Kat Velasco: Music, Girlhood & Chasing the Dream

What does it really mean to be a “die-hard girl’s girl”?

In this episode of That Nashville Girl, host Amanda Adams sits down with rising country artist Kat Velasco for a candid conversation about chasing a music career in Nashville, navigating dating, female friendships, heartbreak, and the stories behind her debut album, Cowgirl Complex.

Kat opens up about leaving a career in finance to pursue country music, moving to Nashville on her own, almost getting married at 22, and why being called “too much” is something she’s learned to embrace. She also shares the inspiration behind her latest single, “You’re Drunk,” and explains why creating authentic music that reflects real life has always been her priority.

From dating horror stories in Nashville to the importance of supporting other women, this episode is packed with laughter, honesty, and plenty of relatable moments.

In this episode:
• The story behind Cowgirl Complex
• The inspiration behind “You’re Drunk”
• Leaving finance to pursue country music
• Moving to Nashville alone
• Dating in Music City
• Female friendships and being a true “girl’s girl”
• Turning heartbreak into music
• Why being “too much” is actually a strength

Follow Kat Velasco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat.velasco
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6mH3jjOaHOIlxlloC2FjlC

Follow That Nashville Girl
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thatnashvillegirl/
Website: www.thatnashvillegirl.com

Don't forget: new episodes drop every Tuesday with bonus episodes on Thursdays! Like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you never miss a minute!

Connect with Amanda on That Nashville Girl Instagram, Amanda's Instagram, and YouTube.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome to that Nashville Girl. Yay!

SPEAKER_01 0:02

I'm so excited.

SPEAKER_02 0:03

I'm so happy you're here. We have a lot to talk about. I know. It was a bubbles moment. It felt necessary for this conversation because I'm like, I'm like, I already drank half of mine, of course. We have more. We'll just bring the bottle over here. Um, your song, You're Drunk, is living written free in my head all the time. This is the best couple ever. It's so good. Thank you. The bridge of this song is such a banger.

SPEAKER_01 0:28

Like If you can get, if you get to the bridge, it's like it's so fun. And it's it kind of reminds me of like Avra Levine in a way. Oh. For some reason, it gives me that like it's a little, that little edge, but it's just like I've gone through some really bad breakups in my life. And it's just like, you know, when you're just like thinking about like, okay, this is who I'm gonna be, and this is who you're gonna be after the breakup, and this is how you're gonna feel. Yeah. And like you're gonna be lonely, and you're gonna be wishing that you were with me, and it's gonna be too late. You know what I mean? Because you were drunk or you were being a loser and like lost something good. And uh, and it just like it fires me up. It fires me up too.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

It really because it's like um it's every emotion that we've all felt with this song. And yeah, the first time I heard it, I was like, Oh yeah, I'm in. It's uh it's it's a good, like, I think you and Avril should maybe do this together. Wouldn't that be cool? Wouldn't that be so cool? That'd be amazing. I mean, Miley Cyrus and Laney have a song together. It can happen. I love Miley Cyrus too.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Me too.

SPEAKER_02 1:38

She could also do it.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:40

All right, so we put that in the world, but anyway, it's so good. So tell me about this song. Like, did is it autobiographical in some way?

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Or gosh, yes, probably. I mean, I we wrote it. I wrote I write with Johnny Gates. He's one of my best friends, and we wrote this entire album together. So, like every time we've been in the room together, we've written one of the songs that's on my album. And this was one of them, and this was probably our favorite because we're somehow like we're usually hungover when we're writing and we're like, okay. And, you know, he has a perspective and I have a perspective, but like we're both have pretty strong opinion type of people. And I just think it's kind of refreshing to like put something out there that's not like heartbreaky, it's kind of like just real, it's just real. Yeah, it's an anthem. Yeah, it feels like a girl anthem, but it could also be a guy anthem, like it could be whatever you want. I mean, we've all lived that life of like being with someone that's like, okay, grow up. You know what I mean? It's time to grow up.

SPEAKER_02 2:52

Like I was that line, like, I heard you move to LA with a wannabe cowgirl. Is that right? Did I get it right? Because in my it's harder, by the way. I've learned this. I can say lyrics to you and I get them wrong, but in the car I get them right. Yes, I'm real good in the car by myself.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Heard you move to cow, heard you move to LA with a wanna wannabe cowgirl, saw it on the internet, just me and the whole world.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Which I love that because it was like that's so modern day of like, of course. Like it's me and everyone else found out at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Like fantastic. Yeah, it's such a great moment. Yeah. Um, so we had to just start with that because like everybody has to listen to it on repeat. Yes, please. I I'm glad you love it. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

And there's more coming. There's so much more coming. So excited. It's a busy year, it's a busy year. I can't believe it's already May, but it's a busy year.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Time is flying. I know. Okay, so how long have you been in Nashville?

SPEAKER_01 3:46

Almost three years now. So, like, not that long. Not that long. I was back and forth from Charleston and Nashville for like two years. And then that last year before I moved, I spent six months here and then six months in Charleston. Like I was half and half. Yeah. Um, and then one of my producers was like, dude, people sleep in their cars to live, like do music here. Like it's time to move. Like leaving the ocean was hard, but and like leaving my family. But I I mean, and and just moving here for music is hard. Like just the thought of it. Like, I can't believe I did that. Like I moved by myself and just lived in an apartment like two blocks from Broadway. Why'd I do that? I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 4:27

Uh, I think that's a rite of passage, and I actually think that everyone should do it once. I I think you have to. You have to. I did that when I first moved here.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

You think you like you don't know where to live, you don't know all the pockets of Nashville yet. Like you don't know where to live, you don't know what like area you fit into, or like what, you know what I mean? So it's like you just live downtown and then you're kind of central, but at the same time, you see some stuff. You see some stuff.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

You see some stuff. And it's changed a lot when I first moved down there. I think it might have been a little safer. It ebbs and flows. But I I lived on Church Street.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

So did I.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Love. Wait. Where did you live? The Cumberland.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

Okay, I lived at 505.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Oh, we were like neighbors a few years apart. Just 20 years apart, no big deal. But like, it's a great place to live when you first move here because like you can just you're in the middle of everything. But this is what people don't tell you. Nashville's hilly.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

So, and especially over there.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

Over there, Broadway to Church Street at 2 a.m.

unknown 5:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

In six inch heels is not for the week.

SPEAKER_01 5:33

No.

SPEAKER_02 5:34

So not saying I've done that ever, ever, but I did. Um done it like a few times. A few times. I thought about doing it last night.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Um, but you didn't really go to Broadway that much, but like I didn't know a soul. I didn't know anybody. Like I knew people through people, but it wasn't like I was really close with anyone. So I was just like, I remember my mom left. I was like, Bye. And then I just, it was like during the CMAs. So I just went on Instagram and I just like followed everyone. Like I just saw who, you know, Kelsey Ballerini was tagging and who all of these people were tagging in their photos, like makeup artists and stylists. Like, I was like, okay, I'm just gonna follow these people and start like networking with them after the CMAs. And then you realize like everything shuts down after CMAs. So then I'm sitting there like twittling my thumbs. I'm like, what happened? Like, where's the music? Like, what's happening?

SPEAKER_02 6:28

What did you do? Like, how'd you meet your first friends here? Where'd you go? So I was yeah, that's good.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

It's like so cliche, but you started a very different place than me.

SPEAKER_02 6:37

I started at Legends.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

Well, I was with I was with a friend, and she did kind of introduce me to everyone. Um, and she's now on tour, like in Europe. She's a videographer and photographer, and she's amazing, but um she is not afraid to talk to anybody, and I'm kind of that way too. But it was like pool season and at Soho, and we went and I remember meeting like my entire friend group, and we're all still friends. So I love that. It was really nice. I mean, it's kind of hard to meet girls here. Um I have some some girlfriends, but like my die hard girlfriends are like still back home. Yeah. Uh it's a little bit, it's a little bit hard to have to meet community. I feel lucky that I did. Everyone that I'm friends with is is in music. So it's interesting.

SPEAKER_02 7:29

Yeah, I think it is hard. And it's funny, we're sitting here in the studio, and Mandy, who does the glam, um, my glam, like Mandy and I met. Mandy Burnett is fabulous. She's been doing glam here forever. But like we met, I mean, I'd bring you over here, except that you were you were like, not today. Um, but we met my first year in town, and I think, and here, you know, we're friends 20 years later, but you're right. Like, I think back to that, and it's hard to meet good girlfriends.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

Yeah, I had I have some like horror stories about girls. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 8:04

But you're such a girl's girl. Yeah. So that's what's interesting to me is that I I hate that part about girls being competitive and like feeling like you're intimidating or whatever. Hate that word.

SPEAKER_01 8:16

Yeah, especially, I mean, it's weird because so many influencers here now. Um, and like influencer, musician, like all like everything, entertainment is just all lines are blurred. So it's like all of it's competitive, you know, and we're just like bred to like compete against one another as women, which sucks.

SPEAKER_02 8:37

Because you don't strike me as somebody who does that.

SPEAKER_01 8:39

I don't. I don't I'm not competitive in that nature, and I don't compare. Yeah, I just said never about you. I grew up with three older brothers, so like I think a little bit of it is like it's very easy for me to like talk to guys and be friends with guys, but then also like I'm a diehard girls girl. Like, I will tell you if your man is doing something, like in a heartbeat. You're like, I will tell on him and I'll tell you if you have something in your teeth, and I will tell him that I'm about to tell on him. Like, I'm not afraid at all. Um, I've always been that way. So, but it always it's just weird with girls. I don't know. It's it's hard. And especially in the industry, it's like I remember I got asked once in a podcast, it was like, how many girlfriends do you have that also do music? And I was like, I could literally couldn't even think of one. It's so sad.

SPEAKER_02 9:31

You know, I just saw something I I might have commented sometimes when it's late at night and I like listen, there's no wine needed. I get a little sassy on the Instagram, and um You have to. You have to, and I got really annoyed. Marin Morris was asked a really stupid question, in my opinion. And it was basically um, you know, out of the women that are in country music right now, which one do you like? This is the gist of it. Now, somebody's gonna blow me up because I didn't say it right, and but that's how I took it. And she kind of has this moment of like pause with how she's gonna answer it. And she's very wait, they asked who she doesn't like? That's like basically which one do you like? As if there could only be one. Like, which one of these girls do you want to succeed? Not and and it was weird, like so strange, annoying. So I put it on there. I said, This is so annoying. When was the last time a guy in country music was asked? I was about to ask the same thing. And people came at me.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

People came for you, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:33

Because they were like, guys get asked this all the time. They don't like show me their receipt. Where? I needed your backup on that one.

SPEAKER_01 10:41

I wish you could have tagged me. I've been like, Where are there received? Yeah. I've never heard a guy ask that.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

Right? It's a very weird thing. She's saying I'd love to. She was so cool about it. She didn't um, she didn't say a name. She was like, basically, there are women who have paved the way for women like me. And and I hope I'm part of doing that for others. And there are some amazing women, like all the women you mentioned are great, and you can f off, is what her vibe was.

SPEAKER_01 11:10

I love that.

SPEAKER_02 11:10

She really did a great job. But I was like disappointed in the interview itself. And I was like, this is because to your point about like not having friends in the industry, this is why.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

They're like setting her up for that question for sure. Yeah. Yeah. They want her to say something. They want her to say someone. I mean, it's like, yeah, who are you endorsing to be like the next star? It's like we're all trying, we all have the same dream. You know what I mean? We all have a lot of things.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

There's a lot of room at the top.

SPEAKER_01 11:35

There's a lot of room. I mean, I do understand that it is competitive and like everybody wants the same thing, but if you sit there and you think, okay, this person wants what I want, like, how can you be mean or how could you tear them down? Like that, like, think about that in your mind. It's like that's tearing yourself. That would be like tearing yourself down. It's like you have the same exact dream as someone else. And then you're like being mean to them. It makes no sense.

SPEAKER_02 12:00

It makes no sense.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Some people just can't handle it though.

SPEAKER_02 12:03

They can't handle it. Yeah. But like, I love your vibes because you're not like that. Thank you. And I love following you on social media because you just seem like the ultimate girl's girl. Like, I want to hang out with you. Um like we have to. Like, actually, you know, it's funny. I saw somebody in my building yesterday, and it was the weirdest moment that I was like, should I talk to her? Could we be friends? Like, it's such a silly thing. And I was like, don't be a psycho. Um, because I'm just walking in the hallway. But it is a funny thing that, like, I don't know, boys go play sports and get to know each other. We're not really talking at Pilates. Right. So it is harder. No. Girls, where are you meeting girlfriends?

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Uh it's like it's and also I think it's our it's like that age. I don't know. Maybe that's how I feel. It's like some of my friends are getting married, some of my friends are having kids. I'm like, I'm I just made a record. I don't know. It's like, I don't know. I mean, that's my baby. I don't know. And and guys aren't really asking each other like any, they don't really know anything. Guys don't know anything about each other. I swear. They don't know anything about each other.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

Like, yeah, it's a different kind of friendship, I think.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

We like to be like, I don't ask them about their girl stuff. And I'm like, what? You know what I mean? It's like, you know, how doesn't we know anything about them? Right.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

Do they like cheer for the predators, you know? End of the story. That's it. That's all they need. It's like, okay. Oh, it's so funny. Okay, so that leads me into another question I have to ask you about. Because, like, you have this whole thing with like the cowgirl complex.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 13:35

Okay, I need to know more.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

Fill me in. That is the title of my first album. Um, and I'm excited about it because I feel like it really is just like a brand for me. Um, I grew up riding horses. I grew up in South Carolina. I went to Alabama. I've always lived in the South. So I need to pause.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

You grew up in South Carolina and you went to Alabama? Yeah, I went to Alabama for How did that happen?

SPEAKER_01 14:01

I went to Alabama for like five seconds.

SPEAKER_02 14:03

Okay, but you did still choose it. I don't know why.

SPEAKER_01 14:08

This is fascinating. So I grew up in South Carolina. I grew up in Columbia. So I grew up in a college town.

SPEAKER_02 14:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

And I was like, okay, so I have to go somewhere with football, but I want to go somewhere with the where the football team is good.

SPEAKER_02 14:20

So you didn't pick Arkansas, which is where I went.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

So I was like, I want to go to Alabama. And of course, like the year I'm there, we get beat by Clemson, which is like our brutal Game Cox rival team. I'm like, I can't escape this. But uh yeah, I just realized really quickly, I was like, I should have picked like a big city. Yeah. Because I was like, I went from I was trying to get away from my hometown, but I kind of went to the same thing. Tuscaloosa is like a small college town. So I kind of went to the same thing. And my brothers will tell you I studied abroad there. I only went for a semester.

SPEAKER_02 14:54

Okay, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 14:55

They're like, I studied abroad, Alabama. I'm like, that is so embarrassing. That's a classic line.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

I love that. So you studied abroad in Tuscaloosa for one minute.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Yeah, like people are like Spain, mine's Tuscaloosa.

SPEAKER_02 15:11

Yeah. And so, but you grew up with horses, which is where this cowgirl thing comes in.

SPEAKER_01 15:16

Yeah, I just I grew up, my mom and dad are both from the south, like they're both from South Carolina. So my roots run deep in in the south, and I um love the way that they raised us, honestly. And we got to do a lot. I mean, we rode horses, and you know, I'm I'm kind of like a daredevil, I'm a scuba diver, and like I like to do a lot of different things. And so this cowgirl, I mean, I grew up listening to Cheryl Crow, Shania Twain, and I mean, I grew up listening to all different kinds of music, but my parents were huge into music. Um, but I've always felt like I have this complex, like there's a lot of layers to me. You know what I mean? Um, like just how I was saying, I can get along with a lot of different different people, and I could live in New York or I could live in Tuscaloosa. You know what I mean? I it's just like I feel like there's a lot of different behaviors, and like I can kind of fit into any situation. And also, you can get me on a good day, or you can get me on a bad day. Like, I would come for you in the comment section, but I'm also down to chill, you know. So it's like it's like a complex, but I feel like everyone has that. And this album is like a little bit all over the place emotionally, and it's kind of like a lot of it is therapeutic for me of like things I've been through and um horrible guys I've dated and situations like with friends. I mean, one of my songs is about like a friendship breakup, it's not even about like a guy breakup, which is harder.

SPEAKER_02 16:57

Yeah, do you think it's harder? I do.

SPEAKER_01 17:01

Um yeah, definitely. I still see her, so yeah, because like the girl, the other girls aren't gonna stop being friends with her, so it's like I don't know. Yeah, and it's harder just because it's like I don't know, girl, like it's just like the song is called Too Much, because I've always felt like there's a part of me that's like too much for people, it's like an insecurity, like it can be too much for people. And um this girl called me too much. She was like, You're just too much. And I was like, Okay, I'm too much. Yeah, I'll take that as a compliment.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

It's a compliment, yeah. It's such that's so annoying. I think that one is a frustrating one because we are like from little, especially I think in the south, we grow up feeling like we're not supposed to be too much.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

And so then when someone says it, it feels like the ultimate insult. And it's really like an absolute compliment. It really is.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

I mean, I I've always been like a super fearless person. Like my mom, remember she made me go see the lovely bones when I was really young, just to scare me because I was like so fearless, and like I was just like, I wanted to take on the world when I was little, and this was always my dream. And she was like, You need to understand what's up, like what happens out there. And I was so scared. I was like, This is a horrible way to-like, I've not even seen it because I'm too scared. I read the book and I was like, no, it's terrifying, so it's hilarious. But um, she says she was like, You were fearless at like a really, really young age. So yeah, I had to, I had to learn the hard way in some ways.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Yeah. But I love that um I think you still have that. And I it's so cool. That's what I love about the songs that you've put out so far. I'm dying for more because it is one of those things where it's like, we all need this. We need the cheerleader in our head or in our radio. In your case, it's like, I feel like you're you're like the girl's girl that's like, I got you. I felt this, it's normal. And this song's gonna, I can't wait to hear that one.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

I just wanna be real. Yeah. Like in a world where I feel like it's like so radio hit hit. Like, it's just like I I want to be able to say that I won't look back at my music and say I was making it for someone else. You know what I mean? I can look back at it and say, I'm I was making it for me, and I wrote it from a really deep place and it came from somewhere. And I want to be able to remember why I wrote that song and why I put that song out. And I do, I love that you said cheerleader, because I do want to be people's cheerleader. Cause like, like I want to respond to DMs, like I always want to run my own socials. Like, I always I don't want to have like people doing it for me. Um I want to like bridge that gap where it's like kind of like the influencer vibe where you like feel like you're FaceTiming with your friend, but like also like a singer and a musician and someone who's can go on stage and like I don't want to just be this like figure or like item. Like I just I want to be like a personable person, like I've always been in in touch with connection and it's really important to me.

SPEAKER_02 20:18

I thought you, by the way, you do that because I have to tell you something. So I I sit here with a lot of people, and most of the time I'm working with your people, and that's great, right? I mean, you you have a great team, but what was funny is in part of this when it's like a back and forth and it's okay, this, that, and the other, and I I send things that I'm like, or representative. And 99.9% of the time it's representative. And no, not you. They were like, um, Kat will have this at her email. And I was like, that is amazing. And that was cool to me that it was um, you're very hands-on in everything you do. I don't know how you do it because you're doing so many things. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

Yeah, well, I I did it all by myself originally, you know? Yeah, it's weird for me. Uh, it's been weird having a full team. Like, I feel like no one's doing that, but like I'm used to doing all of it. And it's, I feel like every step you take in this industry is like you're learning something new. Like, I went from okay, I knew I knew this step, but now I have no idea what this step is. So like I gotta step back and let the people who know what they know do what they do, and I'll do what I do. And I'm just kind of sitting there like, okay, I'm kind of bored. Like I I want to be CC and everything. Like, I don't want anyone like speaking for me ever. I feel that that's hard for me. It's so hard. Because what if someone's nervous? Maybe I have a control break. That's fine.

SPEAKER_02 21:46

I am yeah, but it is hard because you're like, this you're the brand.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:51

Yeah. And you've built such a cool like following, and you're very engaged, and people, I I think you're right. Like, it is like FaceTime, friend.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Yeah, I like I'll sometimes I'll be at a club at 2 a.m. and I'll accidentally post something and I'll be like, it's there.

SPEAKER_02 22:08

Accidentally. I like it. I'm gonna take a few lessons from Kat on my socials. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

My friend said I used to use my Instagram story as my like it was my Snapchat story. I was like, that's an intel, I think. Because you know we used to post everything on Snapchat and it would just be so long. And I was like, wait, am I posting too much? Like I was like, whatever, I don't care. But it's kind of what it's kind of nice because it my I know my parents would be like, oh, just don't like how about how about not that? And I'd be like, but what do you mean? Like it's it's reality. I don't all the pictures I post, like it would you think it's like a highlight reel and like my life's so perfect and everything. It's like, no, my room is a mess, my car is a mess, I'm a mess, and that's that's reality.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

Yeah, I love it. I'm here for it. I like it so much. Okay, so go back. Okay, so you leave Tuscaloosa, the study abroad was over, and how did you make that decision to be like, I'm gonna call it that forever, by the way. Your brothers are right, it's epic. So I you leave, yes.

SPEAKER_01 23:17

I started working for my dad in finance.

SPEAKER_02 23:20

Okay, this is a wild term.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Yeah, and so I started working in finance, and I was actually like studying to get my series seven. What? I was like, oh my gosh, I could be good at this, and whatever. And I'm like living in my hometown, working for my dad, like doing math, you know, test is no joke, it's so hard.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

I wouldn't even attempt it. Like, if you gave me $500,000 right now, I would try. I did not pass.

SPEAKER_01 23:52

I did not pass a test. I love you for that. I was like, okay, it's not for me. Um, but no, I was, and then during COVID, you know, we were working remote, and I went through like a horrible breakup with someone I thought I was gonna marry. And I was like, it was like that moment where I was like, who, what am I doing? I was gonna get married at 22. I was gonna get married at 22. What were like I was the girl who was always like, I'm gonna move to New York City, I'm gonna move to LA, like I'm gonna like do this, this, this. And I just was like, oh my gosh, like, God just saved me from something like serious. And I wrote my first song like so quickly, like it just flowed out of me. And it took me a while to show it to my parents, but it's this has always been my parents' dream for me. And when I showed it to them, they're like, You're recording this, like you're doing something with this. And they knew some people who lived in Nashville at the time, and they connected us. And I was at first getting it getting advice of like, don't be hungover and then have a show the next day because you're not gonna be able to sing. Like that was like the advice, and then we're recording together, and like it all just kind of flowed naturally, and yeah, I I learned I learned a lot of things um pretty quickly. I mean, I have a rat, you can tell I have a raspy voice, so I can lose my voice pretty quick. So I couldn't like go out and party and then but I was living in Charleston and I was like running around town and trying to date reality stars and being weird and writing music. Like coming to Nashville, and then once I moved here, everything shifted.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Yeah, yeah, you needed a change, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

Then my whole family moved there, so I can go back anytime, so it's it's fine, but I don't miss it. I love Nashville, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:53

It's like the best of every world, it is, and I mean Charleston's easy to get back and forth, it's too small for me, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:03

I met everyone within like a month.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

I'm a chatterbox, I know, I love it so much. Okay, but like after this bad breakup, yeah, and then you moved to Nashville, and I have to ask you because I feel like, regardless of age in this town, the dating world is crazy. So, did you put yourself back out there in Nashville, or had you heard enough horror stories that you were like, pause?

SPEAKER_01 26:31

No, I feel like dating is the most terrifying thing in the entire world.

SPEAKER_02 26:36

You're the same person.

SPEAKER_01 26:39

I don't even know. I like to get on my friends' apps though. You do? I really enjoy that.

SPEAKER_02 26:45

Like, do you answer things on their behalf?

SPEAKER_01 26:47

Yeah. Like, I'm so good at this.

SPEAKER_02 26:50

Has anyone ever responded and it's like become a match? Like they've said no. Maybe I'm not that good at it.

SPEAKER_01 26:58

But um, I remember on my hinge profile, I would put like like incredible skills, like or like whatever skills, and I would be like professional breakdancer. Like I would just lie on it, and like people would respond and be like, wait, are you actually a breakdancer? I'm like, no, what do I look like a breakdown? So I was like never, yeah, I was dating's just funny to me.

SPEAKER_02 27:21

Yeah, it is to me too. And I think that's hilarious.

SPEAKER_01 27:24

I've I think guys don't that I mean, Nashville's hard because there's always girls coming to Nashville. Yeah. And like I feel like the trust would be difficult.

SPEAKER_02 27:38

Yeah, I think it's funny because like I moved here 20 years ago now. So that part hasn't changed.

SPEAKER_01 27:44

That hasn't changed.

SPEAKER_02 27:47

The restaurants are different.

SPEAKER_01 27:48

I mean, the amount of married guys I've met on midtown in midtown, like hitting on me and my friends is yeah. And like with their rings on.

SPEAKER_02 27:58

My favorite is when they take it off and try to put it in their pocket, real cool. Like you're not gonna see that. That's that's I would love to see that.

SPEAKER_01 28:05

Let me see that. I would actually like what was that?

SPEAKER_02 28:09

Love to see you see that.

SPEAKER_01 28:10

Yes, so shy. Empty your pockets, brother. That is crazy. Have you really seen that? Yeah, I know it's awful. But the best is the people on TikTok, they're like, if you are this person, this person, and your fiance is here for a bachelor party. Yeah, he just cheated on you. I'm like, that kind of reminds me of my song of like finding out on the internet, just me and the whole world. It's like, could you imagine like me scrolling TikTok and like finding out like that description matches my fiance?

SPEAKER_02 28:43

No, but I was dating a guy once who I suspected was living a double life. I just kept like feeling more and more curious that he was. And this was a long time ago. And this was like you were um probably in like middle school. So I don't know, does 411 say that? It's real, it's real. Does 411 still exist? Do you know what that is? 411? See, that's what I thought. Okay, like there was this thing back in my day, kid, um, where we're gonna need more champagne, where you could like 411 on the phone and you get an operator. I actually think we're gonna have to see if this still exists. And I know what you're talking about, you know, and then you'd be like, hey, um, could I have Kat Velasco's phone number in Nashville, Tennessee? And if you had a landline, then it would give me the number and like connect me for like 99 cents or something like that. What? This is hilarious. I haven't thought about this in so long. I feel like we still need this. I think so. But like now it's cell phones, so I don't know how that would work. Right. But this was when people were kind of starting to lose landlines. So I was questionable. I was sitting, I'll never forget, in the Baltimore airport drinking a margarita. Heck yeah, girl. All good decisions are there. You're like 411.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

And I was really good right now.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

Yeah, I was like, I'm gonna 411. And if they give me her phone number and she answers the phone, I'm gonna be like, hey, is this your husband? And I did. Husband? Yeah, because I had this feeling that there was a double life going on. You're joking. No, I shouldn't tell this story on a podcast because they're probably gonna hear it. But um, truth, you and me are we having a truth moment. We're having, we're having a moment. We're having a moment, we're doing a champion. 411. So she was like, Yeah. And so she said hello, and I was like, Oh, we're doing this. And I was like, Are you still married? Like and what did she just say? And she was like, Yes, he's at work. And I was like, Okay, well, we have to chat. We have to chat. Oh, that's uh bad news. That was awful. Um, so yeah, I do think you're right. The TikTok is the new version of 411. Just go ahead and put it on blast.

SPEAKER_01 30:55

That is wild. I know.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

I can't believe that happened. I don't know, me either. So I see these TikTok things and I'm like, this is what girls should do for other girls. Yeah, but who would cheat on you? Love you for that. Who would cheat? But like seriously, on any of us, you know?

SPEAKER_01 31:11

I don't even know. Props to the guys who can I guess have two girlfriends. Double lives. But listen, I'm not one of those girls.

SPEAKER_02 31:21

No, and Casey Musgraves' new song, Dry Spell.

SPEAKER_01 31:24

It's so good.

SPEAKER_02 31:25

I'm so obsessed with it.

SPEAKER_01 31:26

But here's what I'm obsessed with her in general.

SPEAKER_02 31:28

Me too. Here's what I know for sure. If Casey Musgraves has a song called Dry Spell, the world's in trouble. Yes, wait, that's so true. Like, she's like the hottest person ever. Ever, ever. And when that when that comes out, like I the first time I heard it, I was like, okay, well, this is where we are. We're here.

SPEAKER_01 31:46

Is this this for us? Yeah. Or is this for you? Because I have a hard time believing that this is something that you deal with.

SPEAKER_02 31:52

Right? Like it's been 335 days, and I was like, this has to be real. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's like it's just Kaiser. They don't wanna maybe it's the apps.

SPEAKER_02 32:08

You think it's the apps? I think it's the apps. I had a dating coach on this show. She was awesome. I bet. And I wish she was sitting here right now. Jamie, you need to come to all the episodes.

SPEAKER_01 32:18

I need to hook her up with like my brother. Yeah. Because he wants a like he's on the he's on the other end of like he's like, I'm ready to settle down. I just don't know who, you know, like I can't find the how old is he? What's his story? He's 33, he works in Binance, and he's like the sweetest.

SPEAKER_02 32:36

And he lives in South Carolina.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

Yeah, he's got a house on the water.

SPEAKER_02 32:39

I mean, he's like this doesn't make sense. Yeah. And all right, girls. Oh, I've got one. She lives in Tampa. Oh, she lives. Would she move? You're in it's a beach town to a beach town. I think that would work. I think so. Right? Yeah. She would be matchmaker on this. This is happening. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

No, but um, yeah, it's so weird because I I see it on both sides. But I do see men like just messing with girls' hearts a lot more than and it being very easy. That's a psychopath.

SPEAKER_02 33:14

It totally is.

SPEAKER_01 33:15

That's a psychopath. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:16

Like you're gonna have to go write a new song about this.

SPEAKER_01 33:18

Yeah. I've got a bunch of songs I gotta I could write about men. I don't want to be like a men hater, but like, yeah. The stories I hear of like, what the heck? Like, I don't know. It couldn't be me. Yeah, I'm too crazy. Way too crazy.

SPEAKER_02 33:36

Well, I mean, and honestly, to circle all the way back to the beginning where I was like, I'm obsessed with the song You're Drunk. That one line says a lot to me, where it's like that I heard you move to LA with a wannabe. I knew that one t-shirt so bad. Because yeah, it's like, yeah, this is and it's um people have to listen to it to fully grasp it because the way you deliver it says everything I need to know how about how you would handle a situation. It's such a compliment. Uh-huh. I hope you take it that way. That's what I mean. I'm like, yes, I want her on my side for sure. She has to be on my team.

SPEAKER_01 34:10

Yes. No, and I want I want to be on everyone's team. I mean, I mean, I have merch coming, by the way. Yes. So I'm so ready. We'll definitely get you some. Okay, I'm ready. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 34:20

Yeah. Add that one to the wish list because that song is so good. Um, okay, so what's going on with you? I know we we could talk about all this other crazy all day, but like tell me a little bit more about where you're going with music in 2026. So we have more songs coming.

SPEAKER_01 34:34

Yes. More songs are coming. Uh, I have a song May 22nd called Shutting Down Midtown coming out. And I wrote it with two of my like closest friends, and we used to shut down Midtown a lot. So it was like during that time. Um, so we talk about Red Door, we talk about losers. Um, I'm trying to think of one of the lines that you would like. Beggars can't be choosers, but it's 2 a.m. at losers.

SPEAKER_02 35:03

Also a t-shirt.

unknown 35:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 35:05

I'm a Midtown girl. Like, I love Midtown. I love Midtown. I've taken a lot of heat on the show for being like, say what you want. I love Midtown. I don't, I don't really care what people say about Midtown being dead or whatever. No, you're just not going the right places. And I'm always a losers girl. I love losers.

SPEAKER_01 35:22

I just really do.

SPEAKER_02 35:22

I really do.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

And I love Red Door. Me too. Especially like after playing a show. Like sometimes I don't want to go like hear live music because I just played, you know, a show. So go to Red Door and just the drinks are strong and it's the best vibe. Yeah, it is. The people are there.

SPEAKER_02 35:41

Yeah. I mean, the only thing I was gonna say, loser never changes. The rooftop wrecked me. I will tell you, as somebody who's been here a zillion years, that killed me. I was like, no, no, no, no. I don't need like, I don't need uh add-ons in Midtown, you know, rooftops and extensions. I was like, what are y'all doing? I don't think I've ever been on the rooftop. Actually, I might just be saying an extension. You know, the little part. Is there a rooftop? There's not a rooftop. There's a rooftop. No, there is. I had to look at movies. Okay, see, I wasn't even sure, but I was like, did I dream this? Because they put rooftops on everything now.

SPEAKER_01 36:12

They put rooftops on everything.

SPEAKER_02 36:14

On everything. What's the point? What is the point? What's the point? I don't know. And I watched a couple of them being built, which is why I don't go on them. So I got some tours, some construction tours, and I was like, yeah, I won't be going up there. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 36:28

Hopefully it'll let too many people up there one time. I know.

SPEAKER_02 36:31

I I watched a couple of them, and I will not say what. And I was like, these floors were definitely um put up too fast. Yeah, paid for in the wrong way, not in the materials.

SPEAKER_01 36:43

So yeah, shutting down Midtown. I mean, I'm a wild child at heart. That's just who I am. So I mean, this we put out I Should Quit Drinking and You're Drunk back to back as like a joke. Because it's like I should quit drinking and then you're a drunk. And it but like I should quit drinking, but I don't want to right now. I don't know. It's all very relatable stuff.

SPEAKER_00 37:07

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 37:08

And um then I have the song, like the I have Cowgirl Complex coming out, and that one's my favorite that I've written ever. So ever. Ever. It's my favorite song I've written. So I mean, there's nine songs on this album, and I'm happy to say that I'm releasing my debut album as independent, you know? It's kind of crazy.

SPEAKER_02 37:33

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 37:34

I've got like a full team behind me, but I'm I'm not on a label, so I kind of get to do whatever with my music and and my writing, and um this all gets to be me, you know? Like I get to show who I am before you know everybody knows about me.

SPEAKER_02 37:52

Yeah, I think that's so cool because it's it's really easy, I think, to to give that power up too easily.

SPEAKER_01 38:00

That terrifies me.

SPEAKER_02 38:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Yeah. My dad's always been like, don't sign anything ever unless you know what I mean, you look at it. So um, he's always taught me that, but also, you know, you just hear horror stories about people not being able to do what they love. And I can't imagine, I can't imagine people just like telling me what to do all the time.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

I can't imagine anyone trying to tell you what to do. I'd like to ask your mom and dad how that went.

SPEAKER_01 38:30

Don't yeah. I'm pretty certain you were ruling the house. Yeah, yeah, pretty much. I mean, um, I calmed down a little bit, but um we're very close now, but me and my mom definitely butt heads when I was in high school. I think this is common. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:51

I mean, just it's like part of growing up, you know.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

Yeah, you have to. I mean, and then of course, my mom would always be like, You're gonna get a daughter just like you. And I'm like, I think I want all girls one day.

SPEAKER_02 39:03

Yeah, I always say that daughters are the reason I didn't have children.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

I feel like I can handle it.

SPEAKER_02 39:12

I think you could. I knew I couldn't. I mean, my my dog's a boy. Your dog's a boy, yeah. Like I was serious about this. It was like girls scare me. You do, and are they sweet?

SPEAKER_01 39:23

No, they're sweet, they're German Shepherd Huskies, so they're like, they've got a lot of personality, yeah, and they're sweet. I mean, they just they're wild too. They're wild.

SPEAKER_02 39:35

I think this is I'm always curious about this because I ask people now, I'm like, girl dogs seem really wild to me. It's in general. All my friends who have girl dogs, I'm like, y'all have insane dogs, and I have a stuffed animal.

SPEAKER_01 39:48

Yeah, see, that is one thing that I wish I had. Like, I neither of them will really cuddle with me.

SPEAKER_02 39:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:55

And I want a cuddle, I want to cuddle.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Yeah. And boy dogs cuddle. They do, they really do.

SPEAKER_01 40:00

And they're sweet, and they like I grew up with a boy dog. I mean, I love them, but I was just like, I want I want all girls to think. I love this. I want the challenge, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02 40:13

Yeah, I do. I love it. Oh my gosh. Okay, so I want to ask you three questions before we wrap up. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Um, number one, for somebody who likes a challenge, I mean, moving to Nashville in itself is a challenge. Yes. What's been the most challenging thing for you moving to Nashville?

SPEAKER_01 40:33

I would say make like what we talked about, making girlfriends. I think that's been the hardest thing. Finding finding good community that's not like going out and drinking all the time, you know? Um and navigating the industry. I mean, it is it's hard, but it's really hard being an artist and like trying to figure it out and trying to get in with everyone, and and I mean, you know when something's doing well and you know when something's not. And you just kind of gotta like you also know when people like screw you over and you just gotta like put it behind you and like keep moving forward. And it's like we also know we don't know how long we're doing that. Yeah. Like, how long am I am I am I putting that behind me and like just moving forward? Like, you could they say it's a 10-year town, it could take 10 years. So uh you really just gotta love it. So that's been probably the hardest thing, is it's the hardest thing, but it's the most rewarding thing navigating the industry.

SPEAKER_02 41:38

Yeah, yeah. No, and you're right though, like you you gotta put a lot of stuff behind you. Yeah, that's really good advice, actually.

SPEAKER_01 41:46

I mean, I've like there's uh it's like the easiest thing to like bet on someone's dream. Like if you're like a con artist or whatever, like it's if you say you know what you're doing and you don't actually do it, it's like the easiest thing ever. It's like someone's dream, you know? But you just gotta have a thick skin, just gotta keep going.

SPEAKER_02 42:08

It's embarrassing sometimes, but it's like what's been what's been the most rewarding part of moving here and betting on yourself?

SPEAKER_01 42:20

Oh my gosh. Probably when when my parents come and hear me play, that always makes me feel good. It's like they're like every time they come, they're like, that was best you like you sound better every single time. So that's rewarding in itself. Um but just putting out writing writing an entire album has been huge for me. I kind of thought I was a terrible writer when I first moved here. Like I didn't really think I was the best writer, and uh, I wrote an entire album, so it feels good. It's been really rewarding. And then anytime my parents come and hear me play, it's it's a great feeling.

SPEAKER_00 43:05

I love that. Yeah, sweet.

SPEAKER_02 43:07

Yeah. Okay, last question before we wrap up. And um, I don't ask everybody this all the time. I used to, I used to ask everybody, but now I kind of sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't feel it, but I feel it with you. So, what's your best advice for someone who wants to do what you do?

SPEAKER_01 43:28

Uh you just you just gotta do it. To be honest, like that that's you have to do it and you have to not think about how to do it. You just have to do it. Like you have to really love it and you have to love it every single day. And not that you have to like make yourself exhausted over it every single day, but it is hard work. I mean, it's it's hard work, it's sucking up to people you probably hate sometimes. You know what I mean? It's it's not easy, and you gotta, you gotta be okay with like okay, this is kind of embarrassing. Like, you know what I mean? I'm putting out music and like no one's listening. It's like uh you gotta be okay with with the beginning of just like you gotta be like, okay, and like I gotta humble myself real quick because um it's gonna be a good a good couple years of of having to humble yourself and just be like, it's okay, grounded, stay grounded and just go for it. And every time you get screwed over because someone's gonna screw you over, you just gotta don't let it, don't let it like change your judgment of everyone, you know. But you learn something along the way every time. But I would say you just gotta do it. I think that's the biggest thing is that people, I mean, I I know that's the biggest thing for me, is I was just scared. I was just scared to go for it. I was like, once I move there, it's like it's over. I'm I'm not coming back until it happens. So it's like that was like my mindset. And um playtime's over, running around Charleston's over. Like it's like it's game time. So yeah, that would be my best advice is just to like go over your dreams and and don't stop. And the only time you lose is if you stop. That's so good. Yeah, yeah. So I don't plan on losing or stopping anytime.

SPEAKER_02 45:32

I don't see that happening anytime soon. Um, this has been so fun. We're hanging out.

SPEAKER_01 45:37

Yes, we're a few drinks, yes, hang out for real.

SPEAKER_02 45:40

We'll go shut down Midtown.

SPEAKER_01 45:42

We're shutting down Midtown.

SPEAKER_02 45:44

Shutting down Midtown May 22nd and all summer long. And everything's available on all the streaming, all streaming, Katelaska music.

SPEAKER_01 45:54

Uh, you can follow me, and yeah, it's been so nice to meet you. And you too. Thank you for doing this for artists and people, and this is amazing. Seriously. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 46:04

I'm so happy you were in here. Yeah, okay. See y'all soon. Sometimes a girl's gotta find her way on her own, free to roam, and make mistakes.