Katie Fee is a name you need to know in country music. Originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she grew up inspired by the iconic women of ’90s country before making the move to Nashville to chase her dreams. A Belmont University graduate and rising singer-songwriter, Katie seamlessly blends modern country with the nostalgic charm of classic storytelling.
With her debut album Runaway Heart earning a nomination at the Josie Music Awards and her latest single, What You’re Getting Yourself Into, capturing the fun and quirks of relationships, Katie continues to carve her own path in the industry. Beyond music, she’s a passionate traveler, an avid reader, and co-host of The Music Lens Podcast, where she dives deep into the independent artist experience.
In this exclusive interview, Katie talks about her journey, inspirations, the evolving landscape of country music, and what’s next on her horizon. Let’s dive in!
HI KATIE FEE, WELCOME TO BLACKBIRDNEWS! CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY?
Hi! I’m a country singer-songwriter originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I grew up listening to the women of ‘90s country, mainly Shania Twain, Deana Carter, and Faith Hill, and started writing songs at age 12 when I got my first guitar for Christmas. I moved to Nashville in 2017 to attend Belmont University and have lived here for almost 7.5 years now. Back in 2023, I released my debut album, Runaway Heart, and now am starting a new chapter of my music with the release of my latest single.
YOUR NEW SINGLE “WHAT YOU’RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO” IS A PLAYFUL TAKE ON LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE SONG?
When my co-writers, Caroline de Lone and Sammy Kay, and I got together, Sammy brought up the idea of writing a song based off of the TikTok trend of “I wish people came with a 30 second preview.” We decided to take that idea and turn it into a love song about warning a date about some of the quirky things they’d have to put up with if they were to be in a relationship with you.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL STYLE AND WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
I’d say that my style is modern country with some ‘90s country mixed in. Aside from the ‘90s country women I mentioned earlier, my top two current artists are Taylor Swift and Eric Church, but I’m also influenced by Lainey Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF COUNTRY MUSIC?
I love that there’s so many different pockets of country music right now. You have artists that are pop-country like Kelsea Ballerini, artists that are straight up ‘90s country like Zach Top, artists that are middle-of-the-road country, but with a little bit of rock flair, like Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley, and everything in between. There’s a little something for everyone, so I think music fans are able to find a sound within country that resonates with them and find a love for it even if they’ve never given the genre a chance before, which is why it seems to keep growing in popularity.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE WITH YOUR MUSIC CAREER?
It can be tough to balance everything as an independent artist considering you have to wear all the hats and do all the things for your career. I find balance by making sure I have days in my schedule where there’s nothing on the calendar so that I can have time to rest and relax.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
I love reading and am currently reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I find that reading can sometimes spark song ideas, but it’s also a form of escapism where you can take your mind off life and responsibilities for a bit and just put yourself into the world of the book. As a line in the chorus of “What You’re Getting Yourself Into” mentions, I also love rewatching my favorite shows, so I’m currently rewatching Grey’s Anatomy.
I also have a podcast with my friend and fellow artist, Alex Allegra, called The Music Lens Podcast in which we talk about all things music and the music industry through the lens of independent artists, and so that has been a fun project to work on outside of making music that is still music-adjacent.
Aside from consuming non-music media, I also love traveling and going for hikes, which I’m hoping to get back into once the weather warms up and stays warm.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING MUSICIANS?
Give yourself grace and patience. I know you want to achieve so much in a short amount of time, but growth takes time and it takes time for a reason. Giving yourself the time to grow and develop your craft will better prepare you for when your moment comes so that you can make the best out of that opportunity.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
As of now, I’m planning to be putting out some more music throughout this year and next, which will hopefully eventually lead into my sophomore album.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR FANS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON YOUR MUSIC AND UPCOMING SHOWS?
You can follow me on all of my socials @katiefeemusic and also you can sign up for my email list at the bottom of the homepage on my website, katiefeemusic.com.
