We were lucky to catch up with Katt Rardi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katt , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Quotes about regret always found their way to me. Every time I doubted myself, a little spark of inspiration would remind me that anything is possible. I have always feared a life of regret more than not doing something out of fear. From an early age I knew it wasn’t going to be an option for me to have a back up plan. It was either all of nothing. Hard to say no when you think you’ve got nothing to lose, right? After dropping out of University, I decided to get in my car and move from New York to Atlanta where I would pursue a career in music. I rented a room off of craigslist and trusted that my spirit guides would protect me. After two Years, I moved back to New York, continued acting and became the front woman of a rock band. Then, life as we knew it turned upside down. The Pandemic happened. I beat myself up everyday thinking about how I should have moved to California years ago. It had been all I thought about since the day I dropped out of college. Timing is everything. Finally, in fall of 2022 I packed a suitcase and bought a one way ticket to LA. I’ve now been here for over a year and accomplished more than I could ever dream of.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I grew up in New York, on Long Island.
I grew up performing around the house for my family which led to pursuing years of musical theatre and choir.
As I entered my professional years, I studied songwriting at Berklee college and acting and William Esper Studios.
I’ve been an independent recording artist and songwriter for close to a decade and released two albums with a rock band. I’m currently writing and recording my debut album, which is set to release this year!
I’ve worked with Dole pineapple juice, Violife cheese, Samsung and more. I’ve worked with award winning producers and artists from The Voice, American Idol and more.
I also launched my songwriting business coaching writers with a focus in writers block.
I prides myself on story telling and creating art that helps people step outside of their reality, even if just for a moment.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
When I decided I was going to be a musician and actress, “I could never do that” was what a lot of people said. They loved the term “starving artist”. I took pride in that title for years. I always said “I’d rather be broke and do what I love than work a job I hate” Well, I realized that was not a sustainable way to live. I knew I had to go for it 100% if I ever wanted a career in the entertainment industry BUT “starving artist” was a title that others made for me, and I no longer wanted that attached to me.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Imposter syndrome is no stranger to me. Often times, Its easy to get caught up in numbers and external validation. I suggest the book letters to a young poet to anyone struggling here. It’s important to make your art because it fuels you and you can’t NOT make it. The most rewarding aspect is when someone walks up to me after a show or premiere and tells me that my art meant something to them. Inspired them. It’s not about me, or my ego. I’m a vessel that delivers messages to the world. Talk about the bigger picture.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetkatt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/katiegerardi522
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10771471/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/25h982zUlwgrqheCGliwk0
Image Credits
Muita-Muthee N Rapp Photo Cameron Radice Photography Michael Kokorine