Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cory McAtee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cory, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed making music and performing. My younger brother and I would play on pots and pans for our parents. We would get dressed up in costumes, grab a boombox, and sing and dance for family and kids in the neighborhood. I took tap dance classes when I was five years old and began performing in theatre at that age as well. It has always been a dream of mine to create and perform. When I was in the fifth grade, I joined the school band and learned how to play the clarinet. I loved working both as an individual and as a group to create and play music.
Shortly after that, I learned to play the piano, saxophone, and tuba. I found it exciting and fun to learn how to play various instruments. The unique tone colors and sounds that they made were wonderful for playing music of different moods and styles. I was inspired to continue learning and expanding my horizons. Playing music brought so much joy into my life. I decided to start writing and creating my own songs. On August 23rd I released my first album, “Steppin’ with Cory.” It’s a fun collection of songs for kids of all ages. My entire life has been a process of learning and sharing through music and performance.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been performing and creating music since I was a child. I’ve always had dreams of writing music and sharing it with others. I had been talking to Tim Noah -another children’s music artist, about music and his outdoor education center, The Pond Beyond (in Granite Falls, Washington.) He encouraged me to write music and introduced me to Richard Henderson. Together Richard and I produced my music, and he mixed, mastered, and recorded my album. I wrote, recorded, and released my first single, “I Want to Go Outside and Play (Steppin’ Into the Outside.)” You can hear me play the saxophone on the track as well! It was so exciting and fun! I continued writing and recording, and created a collection of songs to make my album, “Steppin’ with Cory.” Through the songwriting process, my goal was to create music that would be enjoyed by kids of all ages-including adults. My experience and knowledge as a musician has helped me to envision and create great songs. I’ve been playing various instruments on my social media accounts to entertain and introduce people to me. It’s a great way to share my love of music, and to encourage listeners to play, create, and enjoy the arts!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are so many rewarding aspects of being an artist! I feel like the most rewarding is seeing people enjoying the music that I’ve created. If people can relate to my music, be entertained, helped to express themselves, or if it makes them happy, then that is wonderful! Knowing that my work has the power to brighten someone’s day or provide comfort in a challenging moment is incredibly fulfilling. Being able to create something that resonates with others on a personal level is so meaningful.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by the desire to craft music that not only entertains but also resonates with people on a deeper level. I aspire to create songs that spark joy, evoke, emotions, and leave a lasting impact. It’s important to me that my work helps people recognize the significance of the arts and the vital role creativity plays in enriching our lives. Through my music, I hope to inspire others, foster connection, and contribute something fun and meaningful to the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.corymcatee.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/corymcatee
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082627754708
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@corymcatee
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XogwUx2rPxDUpqe5Z8L2z?si=qy_uxkkXS4axAZ8c2NNvdQ
  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/cory-mcatee/1618390188
  Bandcamp: https://corymcatee.bandcamp.com
  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@corymcatee

Image Credits

Heatherbee Photography