NO ‘PLAN B’ FOR UP AND COMING MUSO

THERE is no backup plan for talented local musician Katie Thorne.

The 25-year-old has just completed her first year at Boston’s prestigious performing arts academy, Berklee College of Music, where she is studying a double undergraduate degree majoring in Contemporary Writing and Production and Songwriting.

Prior to Berklee, Ms Thorne did a double degree of music and science at Macquarie University in Sydney before deciding to dedicate herself entirely to her creative outlet.

“When I started out at Macquarie Uni I did a double degree of music and science, and I still am interested in environmental geology and marine geology, but eventually I came to the conclusion that for me to really have a crack at my music, I had to have no Plan B,” she told Dubbo Photo News.

“I’m always going to be doing music, but at this point, there is no backup plan. If it all fell apart, and sometimes things do, then I guess I’ll figure it out from there, but this is what I want to do so I’ve got to put everything into it.”

Refusing to be put in a box, Ms Thorne, who sings, plays the piano and guitar, struggles to categorise her style by genre.

“It’s a bit of a mix really, I guess I usually say bluesy, soul or R&B but I grew up listening to a lot of music, so I pull from a lot of different genres,” Ms Thorne said.

“I know a lot of people like to put you into a box so they can figure out what they are listening to, but I just love so many different genres so I can’t really be pinned down.”

And while her long-term goal is to write, produce and perform all of her own material, Ms Thorne admits she has a soft spot for song writing.

“Initially I felt a bit nervous about it (song writing), but I got kind of addicted to telling strangers my secrets. It’s quite a thrill and I feel like I communicate via (my songs) rather than normal conversation,” she said.

“I always feel a bit awkward in regular interactions but when I’m singing my songs, I can say things that I would usually be really embarrassed about – it gives me a bit of power.”

Back in town for the American summer break, Ms Thorne has spent the last three months on her family farm and working at Dubbo café, Alchemy, to earn some extra cash.

“It’s really important for me to stay connected to my roots,” she said.

“I talk to my family almost every day when I am away, but it’s been so good to come home and spend time with them on the farm and work at the café.

“It’s tough earning anything overseas with visas and things, so I’m doing as much as I can before I head back.”

Next week, Ms Thorne is jetting off to see another part of the world, completing her next semester of study at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain.

But before she heads off for another 12 months, Ms Thorne is treating her home town

to a special performance.

z An Evening With Katie – a free, intimate affair – will be held on Friday, August 23, at Lazy River Estate from 5.30pm.