Born in Tokyo and raised in NZ, Kat McDowell has always loved music. While drawing inspiration from artists like Foo Fighters and Jason Mraz, Kat's fun Ocean Pop sound is definitely her own.
Her career kick started when her first record went to no 1. on the vinyl charts in Japan selling out after two days, and has since released 3 albums and done 3 nationwide tours in Japan and shared the stage with artists like Switchfoot and Colbie Caillat. At the start of 2015, Kat was a finalist in the Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter competition making the top 5 out of 14, 000 entries and continues to make waves in LA and beyond.
1 review
Deb M.
November 4, 2016In March of 2015, Kat and Masaki played at our wedding ceremony on the beach and at the reception following at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, CA. Both performances made our special day extraordinary! Their (mostly) original tunes and musical talent make them two of the most sought after performers in the area.
Kat and Masaki are so easy and fun to work with, too - extremely warm & friendly, professional, flexible with scheduling; willing to play wherever/whenever; able to accommodate special song requests from the guests; and even encouraged a small child to participate by strumming the ukelele and shaking maracas.
Everyone really enjoyed the music and had a really great time!
Hired as: Acoustic Band, Singer/Songwriter
Price range: Contact for rates
Languages: English, Japanese
Gig length: 30 - 120 minutes
A typical show consists of me performing original songs and beachy upbeat cover songs (Like Vance Joy, Jason Mraz etc..).
I can perform up to three 45 minute sets.
I play guitar/ ukulele and sing during shows and my husband Masaki plays Cajon, Ukulele Bass, Ukulele and sings harmony. Because we rotate many instruments we have a pretty full sound for two people and can play a lot of high energy upbeat numbers too.
Born in Tokyo and raised in New Zealand, Kat has always loved music. While drawing inspiration from artists like Foo Fighters and Jason Mraz, Kat's Ocean Pop sound is definitely her own. She mixes acoustic guitar-led melodies with emotionally transparent lyrics, delivered in a blend of Japanese and English.
She returned to Japan after school and signed with Sony and Avex in 2007. Her partnership with them yielded several mini-albums, her first full album, and a limited vinyl edition of Nagoriyuki, which went to #1 on Japan's Vinyl Charts and sold out in two days.
Outside of the studio, Kat has been recognized for her performances in high-profile TV ads. Additionally, she has also performed over 1000 live shows, both throughout Japan and internationally and has shared the stage with bands like Switchfoot and Colbie Caillat.
Kat writes about humanity and life. Songs like "Dianna," inspired by a little girl who was born in a trash dump in Nicaragua, to "A little rain" which was written driving through a typhoon on tour in Japan, to "3.11" which was written as a way to deal with the wounds from the Tsunami which ravaged Japan in 2011.
Since becoming an independent artist in 2010, Kat has continued to release new albums and tour Japan and the world. Kat changed her home base from Tokyo to LA in 2013 to face a completely new challenge, touring the US and expand her horizons, and 2014 saw the release of a brand new album "Rise Above" about overcoming life’s challenges.
2015 has already kicked off to be a promising year, Kat was a top 5 finalist in the Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter competition out of 14,000 submissions and in the Spring she will be touring Japan and the US.
When Kat’s not singing for a princess in Japan, girls in a safe house in Nicaragua, or at a college in Oregon, she’s in the studio recording, or baking cookies, or playing ukulele at the beach!
Additional Booking Notes
-Sound and Audio Engineer provided are preferred (but I can also bring my own sound system if necessary and if budgets allows for that extra expense).
-Adequate Lighting
-Adequate Space/Stage of at least 8X8 space.
Saturday
Campus Event
5:00pm - 8:30pm
•
Whittier, CA
12 channel PA system (for a standard acoustic duo)
2 vocal mics and boom stands
3 DIs
2 Instrument mics and boom stands (for percussion)
1 vocal monitor (2 if the stage is large)
Arts/Entertainment Speaker
