Country Music, Dreams, and Dedication: The Kat Velasco Story

Today, we're privileged to have a heart-to-heart with Kat Velasco, an up-and-coming indie artist who's preparing for a major transition from South Carolina to Nashville. We explore her journey, her dreams, and everything in between. We pull back the curtain on the fears she wrestles with, and her expectations on her upcoming relocation. Kat generously dives into her experiences at CRS 2023, the relationships she's nurtured in the music industry, and how the insightful John Willyard has influenced her perspective on CMA shows.

A journey through Kat's music career paints an inspiring portrait of an artist determined to make her mark in the world of country music. We dissect her recent single, 'Lifetime Lover,' delve into her songwriting escapades with Cassidy Adams, and explore the power of her music that resonates with her audience. Kat also opens up about the importance her move to Nashville holds for her career, and the role social media has played in her journey so far.

In anticipation of what lies ahead, Kat walks us through her future plans - from co-writing and performing at bars to traveling. We talk about her relationships in Nashville, the joy of calling it her new home, and her excitement over her impending music releases. We wrap up with an inspiring discussion about her admiration for Laney Wilson's performance at CRS, which has fueled her own ambition for success. As we journey down the path of Kat's dreams and aspirations, we explore what it truly means to be an indie artist in today's music industry. 

An awe-inspiring blend of country music, fashion, and a sneak peek into the life of an indie artist, this episode is a must-listen for all music aficionados. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and join us as we explore the exciting world of country music with the sensational Kat Velasco. You're in for an inspiring ride!

Transcript

The Journey of an Independent Artist

Speaker 1 0:00

Hello.

Speaker 2 0:01

Of course it happens.

Speaker 3 0:03

Please return Bubbles your flight attendant to her fully upright and locked position.

Speaker 2 0:06

Wait a minute, Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seat and collapse seat-backs and tray tables in their full upright position.

Speaker 3 0:14

It's another episode of.

Speaker 3 0:16

Skip Happens, your weekly view from 30,000 feet, From the first music lesson to the first paid gig to signing the deal. It's the journey that is the life of an artist. Now here's your captain and co-captain, aka your hosts, Skip Clark and Ted Lamphir. That's her. Hello everybody, Welcome to Skip Happens. And here we are, and we're all giddy tonight because you know what. Usually we have artists on here and usually it's like the first time we've met them. We've chatted with them, maybe just a little bit before we went out in the air, but not with this young lady right over there.

Speaker 1 0:55

I'm back.

Speaker 3 0:58

Here's the thing she knows the good side of us, she knows the bad side of us. She's seen it all the craziness, but Kat Velasco is with us. And Kat, we hung out quite a bit in Nashville last year Well, I don't even know if it was a year ago yet, but I don't think it was but we had so much fun. Kat is an independent artist. She's working very hard. She's on the verge of making that big move from South Carolina to Nashville.

Speaker 2 1:28

Yeah, I'm so excited, so pumped.

Speaker 3 1:31

First of all, how are you? Things good?

Speaker 1 1:33

Things are good. Things are awesome. I just released probably one of my favorite songs I've ever gotten to perform and sing and create, and so things are really good. I'm definitely terrified to move to Nashville, but I'm ready to go. I've gotten myself in the mindset of not being completely terrified.

Speaker 3 1:54

I was going to say why would you be terrified? You've been there, you've been putting singles out to radio, but why would you be terrified Just because you're doing it all on your own?

Speaker 1 2:05

I think so. I think it's just I don't know if terrified is the right word I think it's more of just. It's more of anxious to see what happens, Because the last time I left South Carolina, I went to the University of Alabama and my brothers my brothers still say I studied abroad at Alabama because I wasn't there long, I was only there for a year. But yeah, so it's, and this is something that this is my dream and this is what I've prayed for and hoped for forever. So it's really cool. It's really cool to be in this place, but it's just kind of like a crazy view.

Speaker 3 2:44

It's just that fear of the unknown. Time out, time out. One minute here, one second. Take a look to the screen, john Williard. Do you remember John?

Speaker 1 2:53

Yes, we talk on Facebook all the time.

Speaker 3 2:57

Yeah, he does. He says can't know that that show. Intro voice is her friend John Williard.

Speaker 1 3:04

Wait, that's him.

Speaker 2 3:05

That's him that when we have that intro in the beginning, it's awesome. Hi, john, how are you?

Speaker 1 3:10

Oh my God, you're here with us pretty much. That's awesome yeah.

Speaker 3 3:16

He says I met her amazing self and her impressive brother as well at CRS 2023. He's great, he's kind. And you know, john, I look up to John. John is doing something I've always wanted to do and we know that. John, if you are ever to hit that CMA stage and I'm sure you will someday but if it was years ago, a few years ago, john would have been the voice when you watch it on TV. You know, coming up cap, let's go and blah blah. You know that was John Williard. How cool is that?

Speaker 1 3:46

That is awesome. If I ever want, I'd be like that's my friend. Is he just an?

Speaker 2 3:51

owner. Yeah, well, he is the man. He is the man. I love him very much.

Speaker 3 3:56

Everything about him is just phenomenal, so he's a good guy.

Speaker 1 3:59

I mean everyone, I mean John and of course you too. Everyone I got to meet at CRS really did just. It kind of changed everything for me in March, so it was definitely for the better.

Speaker 2 4:12

It's quite the experience.

Speaker 3 4:15

Can I ask and Debbie can interject as we go here but you as an artist cat going to something that was really radio focused and a lot to do with the music, was that very? You went on your own dime, is that very? I know it hurt the pocket of my ears, but how beneficial was it for you to go and do that?

Speaker 1 4:36

It was like I said it was completely, it was day and night to my music career.

Country Music and Career Journey

Speaker 1 4:43

I got to see just how. I said this earlier, I don't remember who I was talking to, what I was talking to, someone I was like I got, I was reminded and I was kind of told for the first time that that radio and country music is really a family and it pushed me that much more to want to be a part of that family because of how kind and incredible and like every way the labels, the artist and radio, everyone just care. They care so much about radio and that's so important and it really literally changed my whole I mean even the song release. I've just been like so patient and so calm about everything of like hey, I've got all of these great interviews set up with my friends and with people that I got to meet and that's what I'm focused on, that's what I want to give back to, because those are the people that showed up and that were there and that were willing to talk to me when I was there on my own dime and I was there as an impenetra artist.

Speaker 1 5:40

So it's incredible.

Speaker 3 5:41

it was awesome Well, it was incredible having you there hanging with us because I needed somebody to guide me out of the bar down the hall.

Speaker 1 5:49

I needed someone to just guide me around. I don't know what I would have done without the two of you.

Speaker 3 5:56

To A Street. We became really good friends, you and your brother and everybody. It was just so cool to be there. So let's talk about the new single. Tell us all about it.

Speaker 1 6:04

The title is Lifetime Lover, I don't know. I decided to release it on October 13th, so Friday the 13th, because I was like love is scary, life is scary, my life right now is scary, so let's do it on the superstitious day, friday the 13th. It's honestly been a journey. It's crazy because I had a Cassidy Adams. She's the writer of the song and this is the first time one of her songs her songs that she wrote has been ever sang or ever put out or anything. She messaged me on Instagram and it's just the positive parts of social media, that keeping up with you guys.

Speaker 1 6:46

And then I did random DMs from incredibly talented people like Cassidy and we just sat down and wrote together and she sang me the song and I was like I'm just telling love what that might be.

Speaker 1 6:58

We wrote this for you and I was like no, you didn't. This is incredible, and so it's cool to be in a place in my music career right now to be able to help someone else, because I remember those people that were there at the beginning of mine, that helped me and that are still just so influential and it's just cool. I mean, I have her whole family who's like tuning into everything and she's like so great, she's just it's awesome because she's a great writer and you know now she has a little bit more confidence to keep writing and the song is powerful. It really is, and it's a good song to listen to in the car. That's my two check marks. It's got to be powerful words and you gotta want to listen to it in the car. So it has those two things and it was just it's really fun. It's like it kind of leaves you guessing lifetime lover. It's like huh, what is that? So you gotta just listen to it and hopefully everyone loves it and sees you know the value in it that I do.

Speaker 3 7:59

And is there any relationship with you and that song? A little bit, you know. Yes, I understand.

Speaker 1 8:09

So when she's saying don't want to.

Speaker 1 8:11

I will. You know I'll spill the tea, especially with you guys, but no, I so during that time I was going through a breakup and it was a really, really tough one. And I'm not gonna lie, like he wears leather jackets and he's also a performer, he's a great guy, but it was just a hard breakup. It was a tough time.

Speaker 1 8:37

And she's saying that song and I was like I was looking for a lifetime lover, someone who's just not obviously wasn't the person for me. And then now I'm in a place where I am in a relationship with somebody right now and it's really cool because it's just it seems like night and day, kind of what I was saying earlier. But it's like, wow, she was going through something really hard in her relationship. Now she's married and just bought a house and at that time that she wrote that song it was a tough time for her. And then, whenever she's saying it for me, it was a tough time for me and now I'm out of it. So it's like imagine what that can do to connect with listeners and people going through things like that. I mean, if it spoke to me and it spoke to her, it's got to speak to someone else.

Speaker 3 9:22

That's what country?

Speaker 2 9:26

is yeah, you can relate to someone.

Speaker 3 9:28

Yeah kind of be relatable. Yeah, how exciting, how exciting for you now on the verge of making that move, and I'll go ahead, tim. Oh no, you're good.

Speaker 2 9:40

No, I was saying earlier her song was relatable because there's I'm trying to, we're saying the same thing at the same time.

Speaker 3 9:46

Maybe it was a hurt.

Speaker 2 9:48

I don't know. We think a lot alike. I mean, there's so many times when I'll go to ask a question and he's asking the question that I wanted to ask, or vice versa and you're just like I didn't get there first.

Speaker 3 10:00

Yes, you know, my problem is I don't shut up. And yeah, see, I told you.

Speaker 2 10:07

He could take a breather every once in a while. I just cut him off now. He gave me permission.

Speaker 3 10:12

I have it. Yes, she can do that, because sometimes I need that, sometimes I just stop, just stop. But you know, making the move to Nashville, you said you found an apartment. I know there's a lot of people that watch this that want to do what you're doing, right. You make that move. You got to make that move. But then you know how furniture and all that, you found a place that was fully furnished, yes. So all you got to do is take a backpack.

Speaker 1 10:40

Yeah, I just google, I literally just a back.

Speaker 2 10:42

Yes, the backpack is just the makeup and the hair.

Speaker 1 10:47

Right. I wish it were just a backpack, but unfortunately not for us girls. I've got so many boots that would not fit.

Speaker 3 11:00

You don't have to come all at once.

Speaker 1 11:03

But I did.

Speaker 1 11:04

I just I literally just googled furnished apartment in Nashville and I just started doing research and doing research and you know, it's taken a couple months and it's also taken me a couple months to get to a place where I'm like, okay, I'm immensely ready, I'm physically ready, I feel like I'm in a good place where I'm ready to go do this, because when you go, when I'm going to do this, I'm going full speed and I'm not looking back and you know it's I thought it was going to be sooner, but it just it worked out the way that it did and now I'm fully ready, like I'm antsy to go and I'm going in three weeks and I'm like you know, I'm like twiddling my thumbs.

Speaker 1 11:42

I'm here in my studio at my parents' house and I'm just like, when am I going to go? But I am thankful for this time. But yeah, I know it's going to be, it's going to be fun and I'm thinking about it in the best, most positive way. When you guys come to CRS next year I'll be living there, so you're going to be a pro by that point hey do you want to rent a room?

Speaker 3 12:10

CRS.

Upcoming Plans and Music Releases

Speaker 2 12:10

Wait, I have a question. All right, so you're going to move there in three weeks. Yes, give us an idea on what's your agenda for the month of November. Do you have rights co-right set up? Are you playing in bars? Are you traveling? What are you envisioning for your first 30 days?

Speaker 1 12:28

So I have two riders rounds already set up. One is like the first week I'm there and then one of my producers, justin Eason, is a really good family friend that grew up with him and he grew up with my family, so that's how we kind of got in touch and his wife's little sister has become one of my very best friends. So we, you know, as it feels like I already have a little family there and I'm just really excited to like To finally like be able to plant my roots there and really get to know people you know what I mean Because there's a difference between going.

Speaker 1 13:05

I mean I've been there and stayed there for two months before, but it's it's like I know that there's a date that I'm leaving now. It's like this is home, like this is where I'm creating my home, and so I have a couple riders around set up. I have a lot of co-rights set up, a lot of co-rights with people in Charleston that also have Rent a room in Nashville as well. So we're riding together already so I get to go and kind of bring that in National and and and with some other riders in Nashville. So, yeah, I just I'm just kind of going with the flow at this point. I'm just like I can't wait to see who is placed in my life and who I get to meet and Because so far it's been great, I mean I met you guys, so I Don't know if that's good or bad, but I can tell you I'm listening to every word you're saying and you know what else I'm hearing party at cats.

Speaker 1 14:09

So I took a little bit of time this year before I was releasing my music and I've been working back in finance. So I've been doing, which is what I did before I started. I don't know people are aware of that, but Started with music full-time. But so I'm with that and I can do that remote and then whenever I come home, I'll definitely work it. Come back to Columbia, I'll definitely work in the office and when I'm here and yeah, so I'll be doing that a good bit, but it's more like administrative work and I've been doing it for so long and I really enjoy it. And my brother William so you know, but he's also like you guys know, he's like my best friend, so it's gonna be cool and it's gonna be great when he comes to visit and you guys are there too, it's gonna be a fun.

Speaker 3 15:02

Well, we gotta make sure that week or whenever you know, we'll make all. What step is there? Quite often, anyhow, yes. But pretty much a dev makes that trip every other week. So so I mean your music now. This isn't your first effort putting music out, but wait, so you've got this one. Do you have some in the closet ready to be released, or you?

Speaker 1 15:29

know, yes, I have. I have three waiting. I have two I'm waiting to. It's an actual to record. I mean, I'm just like it's been a very, very I think last time I talked to you I was on like I was on like a writer's block for a long time.

Speaker 3 15:48

And.

Speaker 1 15:48

I think it was because I was very nervous to co-write. So I wasn't really pushing and challenging myself, you know, to get that next level to co-write with people, because I was like I'm scared. But I finally kind of put myself out there and started co-writing and, man, like words just Literally started pouring out of me. I think this song that I co-wrote with Mel Washington, who's a good friend, is probably some of the best work that I've ever done. It's straight from the heart, it's about moving to Nashville, it's, it's deep and it's it's. It's really it means a lot to me. So I've got songs waiting that I'm I'm really wanting to. You guys know me, I'm like I'm wanting to put it out right now, but I'm like I'm gonna focus I gotta focus on what what's out and just and just kind of sit back and and let it do its thing and see how the reactions are, and so far it's been great and it's been positive. So hopefully it continues.

Speaker 2 16:45

Well, I, it's just gonna go from there.

Speaker 1 16:48

Yes, I Did it recently. I want to tell you guys this because I know you guys are with me when we saw Laney Wilson perform at CRS.

Speaker 2 16:57

Yes.

Speaker 1 16:58

I'm. This past week I went to perform or when the day of the release I went to perform at a radio station in Charleston and they were like, oh yeah, by the way, the last person we invited in and he sat there was Laney Wilson and I was like I have a big seat to fill. I guess I don't.

Speaker 2 17:19

So you sat. You sat in the good luck seat. There you go.

Speaker 1 17:23

So that was super, super cool, because she's she's one of my idols and I do. I just remember I immediately thought of like how I got to see her and I had no idea I was gonna see her perform and I was like, oh my gosh, she's awesome. And I know that her road was, was it was a little bit different, but she never stopped and she kept working and and that's just so.

Networking and Social Media for Music

Speaker 3 17:42

When I look up, she is somebody that Everybody should listen to. We had around the podcast here a while ago, or I did, and, and she talked about her journey and living in the camper and she was ready to give up, but still there was that little bit of her that said, no, I got to keep going. It's a good thing she did now look at. And the thing with Laney she, she was just here at our New York State Fair back in August, on the 23rd. She opened up the fair and we walked backstage. She remembered you know, skip, how are you? And it was, it's just, that's the. And she had my skip happens mugs on the bus. I'm like you know? Oh, she told me she goes. No, I really do, I use them every day. I went, oh my god, because she Performed at a bar, I want to say earlier in the year, smaller venue. But I gave her the mugs then and I said here, put these on your bus, and they use them every day.

Speaker 1 18:41

So well, I want some mugs first, oh.

Speaker 3 18:46

Now we'll take care of you on that. We'll get what we need to get when we get done today and I'll make sure you're.

Speaker 1 18:52

Not in the salted potatoes, oh my god, I forgot all about those.

Speaker 2 18:56

Did you not send those salted potatoes?

Speaker 3 19:01

I think they got lost in the mail.

Speaker 1 19:07

That was a big time for me. Because you sent me, I guess it made me happy. Because you, I guess you thought about me because you were making sauce potatoes. Oh no, no, no.

Speaker 3 19:15

It was at the ball game and we were sitting there and I went and got salt potatoes that's a big thing here in the Northeast, salt potatoes, it's the little potatoes and salt water. And they got butter.

Speaker 1 19:27

That's my dream. That's all I need right now.

Speaker 3 19:30

I had them at baseball game and all of a sudden I thought of you. I didn't even realize and I took the picture and I texted to you.

Speaker 1 19:36

Yes, yes, that made me so happy. That was awesome Well.

Speaker 3 19:39

I gotta get you.

Speaker 2 19:41

Wait till she gets in her new apartment, and then I'll just come visit you guys and try salt potatoes.

Speaker 1 19:49

When I come visit, because I think they're better fresh right.

Speaker 3 19:53

Yep, yep, we'd love to have you any time you want to make the trip to the Northeast. You know the door is always open. It's always open at the Wolf when I work. You know it's. We'll get you in, we'll get you on and do what we need to do. But you're so talented Just everything about you and your personality, very outgoing. You know, for a young woman you're ready to take on the world and that's awesome. So proud of you.

Speaker 1 20:17

Thank you.

Speaker 3 20:17

Thank you so much, I'll be with you and all that I know Now we can go down to Bar Lines and have another drink Do you still keep in touch with? For example, it was Frank Ray and in those guys, alex Miller.

Speaker 1 20:32

Alex Miller yes, we, we still talk on Instagram. And then he texted me and I think he had congratulated me for something and I congratulated him for his new tour that he's on. I went to see Frank when he and Savannah when he was opening for Old Dominion and we, william Muck, got to go on the tour bus and hang out with the band, so it was, it was really fun. And then I'm Breeland. I opened for Breeland recently and that was really really cool. He's become a good friend, someone like a sounding board where I'll send him some of my music and and he's on tour with Shania Twain.

Speaker 1 21:10

And he was the one who was very influential in my move because, yes, everyone's like you gotta make the movie, you gotta make the move, and he goes. Yeah, he was like it's major, he goes. Look at it this way I was 25 when I moved. He's now he might be 28 now. At the time he was 27 and he's on tour with Shania Twain. So it's like and he's just like I, he's like you have something in you, like I can feel that you want this and and you're working hard, and he's like it's time for you to make the move and I was like it just stuck with me. You know, it stuck with me for for a while and then I was like let's do it, let's go.

Speaker 2 21:47

Well, here's the thing being there, there are a lot of artists that try to pursue their career away from Nashville and it can be done. But when you're there, the networking is just so important I mean it's just 100 constantly. Everywhere you go, you're just constantly networking until you get the, you know the things that are going to work for you. So even though people say it's competitive there, I think anything is competitive. It's just where you, you know what you're doing with that and you have got to talk to people and just get to know people.

Speaker 1 22:21

And that's like my favorite. That's like my favorite thing to do is really just it's and I don't think about it. It's hard to say networking as much, because I try like I know that's what it is.

Speaker 1 22:33

And it's I'm like I just love meeting people and creating relationships, like those relationships don't for me, they don't go away. It's I want to keep those people in my life and and you know, have have them to lean on and then lean on me like whatever it is, it's just become friends and I know when I was at CRS with you guys, I go. If this is what it is being in Nashville, this is where I need to be you know that kind of thing where it's like all clicked, I'm like, oh my gosh, there's jelly roll.

Speaker 1 23:04

I'm like like obviously that won't be happening, like walking down the street because you know, but still it was just, it was really cool, it was. It was a just like you said it was. It was like wow, this is yes, it's competitive. There are a lot of artists here. But if you think of it as like hey, what, what, what is it Like we're all, we're all wanting the same thing.

Speaker 2 23:25

We all, you're all there helping each other too, which is amazing, yes, absolutely amazing. Nobody's in competition with each other, right, you're all there. Yes, you're all looking for the same career path, but it's just amazing that all the artists want to just do whatever they can to inch I mean really, because they're introducing you're all introducing each other to other people in the industry.

Speaker 1 23:48

So that's country music, for I mean, that's. It's really a huge family and even the artists are family. Like the ping pong tournament that we watched, I was like we're all best friends.

Speaker 3 23:59

This is so Ping pong tournament. That's another whole story, but God but that was that ping pong tournament.

Speaker 1 24:05

I was like they're all best friends, they all know each other so well. This is really cool. I want to be friends with Canebra. I want to play ping. You know, it's like, I'm like yeah sit down, sit down I know I'm like, I'm like watch it out, like I need to be there, but no it was you do it, you will be.

Speaker 3 24:24

Yes, doesn't happen overnight. How active are you on your social media? Are you doing the tick tock? Are you doing the instant? How about acts?

Speaker 1 24:31

you know I need all that snow, so um, I, I actually was working in marketing and social media for a while in Charleston Because I was like you know what? I got to figure out a way to understand how to do this myself and you know I needed it. I need a day job, so why not do it in something that I need to learn from my own brand? So I worked for a year and a half as social media manager and marketing manager and I learned so much and um. So I heard that someone told me and this was actually a great thing pick two apps, Because you can't focus on them all.

Speaker 1 25:10

You know there's it's, it's a beast, it's it'll overwhelm you. You have to. You have to also still be able to do what you love, which is. Social media videos. But I have, I'm very active on instagram and tick tock and those are both catblaska music, so, um, and then I post on facebook for, you know, family and friends and I'll do updates, you know when I, when I have a chance to you and I'm sitting there. But yeah, I'm pretty active on the apps. Um, it's been fun, it's really been fun.

Speaker 1 25:41

It's become um it before it was more of like my rep, my daily life and then also, you know, music but it's just like it's taken over so much and it makes me so, so happy that I think it's been cool to see the feedback of people like, oh my gosh, you really are like, you really are taking it by storm and it's like, well, it's just become my life and it's becomes. It's just been awesome that's your passion.

Speaker 2 26:07

And there's your passion and you have got to go with your passion.

Speaker 3 26:10

Yeah, yeah, and you got something to fall back on because your whole family, if I'm not mistaken, being in finance more or less, you know you've got the NU and you've got that to fall back on, for whatever reason or things might get a little tough. You're gonna have those ups and downs.

Speaker 1 26:25

You got something to fall back on, so yeah, I mean, I have a plan x, y, z, but plan a and what I will strive for is is music, and Um, in some way, and in life, I will always, it will always be a part of my life. So, um, but either way, I'm following my dream and and this is something that I'm just so excited to do so.

Speaker 2 26:49

So you do have a year lease, right, so you know you're there for a year.

Speaker 1 26:53

I have a six month lease, okay, just in case. And this is me, just, this is like, this is just me being a creative of like, oh my gosh, a year, year sounds. I'm like it freaks me out. I've never done that in Charleston either. I've only signed five to six month leases. Because I'm like I need a new space or I want to, and then now I'm like I'm so tired of moving.

Speaker 2 27:21

That's to be tired of moving.

Furniture, Music, and Fashion

Speaker 1 27:22

That is just one of the most fun thing, things I mean it's like how are you moving every five months? We're not helping. They're like we're not helping you anymore. They're like you have to hire me now.

Speaker 3 27:33

You don't have to take furniture, it's a backpack. Like I said, that's all you need, exactly. All right, Maybe you need two backpacks, but it's still. You don't have to do a lot of the. You know you don't have to get a bunch of guys help you lift the couch.

Speaker 1 27:45

Right, it'll just.

Speaker 3 27:46

I'll have my car packed down with cowboy boots and I was gonna say but Somebody to do a graphic with the big luggage thing on top and the boots hanging out and everything, and let her go. She's off to Nashville.

Speaker 1 28:03

And I'll like paint my car going to Nashville, shiller bust, you know how people do that.

Speaker 3 28:10

I know it'd be hilarious. That would be hilarious. So you're doing really well on socials. That's cool because tiktok plays a big role and in a lot of what's going on nowadays when it comes to the music, and you know the whole genre of country, any genre actually and it's crazy. It's crazy, but it could be crazy. Good for you.

Speaker 1 28:28

It could be, and that's the thing is. You can I, just I choose to look at everything in a positive light. You can look at social media negative light. You can watch negative things on social media all day and you can be negative. Or you can look at this like, hey, this is another avenue that I can get my music out there for more people to hear it and for more people to relate to and to connect to. So that is, that's a positive and that's just. That is like the beauty of social media. I get to keep up with you guys, get to keep up with family and friends that are far away and, and so I'm trying to look at it all positive, even if you know One video gets thousands of likes and one gets 20 views and one, like you know, it's like you keep pushing and as artists, I think we we know how to do that really well.

Speaker 1 29:12

We don't really get our feelings hurt too easily about a couple views. So, um, yeah, I think once I get to national too, I'm gonna have you know, I'm gonna have the whole setup, like I do here the light and oh no, that, oh absolutely.

Speaker 3 29:29

That's pretty cool. That's in your mom, mom and dad's house.

Speaker 1 29:32

Yes, so this is, uh, my mom and dad's house. My mom was a vocal major in college and my dad's been singing, singing forever, so they are big. So I have, like the electric drum set. My dad just got At an auction this guitar, and then we've got the piano, the mics, and then you know yeah. The whole setup here and now. I actually just recently taught myself how to play piano in the last couple weeks, so now, I'm learning in a different way, which is which is really really cool.

Speaker 3 30:06

How many pairs of boots do you think you won't?

Speaker 1 30:09

Oh, my goodness.

Speaker 3 30:10

Come on.

Speaker 1 30:12

Boots, boots, Shoes in general are boots just like casual Shoes, boots.

Speaker 3 30:21

So do you have a big, big closet? You're a pretty fashionable young lady.

Speaker 1 30:28

I would rather I would have a mattress in my closet if it meant that I could have my boots there in my jacket. I love it. My boots in my jackets are really the two things. Oh, that's so funny. I probably have 17 boots.

Speaker 3 30:48

Wow, 17 pair.

Speaker 1 30:49

Have you seen Megan Moroney's recent like what she's done to her closet recently.

Speaker 3 30:55

All right, I have not, but I've seen her boots at least. When she hit on at the country radio seminar the night before we had gone out and she was performing.

Speaker 1 31:06

The green one.

Speaker 3 31:07

The green one. Yes, yes.

Speaker 1 31:09

So she just she was doing like a little thing on social media where she was building her shelves for her boots and it's like it's out in her room and I'm like I need this. It is just really cool because she has the coolest boots and she's awesome, but it's what I mean. It's just it's cool to have something out there, like the boots or the jacket or whatever it is, to remind you every day of like, oh my gosh, this is my aesthetic, this is my closet out here, shared with everyone.

Speaker 3 31:40

So your closet's got to be very important.

Speaker 1 31:43

It's pretty important to me. Yes.

Speaker 3 31:45

I would say oh, go ahead.

Speaker 1 31:47

I would say it's really important.

Speaker 3 31:49

You know I have a question coming. That's what I'm leading up to you here. You could switch closets with any other female artist. Who would you switch closets with?

Speaker 1 32:01

Any female artist.

Speaker 3 32:02

Yeah, you know, I mean somebody. I mean they're stylish, they got the boots, they got the. Yeah, but if you could switch closets with anybody, who would that be? I've never asked that question before.

Speaker 1 32:14

That's a great question and I feel like I know the answer and I'm gonna say the wrong answer. I'm really proud of myself.

Speaker 2 32:24

I don't think there's a really wrong answer.

Speaker 3 32:25

Yeah, I don't think there's a wrong answer, it's just.

Speaker 1 32:27

Oh my gosh. I mean Shania Twain has awesome clothes. Who else Like Dolly? I mean her boots and her. I'm sure her wardrobe is incredible. I'm not sure I would really fit into her shirts, but I would try my best. I would probably say right now it's gotta be Megan Moroney. I mean, we've got similar style. You do Taylor Swift, I think. Seeing when I got to see her Aira's tour and it was awesome and she just had a cool look, wow, I got to go. My mom surprised me and one of my other brothers with tickets.

Speaker 3 33:07

It's fantastic, huh.

Speaker 1 33:09

It was. I mean, I was like I wasn't a huge, huge Swiftie before, but now it's like don't talk bad about her in front. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2 33:18

It's like don't say a blind big brother. She does put on an incredible show. We saw the red tour and I was just amazed we didn't get to see this one. But it is. It's not just a show, it's like, it's just I don't even know the word A whole production. It's a whole production, pure entertainment. It's more than a concert, it's an experience, but Taylor is in everybody's faces right now. In a lot of different ways.

Speaker 3 33:46

The relationship with Travis you've got all that going on. And tonight, of course, on entertainment, tonight they have some body language expert there. I don't know if you saw this or not, but about the way they hold hands and how they make it each other and how he touches the curb in her back and that's a very intimate. It's like okay, who cares?

Speaker 2 34:09

Just leave them alone.

Taylor Swift and Future Goals

Speaker 1 34:10

Let them go. I think about this poor girl and I think about, like you remember, I don't know, in middle school, if you started dating someone, you dated him for like what? Two days and then you're like, oh, like I don't know, like it was just like a middle school, elementary school relationship. Oh, it's my boyfriend. I'm like that has been her life, plastered all over the media Like those small relationships that might have not been that serious, but it seems like she's dated a lot of people and I'm like, wow, it's really cool. It's different, seeing it as an artist and being like I feel bad that that is her life. But I think Taylor Swift is so awesome. Like she doesn't, she's not seen unless she wants to be seen. She's like in that point in her career.

Speaker 3 34:54

Very well. She does it very well and I can remember I may have told you this, but I gave Taylor one of her first radio interviews at another country station and she came in with the label rep, came in with her mom and she must have been 16 or 17 when she was just hitting, just coming out and she had the song Tim McGraw and she sang that in the studio. I still have the thank you card that she sent me and now I look at her. You know how many years later it's a whole lot of years later, but still it's just amazing what she has done, what she has accomplished. Smart woman, she's got a great team and she's not stopping, you know, and she deserves to have whatever she's got going. That's if she can handle it, that's fine. I just worry that it's not too much at times, and who am I to say? But it gets a little crazy.

Speaker 1 35:51

I watched one of her documentaries and she was talking about how she started writing and she said she had kind of like built her entire belief system on, just like wanting to be a good person. And that was really really cool to listen and relate to because I feel like, you know, I mean us as artists and people in general we want to, we're people pleasers, we want people to love us and to, and we live off the reaction of other people and what they think of our words and our vulnerability and it's just cool because it's like it's seeing a good person doing really well and that's always just I mean, it's just being excited for other people. It's just really cool.

Speaker 3 36:34

I want to front row seat at the theater when the cat Alaska.

Speaker 2 36:38

You know you will, movie comes out, movie comes out.

Speaker 3 36:42

I want my popcorn and, by the way, those popcorn bags. You can actually buy those if you go see the film. But there's being sold on eBay for at least $155. I mean container, the bolt, you know, which you buy at the theater. It's not going in $155 bucks because it's got some Taylor Swift Eris tour. I know we could have the cat Velasco.

Speaker 1 37:04

Yeah, I mean that's pretty awesome, cornbitten. We need to get one, we'll work on that. We'll work on that for you people. We'll work on that it could be 15 cents right now. Right, right.

Speaker 2 37:19

Hey, it works. It will grow in value. I'm just looking at it. Appreciate some time.

Speaker 3 37:25

So let's. A question I always ask is let's give it five years. Where do you want to be? It doesn't mean I don't mean it to be a dumb question. I think I know where you want to be, but in your mind, where do you want to be?

Speaker 1 37:37

In five years I will be 30. I would love to be. I would love. Hmm, I had to think about that question. Yes, I would absolutely love nothing more than to be.

Speaker 1 37:55

I don't know about selling out arenas at that point in my life but definitely playing really really big shows to a lot of people who know my music.

Speaker 1 38:05

I think that's definitely something that's. Recently I've had a couple of shows where little girls have like known my songs and that has been. I mean, it's just when I have chills, just saying it. It's just really cool and like having a line of people like waiting for me to take pictures and I'm just like I don't know what I did to deserve this. But this is so cool. So I think in five years, just to have that on a larger scale and just to continue to have to be putting out music that those little girls love and they wanna wait and talk to me and I get to go sit with some of them and hang out for a little bit, and yeah, I just I definitely want my family close, I want you guys there, I want everyone with me that's been there with me from the beginning and I would just love to just keep doing what I'm doing and, hopefully, just keep growing.

Speaker 3 38:57

I just wanna be able to sit back and go there she goes.

Speaker 2 39:01

That's what I'm talking about. We knew her when.

Speaker 3 39:05

I wanna be. I'll be sleeping on the couch when she's walking down the CMA stage on television.

Speaker 2 39:11

No, you better be there. No, no, no, no, no, we're gonna be there. Are you kidding me?

Speaker 3 39:16

I'll be there with my walker, because it could be just in a few years. I'm not gonna say it Just had a big birthday here in my life. So anyways, pretty cool cat, you're awesome. It's so good to catch up.

Speaker 1 39:29

It's so good to see you guys. I seriously been so excited for this and you guys have to come visit me and I have to come see you.

Speaker 2 39:36

And you do.

Speaker 1 39:37

Thank you.

Speaker 3 39:38

We will be talking about getting you up here. So and definitely get to the front of some listeners and step at a time.

Speaker 1 39:47

So yes, yes and thank you, and you guys are amazing and I love the both of you very much and I'm very, very appreciative.

Speaker 3 39:55

Right back at you. Will you be there this year? Oh no, you're living there. Oh, my God, you're living there. Party of cats I forgot.

Speaker 1 40:04

I will be there, but I'll be at CRS as well.

Speaker 3 40:07

Yeah, party of cats.

Speaker 1 40:09

And I'm making William come back and I'm waiting. I'm making him wear a suit every day, or it won't make sense.

Speaker 3 40:15

He's gonna wear a suit every day. He was dressed up last time. If I'm not mistaken, he was always the best dressed guy out of the bunch.

Speaker 1 40:22

And you know Jeff makes fun of everyone. Jeff is like if William doesn't wear a suit, he can't come. So William's like I have to wear a suit every day and it's like I think he's a horse, that's like his signature. Yeah, I think he thought he was walking into like a finance business meeting and everybody else is like we're like it's okay, he just cut. You know it's cut your music you can, kind of he just I mean, that's his style and he rocks it. So we see him in a suit in March.

Speaker 3 40:50

That's pretty exciting. No, that's cool. That's cool and it's great to have that family backing that. You have Just the support. That support is so important to you. What would be the top five most important things in your life right now?

Speaker 1 41:04

Ooh okay. So my family always, probably my health at the moment, just because I'm moving and I'm making a lot of big changes, so that's super important to me right now. My music huge always. My dog is always number one and then, you know, I think, my optimism, that is one thing that's very, very important to me right now. Just being like optimistic and patient and being like it's all gonna work out and it's all gonna be great. And I'm continuously reminded of that when I get to meet and talk with people like you guys and it just kind of springs me into a positive light of optimism and excitement.

Speaker 3 41:49

So Very cool, you've got your priorities straight. I love it, I love it.

Speaker 1 41:55

I've been working on it. I've been working on it.

Speaker 3 41:58

And just to be patient, because you know there's gonna be a lot of ups and downs, because there will be yeses and there's gonna be some no's and there's. You know I don't have time for you attitudes and stuff like that, but you know what you just say. Okay, you move on to the next, you move on Right, I've been developing some thick skin.

Speaker 1 42:15

You know, over the years, with three older brothers I think, I think Can you imagine the three older brothers?

Speaker 3 42:24

You're a girl.

Speaker 1 42:26

I was, you know. It definitely toughened me up growing up, so hopefully, you know, I can walk into this and just keep my head held high. I mean, I know I have great people behind me. I have my family, who's always keeping me grounded, and then friends like y'all and good friends that I've just had for over a decade now and I love it and so, yeah, I'm excited, I'm ready to go. I know it's gonna be a, it's gonna be a road. I know it's not always gonna be the best. I'm probably gonna cry a lot, but I'm gonna cry listening to you.

Speaker 1 43:05

I have my dog. I have my dog coming with me, so I'm not completely.

Speaker 3 43:09

That's awesome. Have you sung the national anthem at any sporting events yet?

Speaker 1 43:14

I did, I sang. I sang the national anthem at Credit One Stadium. Okay, the tennis open back. I was back in. I was back in March. I think that was right after, right after CRS, crs that was. That was cool, because I I didn't think it was gonna happen. It started raining and they were like trying to decide if it was gonna happen. It was a semi-finals, so I think I might be doing a Braves game next season. Fingers crossed.

Speaker 2 43:46

Oh my God, it's gonna hold her in the baseball, wondering what she would be.

Speaker 1 43:50

I know I was, I was thinking I was, I was keeping your honor toes for a minute.

Speaker 3 43:54

Yes, how about you getting the Nashville sounds? I mean you're gonna be living there. I mean be able to get down there and do the national anthem. I mean it's right there, right there in music city.

Speaker 1 44:06

Absolutely. I'm always so honored to do the national anthem, so that's definitely some. We're putting those feelers out right away.

Speaker 3 44:13

Absolutely, we'll do it. Kat Velasco, your website, you, katvelasco musiccom.

Speaker 1 44:20

Katvelascocom. And then you can find me on all my social media Kat Velasco music. And then, if you just wanna Google me, if you just wanna make it easy and Google Kat Velasco, I'll pop up and my music will pop up.

Speaker 3 44:32

Everything pops up.

Speaker 1 44:33

Yes. So I hope you guys enjoy the new release as much as I do, and I just thank you guys for having me back. I wanna come back. I wanna come back.

Speaker 3 44:43

You don't come on anytime.

Speaker 2 44:46

It's an open door.

Speaker 3 44:48

You don't need time. The things get tough. Just remember skip happens, it happens, you can do.

Speaker 1 44:56

Skip happens, skip happens.

Speaker 3 44:58

And remember that next time you do an interview, say I talk to these guys and skip happens, Skip happens.

Speaker 1 45:02

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 45:05

No, we love you and thank you for joining us here tonight. Kat Velasco and check out the music online. It's got the brand new single. It's out there and let's help her get moving. Keep going, she's a star in the making right there, that young lady.

Speaker 1 45:20

I love you both so much. Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 2 45:25

Thank you, hang tight.

Speaker 3 45:26

Hang tight. Thanks for joining us on Skip Happens here tonight, everybody.

Speaker 2 45:31

Good night.