in kids' church. I remember the sweet grandmother of one of my friends who played the keyboard to accompany our little songs, like "It's Bubbling," where we got to bounce around as we sang and even got to crouch down on the ground like little frogs during one verse of it.
I grew up with music. My whole family is musical and we always sang in church as well as around our home. I was so happy when I was able to begin vocal training when I was 15, and that is what started me on my path as an artist. As a kid, I had always written little poems, but it was when I started perfecting the use of my voice and my playing that I started to experiment with songwriting.
What was the first song you ever wrote? What or who inspired you to start writing music?
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what my first song was, but I think the first song I wrote and completed was called "Somehow I Knew." I wrote it inspired by a best friend breakup I had experienced (gotta love high school drama), but then expanded it to create a love story around it. My secular songs are very rarely written from my own experience, but I usually like to take a real sentiment or even just a unique phrase, create a story around it, then write the song from that.
My Christian and worship songs are much more personal. Those almost always come from my own experience, and if not, they contain messages that I feel led to write with the purpose of ministering to people who need a touch from God.
Do you play any instruments? If yes tell us about it. If not, do you work with a band or studio musicians? Do you produce your tracks or work with a producer?
I play the piano. But I often work with studio musicians and have a number of wonderful musician friends I can call upon if I need a band to back me up for a church service or a gig. And I don't know where I would be today without the wonderful producers I have worked with. I am always so impressed by artists who self-produce their work.
I am often too close to the songwriting to be able to see the full picture and potential of my songs, and that's where an awesome producer steps in to bring it all to life. From my Dallas-based producer, Michael Gomez, who has been incredible in producing most of my recorded work, to my Nashville-based producer, the legendary Billy Smiley, who produced my most recent EP, Dwell, along with two other singles.
What is your favorite part about being an artist (performing, recording, writing, playing)?
I really love performing. Being able to sing for people invigorates me. And that even translates into other types of performance: I love acting and I feel very comfortable with public speaking. I think having also been a teacher for about 10 years has helped make me feel at home in front of a crowd. And secondarily, the writing. I cannot separate myself from the writer within me. Creating something new, even with the frustrations of the occasional stubborn song that just won't work, is a feeling like no other.
Do you have any advice for young women pursuing music?
Set a goal and work toward it. I spent far too many years writing songs at home and doing nothing with them because I didn't know how to move forward. Even if you don't end up in the Top 40, your music and your talent needs to get out and breathe some fresh air. Find a place to sing/play your songs. Even if your only audience is a group of friends and family, you'll be surprised at what it does to your drive to create and your confidence. And if you want to try and start recording and releasing your songs but don't know where to begin, I recommend finding a local open mic night and making friends with your fellow singer-songwriters. We are all learning as we go and I'm sure most of us wouldn't mind sharing how we got started and resources that have helped us along the way!
For readers who have never heard your music, can you suggest one or two songs to start with?
Definitely go with Dwell (Psalm 23), which is one of my more upbeat and happy tunes on this new EP, and then try Who Am I, which is one of my personal favorites because of its bluesy and contemplative feel.
Find Dwell on most major outlet - Links
Where can fans access your music?
For more information on Katy Crawford, please visit her website.
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