Artist: Garrett Kato
Hometown: Born in Port Coquitlam, BC; current home is Byron Bay, Australia
Latest Album: s. hemisphere EP
Nickname: “Shoji is my middle name, some crew call me that”
Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?
I think it would have to be Bob Dylan as clichĆ© as that sounds. I feel thereās only a handful of artists that can hit you in the guts with lyrics and melody. Heās probably the master of storytelling and symbolism in song.
What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?
This was probably one of favourite moments in life. I was supporting Damien Rice in Australia and was a big fan of his work. I hadnāt seen him much and figured heād be too busy to see my set. I played to a beautiful and attentive audience, and once I left the stage, out of the darkness he emerged to say he enjoyed the set. Later that night, we went busking in the streets of Brisbane. It was something I wonāt soon forget.
What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc — inform your music?
Iām a big fan of most A24 films at the moment. They always have such intensity and mystery to them highly recommend. As far as for my music, Iād say I draw more from conversations in real life or stories I hear from people I know, and love that, for some reason, it seems to seep in more often when Iām writing.
What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?
I think itās almost every time. Each song comes with its own set of challenges and problems that are particular to the message or music. I find it the hardest to write when Iām spending too much time on social media. It really sucks the life out of being creative, and you end up just worrying about what everyone else is doing.
If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be?
Try to give some comfort to someone who may be feeling lost or alone.
Photo credit: Jess Parkes
