NXTSTYLE’s 2020 Songs of the Summer: Kat Saul “Monsters”

August 25, 2020

INTRODUCING NXTSTYLE’S ‘SONGS OF THE SUMMER,’ HIGHLIGHTING OUR FAVORITE TRACKS WE’VE DISCOVERED THIS SUMMER. OVER 70 SONGS FROM NEW AND INDEPENDENT ARTISTS FORM OUR SUMMER 2020 SOUNDTRACK. TODAY WE FEATURE KAT SAUL. THE NASHVILLE-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION LATE IN THE SUMMER WITH THE LYRICALLY-DRIVEN POP SINGLE “MONSTERS”. WE LOVE THE EMOTION SHE POURS INTO HER MUSIC AND ALSO LOVE HER NEW YOUTUBE SERIES. GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT KAT SAUL IN OUR FEATURED INTERVIEW.

YOUR LATEST RELEASE “MONSTERS” IS A GREAT POP SINGLE WITH LYRICS THAT REALLY COME ALIVE TO THE LISTENER. TAKE US BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE SONG AND YOUR CONNECTION TO IT.

Spring of 2019 I actually came up with the line “What’s been under my bed just moved into my head..I got monsters”. Every time I sat down to write it, I just felt empty. I think I hadn’t fully confronted all I was going through, so it was hard to find the rest of the words. Fast forward to March 2020 (this year), I’ve just moved to L.A., I’m a bit lonely and isolated, and the city is expected to shut down for Corona. At this point, I’m fighting some real mental health issues and am in intensive therapy. That line I had written down (a year ago at that point) felt real-er than it ever had. My session that day was with Alex Koste and Alex Venegas. We all were immediately on the same page. Even though our fears didn’t look exactly the same, we at least could connect over what was going on in the world and wanting to turn back time. It flowed super easily. I finished out the production with my homie Max Weinik and it was mixed by JJ Corirossi a couple months later. The vocals on the final track are actually the ones I cut singing in Alex K’s closet that first day. I felt like the emotion was so present, and I don’t think I could’ve re-created how I felt that day. Pandemic aside, growing up and moving on is pretty crazy. I hope people are able to connect to this in a timeless way, despite when it was written.

“MONSTERS” IS ONE OF THOSE SONGS THAT COULD FIT ANYWHERE FROM A REFLECTIVE MOMENT IN A TV SHOW AND FEATURED FILM TO EVEN A COMMERCIAL AD. IF YOU HAD A CHOICE, WHAT WOULD BE THE ULTIMATE SYNC PLACEMENT FOR “MONSTERS”?

Thank you! To be honest, the song is so personal to me that I haven’t spent much time imagining it in a different narrative, but I’m a big Netflix girl. Would LOVE a placement in some sort of film or show where there is an emotional cliffhanger or people are reflecting on their own monsters.

NXTSTYLE UPDATE: YES! Can totally see that…

GETTING TO THE ROOT OF WHO KAT SAUL IS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ARTISTRY AND THE PURPOSE YOU WANT TO BRING TO FANS? ARE THERE ANY ARTISTS THAT YOU LOOK UP TO THAT PLAY AN INFLUENCE ON YOUR MUSIC?

If Katy Perry, The Maine, and the 1975 had a musical love child, that would be my sound. Everything I release is autobiographical. I got into music because it was my safe space to cope in a toxic environment growing up. I hope that by sharing my story and letting people in on the deep dive, that they feel less alone and seen as they cope with their own lives. That’s what music did for me. I’m just passing it on.

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KAT SAUL

YOU HAVE A GREAT WAY OF CAPTURING YOUR INNER SELF AND WHAT’S REALLY ON YOUR MIND THROUGH YOUR YOUTUBE SERIES ‘MADE IN THE 90’S’. TALK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE SERIES AND WHAT YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR IT.

Thanks! I wanted to create an avenue to share more about the origins of my project and the songs I am making. ‘Made in the 90s’ is all about growing up and reflecting on who you are. Couldn’t think of a better way to share my journey than to do that reflection out loud while showing visuals which are significant to my life. I don’t have any particular goal for the series other than to allow fans to peer into my world, feeling like they are a part of the journey with this project, and maybe better relating to the music by knowing where it’s coming from.

WITH THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC, HAS IT ALTERED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS? DO YOU SEE IT INFLUENCING WHAT YOU WRITE ABOUT?

It’s definitely shown me that there is no promise of tomorrow. It’s also taught me a lot about myself and who I am as an individual. I’m living in the moment more these days, being vulnerable, and taking risks (emotionally and artistically). I think it definitely bleeds through into what I’m writing whether it be about a specific situation, or just heightened honesty in the lyric.

WITH MORE DOWN TIME THIS YEAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE HAVE PLACED THEIR ENERGY ON THINGS THEY PREVIOUSLY DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO FOCUS ON. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THAT YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY HAVE TIME FOR OR EVEN THINK ABOUT?

Oh wow, a lot tho. I actually moved during quarantine, so it gave me time to settle into a new space. I don’t think I would’ve even unpacked if I was still running around from session to session lol. More importantly, it gave me the chance to do a deep dive with therapy and re-adjust my life to better fight my anxiety/depression. Luckily, that’s led to better art in the process.

FAST FORWARD 60 SOME ODD YEARS FROM NOW TO YOUR 80 YEAR OLD SELF FEELING HAPPY WITH HOW YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE. WHAT WOULD THAT PERSON BE MOST PROUD OF?

Having followed her heart.

OF THE TALENTED ARTISTS, SONGWRITERS, AND PRODUCERS OUT THERE IS THERE SOMEONE YOU WOULD REALLY LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH NEXT?

My list literally never ends, but off the bat, a few of my dream collaborations are Jack Antonoff, Travis Barker, Hey Violet, JP Saxe, and Miley Cyrus. If anyone wants to help me manifest these sessions, pls slide in my DMs, hahaha.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOU FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020?

Much more music! 🙂

KAT SAUL’S

SONGS OF THE SUMMER

1) Chaz Cardigan “Everything’s Wrong” – Chaz is the voice of truth in our world right now
2) Troye Sivan “Easy” – All around phenomenal; nostalgic af
3) Oliver Tree “Jerk” – A great car or running bop
4) Taylor Swift “this is me trying” – Cried the first time i heard this
5) 100 gecs “800 db cloud” – This is rly out there, but i can’t stop listening

Listen to all of our featured artist’s favorite songs of the summer on our special Spotify playlist.

BROWSE ALL OF OUR ‘SONGS OF THE SUMMER’ INTERVIEWS

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