Kita Klane is a wandering, free spirit. Having lived in New York and Paris before returning home to Los Angeles, Kita has gained a perspective of the world that far surpasses her years. Being surrounded by a community of artists and fellow freethinkers helped mold Kita and let her explore her musical aspirations.
Klane draws inspiration from decades and songstresses’ past like Etta James and Billie Holiday. In listening to her songs, you can feel yourself in her shoes; you know her pain and her triumphs alike. Her voice is rich and smooth, with a bit of a twang and a vintage feel.
Klane works with long-time friend Frankie IV, who co-wrote and produced her debut EP “In Love With the Enemy.” Although, “The Enemy” was produced by Nic Harcourt, who served as KCRW’s music director and host of “Morning Becomes Eclectic” for 10 years before moving on to host the At: Guitar Center Podcast series. We caught up with Klane to discuss the project.
How has your wandering spirit and your extensive world travels played a role in the music you create?
For me, music (and life for that matter) is about staying inspired. Traveling and seeing lots of different things and places at an early age taught me that there’s a lot out there to experience and everywhere has a different pulse. I have a great fear of boredom.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you see yourself doing now?
I’d like to think I’d be baking pastries or something in some remote village in France—either that or a secret agent.
Who/what have been your biggest influences?
I fancy myself a bit of a modern torch singer and I’m hugely influenced by Etta James, Billie Holiday, and Amy Winehouse. I’ve also always listened and been inspired by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Bowie.
Who would play on a dream tour with you? (Dead or alive)
I’m torn between Frank Sinatra and John Lennon.
What do you hope to express in your music?
I write about my genuine experiences, so I hope my music captures the mood or moment of that personal experience/story/feeling I was trying to divine in the song. I think it’s cool if people identify or share in the emotion of the song (whether they’ve had a similar experience or they’re just living it through the music). It’s human, and for me, music can reach out and touch.
What is your favorite: book, musician, time period, city that you’ve lived in?
Book: “A Man Without A Country” by Kurt Vonnegut
Musician: John Lennon
Time period and city coincide: 1920s Paris
What was the process like for creating In Love With the Enemy?
The inspiration for the EP came from working on the title track “The Enemy” with Nic Harcourt as producer. Nic really made me embrace my voice and allow room in the song (“The Enemy”) for the vocals to breathe. That was the song that sent my writing in a different direction. As a new solo artist, I was able to allow my personal musical influences to more directly inspire me than in my previous work. Working on “The Enemy” was a catalyst to the remaining three tracks on the EP, which my long-time writing partner, Frankie IV and I co-produced. I knew I wanted my debut EP to genuinely reflect my stylistic influences and I poured over every bell, drum tone, etc. to make sure it felt right to me.
If you could tell your past self anything, what would it be?
“Shit takes time”…not that I’d listen.
During your down time, what are some of your favorite local haunts?
I’m a total workaholic and in studio making music 99 percent of the time, but every now and again I’ll find my way down to Hotel Cafe (where I also perform reasonably often) to catch some cool live music. I also like the vibe at the Bourgeois Pig and the Edison downtown.
What can we expect from you in 2013?
I try not to be predictable but I’m sure one could expect more music and little sleep for me in 2013.
