We were lucky to catch up with Katarra Parson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katarra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
To be an artist or creative in general is to thrive in being misunderstood. Yes, you could explain and bend yourself in a thousand ways, and still, your means of expression will be interpreted through the lens of the audience. As someone who has spent their entire life being misunderstood and mischaracterized, I’ve built up strength or a sort of superpower in breaking people’s misperceptions and societal expectations of me.
I have lived an existence full of people perceiving me through their individual, but collective filter of race, sex, socio-economic status, appearance, mental health, and just about everything about me. As an introvert, I noticed that people came to fantastical conclusions about my personality, lifestyle, beliefs, and intelligence based on the smallest things about me.
At first, it was jarring, and I would find myself overexplaining who I am to people who never truly knew me, or even cared to get to know me. After years of emotional and mental exhaustion, I released my need to care what others think and “let my freak flag fly” so to speak. I saw how this increased my creativity, my confidence in my craft, and my desire to share who I am with the world. So I went full speed in being my authentic self despite being misunderstood. I defiantly existed as I was.
As an artist, I learned to use these misconceptions, stereotypes, and generalizations as a strength. It’s empowering because by simply exposing the most authentic parts of myself, I constantly shatter the illusions created by these misconceptions. And even when I am still misunderstood, I am too fulfilled in my truth to care.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Katarra, a St. Louis born vocalist, songwriter, pianist, producer/composer, activist, and fashion artist.
I grew up with music in and around me, with a family full of artists, singers, and musicians. My mom, a choir director for 30+ years, taught me harmony very young in the adult choir at church. After service, 7-year-old me would often spend my time at a brown, wooden upright piano, piecing sounds together like a puzzle that felt all too familiar to me. After “matching sounds”, I taught myself how to play the piano and began composing and writing music at 12. Ever since, music has been my main source of expression, healing, and as of 2017 (as a live performer), how I make a living.
I write, compose, and produce original sounds, ranging from emotionally explosive ballads to jazz and hip-hop influenced grooves. With vocals and keys in tow, I take listeners on a sonic journey, pulling audiences into impassioned performances with vocals and keys that blend Soul, R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Classical influences.
Services I provide: Live performance (solo with piano, or with band), vocal and instrumental recordings, vocal lessons, piano lessons, beats/instrumentals for sale, beat making, song arrangement/production, and sound healing.
I resolve the emotional, physical, and mental impact of intense human experiences. I make music for lovers, for those who are heartbroken, for those who suffer from identity issues, and for those seeking mental healing and clarity. I make music for justice warriors, music addicts and soul lovers, outsiders, insiders, and in between. I make music that helps us charter the waves of the human experience. I provide a relatable sonic story for the human emotional journey.
I am most proud of the fact that I can create something magical out of thin air from simply being vulnerable. By being comfortable in experiencing my emotions, I am able to create soul-shaking music. And what makes me more proud is the fact that I can create this magic within multiple genres and impact many people of all kinds.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to earn a living doing what I love: healing people emotionally, physically, and mentally through original recorded and live performance music. When I have recorded and released the several albums I have written, I will have achieved the biggest and most important goal of my career. The songs on these projects have carried me through some of the lowest points of my life and to some of the highest points in my life. I would like to share these sonic stories with as many people as possible, leading to the possibility of healing millions through music. Achieving this reality while earning a living from these services is my ultimate goal.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Support and truly nurture the artists in your community. Share their art in whatever way you can. There is nothing more helpful and possibly life-changing for an artist than when someone shares their work. It could become viral, pick up new supporters and fans, lead to many opportunities, or land in the lap of the deal of a lifetime!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katarramusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katarramusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katarramusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarra-parson-44354bb5/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/katarramusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@katarratube
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kr6S6wqetq2TAN9LbDSAl https://soundcloud.com/katarra-parson https://music.apple.com/us/artist/katarra-parson/1473619887 https://www.tiktok.com/@katarramusic https://katarramusic.bandcamp.com/?from=viewsite_dashboard
Image Credits
Jessica Page Ryan Moore Virginia Harold Isabel Evelyn