Katie Cruel – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·September 29, 2023

Katie Cruel Unveils New Album, Lost Vagus

Katie Cruel (aka Kate Boothman) is a mesmerizing singer-songwriter with a voice that transports you to ethereal realms. Today, Katie Cruel unveils her album, Lost Vagus, which pushes the boundaries of contemporary dream-rock-Americana.

To add another layer of brilliance to her already remarkable sound, Katie Cruel joined forces with the acclaimed producer Mark Howard. Known for his work with legendary artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Lucinda Williams, Howard brings his exceptional expertise to Lost Vagus, infusing it with a timeless quality and sonic richness. The collaboration between Katie Cruel and Mark Howard is a match made in musical heaven, resulting in a single that is destined to leave a lasting impression.

CARE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS?

Hi, my name is Katie Cruel. I’m a singer-songwriter from Kendal, ON. I can’t wait to share my first record with you, Lost Vagus, in September!

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE.

Making Lost Vagus was an incredible experience. To write and record it on the fly was daunting, but not as daunting as recording it live off the floor on RADAR. Radar is a very old form of recording. It’s the first digital recording studio that was available after the old tape machines. Or something? Ha.

Basically what you hear is what you get. No digital vocal tuning or swapping out polished parts etc. The editing is very minimal. They’re mostly single takes.

I had to make sacrifices for the greater good of the tracks and it was tricky at first. But now I’m absolutely in love with how organic and real it all sounds. Like it sounds reaaalllllll good. I’m super proud of this music and I can’t wait to share it with you.

WHERE DO YOU TEND TO PULL INSPIRATION FROM WHEN WRITING?

Well, this record was a little different than my usual method of sitting around and waiting for the songs to find me. Lost Vagus came with a deadline. Mark Howard and I met and decided to work together all pretty last minute and sort of by accident when the world closed a couple of years ago.

He had access to a converted barn for a few days and wanted to set up his portable RADAR studio. I think I had just over a month’s notice, so I sat in my kitchen and wrote a record. What else was there to do?

I finished old songs that I’d been avoiding and wrote some fresh ones about the state of my heart, loneliness was an obvious theme in the wee hours of a global pandemic, and I even wrote one after watching the movie Nell hahaha. Mama had to hustle! And I think it’s some of my finest work.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING SHOWS YOU’D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT?

I’m working on booking shows but to be honest, I don’t really know too much about it. I should probably get a professional.

That being said! I’m aiming for some at the end of September to celebrate the record release and will be joining my friend Jerry Leger at the TD Music Hall in Toronto for his upcoming release. Also recorded with Mark Howard. Follow me on all of my platforms for more performance info!