Meet Kat Harville | Songwriter & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Harville and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As an artist/songwriter, I really want to impact people’s lives through music. I have always felt things a lot deeper than most of the people in my life. I think that having this empathy and being an emotional person is an important gift that I want to use to make the world a better place. I started writing songs when I was 8 years old, scribbling lyrics in a fuzzy zebra print light up journal in the closet of my childhood bedroom. I wrote stories about the “drama” of elementary school and the heartbreak of watching my grandfather battle cancer. This was how I coped with the intense emotions that I felt every day. As I grew up, something clicked. I fell in love with songwriters like Taylor Swift, who put words to feelings and experiences that I never would have thought of. It made me feel validated. I knew from then on that that was what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to be vulnerable and brave and make music that helps other people feel less alone and say things that they could not say themselves. If one of my songs can save one person like so many have saved me, then I will count that as success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think my songwriting stands out because of its honest, vulnerable lyrics. I try to say the things that are hard to admit, because I think there is someone out there that needs to hear it. I am super proud to say that I will be graduating from Belmont University this May with a Bachelor of Business Administration as a dual major in Songwriting and Music Business. I can’t wait to have more free time to focus on pursuing a publishing deal and working with more writers and artists that I look up to. Finishing up my fourth year in Nashville, it has not been easy pursuing this dream that so many move here for. I had to really learn to stop comparing myself to others because everyone’s path looks different. I had to become really confident in what I want to say with my music and know that I truly HAVE something important to say. I learned to be fearless and generous with vulnerability, and my relationship with everyone in my life, including myself, reaped the benefits. I want the world and the music industry to know me as someone who is honest, true to herself, lifts others up, and most importantly, someone who knows the power of words, and does not waste a single one that could be used to change someone’s life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are SO many great places to visit in Nashville it is hard to fit it all into a week! However, if I had to put together my perfect itinerary for one long day, it would start with a sunrise hike off of the Natchez Trace Parkway. This would be followed by a big breakfast at Loveless Cafe, with endless amounts of their biscuits and peach jam. I swear they just melt in your mouth. We would go to Crema for their Cuban coffee and then walk around Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, preferably while the Halloween dog costume competition is happening. For lunch, we would get Prince’s Hot Chicken, the original hot chicken that Nashville is so famous for. However, I would get the most mild option possible because they do not mess around. Then we would go for a peaceful sunset walk around Fort Negley, admiring the skyline from a perfect view. We would have dinner at Josephine’s, an amazing fine dining establishment on 12th South. From there we would go to an incredible show at the Ryman. There is nothing more magical than those pews, the stained glass windows, and breathtaking acoustics of that space. Finally, we would go out for drinks at Rosemary and The Beauty Queen, my favorite bar in East Nashville, with a fun bohemian atmosphere tucked away in a renovated house. Another option would be the Greenhouse Bar in Green Hills. This place is insane, especially if you’re a plant lover like me. It is exactly what it sounds like, a fancy bar inside of a greenhouse. What could be better?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom and dad, Darren and Susan Harville. I would not be where I am today without their constant love and support. They came to every musical and gig I had growing up. They bought me my first guitar and started me in piano lessons when I was too young to understand the value. They have encouraged me to believe in myself when I have struggled to and have always taught me to never give up. I could not be more grateful for them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katharville_/

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6A7BSRFDVy8byUYU3Olwa4?si=cpqU8Vx6R8Wv0Aj1VmpdJA TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katharville?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc