Kate Sikora

a page from my journal (age 7)

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:50:51 -0400

a page from my journal (age 7)

Cutting Edge Japan!

Sat, 12 May 2012 02:09:00 -0400

(photo by Kaburaki Kimiko)

I am honored to be invited to play this months event, ニッポン最先端×鉄ロックフェスティバル!!! 其の２, (Japanese Rock Fest “Cutting Edge Music #2”)

5/23/12 @ Live & Pub Gee-ge in Shibuya, Tokyo

大村みさこ(大阪) / 黒沼英之 / スーダラ少年 / Kate Sikora */ 杉恵ゆりか

ADV ¥1500 / DOOR ¥1800 + 1DRINK ¥500

OPEN 18:30 / START 19:00

go here for details! http://www.gee-ge.net/

*Since Hory, our bassist, will be away, we are happy to have Kanae join us for the show

If you can’t make this event… please come check us out at Shibuya 7th Floor next month 6/28! http://7th-floor.net/

Show updates!

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:29:31 -0400

Better late than never I always say… and I’m often late! ごめなさい！

For those in the Tokyo area, I’m playing the following show/s…

4/26 @ Shibuya 7th Floor http://7th-floor.net/

2012/04/26(木) TODAY!!

M☆N☆T 20120426

OPEN 18:30 START 19:00
前売￥2000 当日￥2300 （共にドリンク代別）

メール予約は各バンドの他、info@mxnxt.comでも受付中！

（目当てのバンド/枚数/氏名/をご記入下さい。）

＜INFO＞ M☆N☆T http://mxnxt.com/

ACT:

The Harpy’s / Kate Sikora（バンド編成） / / / / / SUICIDE ECSTACY

詳細を見る

as usual, if you tell me you’re coming, I’ll put you on the discount ticket list!

There are some pretty exciting things in the works as we speak… STAY TUNED for updates!

PS. Yep, still haven’t fixed the website

Hisashiburi! (Long time no talk)

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:44:00 -0500

Hey folks,

As you can see, I still haven’t fixed my website. Let’s just say things have been a little busy around here and by “here” I mean that I’m back in Japan. Other than a short trip home for the holidays in December, I’m planning to stay in Japan for a while. This is good because then I’ll finally turn “Aparto” into the full length loveliness it was meant to be.. sure, I sound confident, but I really am proud of the “work” producer/engineer David Naughton, my amazing band mates, and I have done. There are 2 possibly 3 more songs raring to go and I’ll be heading up to snow country to work on them soon.

In the meantime, if you are in the Tokyo area, I’ve got 2 shows lined up. The first is a super duper last minute show (I found out last night) TONIGHT at Shibuya’s 7th Floor.

2011/12/06(火) TODAY!!

[ M☆N☆T 2011.12.6 ]

OPEN 18:30 START 19:00
前売2000円当日2300円（共にドリンク代別¥500）

（INFO）mxnxt.com/

※ 出演者に変更がありました。マミミフォークソングがメンバーの体調不良でキャンセルとなり、
kate sikoraが出演いたします。

ACT:
BOTH CHEESE / treeslounge / 小田切冴樹（Fold Music)/ Kate Sikora

詳細を見る

Next show will be with the full band! Horikoshi Takeshi on bass, Kishida Yoshinori on drums, and Minmin holding down the keys…

2012.1.5.木.

Spoiled and Nostalgic vol.2 〜New Year Party〜

-
The Watanabes　
Kate Sikora　
メトロオンゲン　
グーミ　
-
op 18：00　st 19：00　・　前 1,500　当 2,000　+1D 500
-
) インターネット予約　〔 11月30日0:00～12月31日24:00迄〕
) 電話予約　〔 11月30日～〕

この投稿は 2012年1月30日月曜日 2:54 AM に Schedule カテゴリーに公開されました。この投稿へのコメントは RSS 2.0 フィードで購読することができます。現在コメントは受け付けておりませんが、ご自分のサイトからトラックバックを送ることはできます。

月見ル君想フ公式TWITTER はコチラ

Live!

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:34:12 -0400

Apologies! Somehow I screwed up the nice website @Bill Shouldis made for me and I haven’t had the time to set things right. For now, I will simply use this space to let those who care know about upcoming shows, life in Japan, odd ramblings and such.

My gig calendar has been pretty slow over the summer due to my wedding, travels, and all around busy-ness. I’m eager to get cracking writing some new tunes.. adding some new songs to my repertoire so I can officially officially release the music I’m so proud to have made with David Naughton and the cast of fantastically talented Japanese musical friends who contributed to “Aparto.” I am also happy to announce that I have some shows (aka ライブ) lined up for my happy return to Japan!

10-30-11 TBA

11-5-11 @ nanahari w/ Hory (bass), Minmin (keys), & Kishida (drums)

Mamimi Fouksong, and VIDEOTAPE MUSIC

1-5-12 @ 青山月見ル君想フ with The Watanabes

don't say sayonara...

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:12:26 -0400

Whew! I’m cleaning out closets and planning yet another transcontinental move to Japan. This time is for realz. In just over a week I’ll be marrying my favorite Nihonjin. In just a few more weeks I’ll be saying “See ya later” to New Jersey’s yummy bagels, cheap beer, road ragers, Snook-a-likes, yoga classes, open mics, autumn campfires, my Loyal We band mate, my amazing family and friends, and my kitties :( This makes me nostalgic and sad (but not so much over the road ragers and Snookies). My heavy heart feels a lot lighter though when I think about the wonderfulness in store when I go back to Japan. I’ve already got two shows lined up with my talented friends, Kishida, Hory, & Minmin…

11/5 @ Nanahari in Hatchobori

and 1/5 @ Tsukimiru Kimi Omou with The Watanabes

I look forward to making music in Japan again, catching up with friends, eating oishi tabemono, nomihodai, and being a good shufu (housewife) haha! See you soon Japan!

East Coast US friends.. stay tuned for news on a possible sayonara show!

JUST DO IT / A small initiative to help...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:50:54 -0400

JUST DO IT / A small initiative to help Japan

http://laforetsansnomforjapan.bandcamp.com/album/just-do-it-a-small-initiative-to-help-japan

I’m so pleased to be a part of this worthy cause! Jérémie Grandsenne from La foret sans nom put together this impressive collection of music to support Japan, more specifically, the pregnant women and young children and newborns most directly affected by the earthquake in Japan last March. Not only is the cause a worthy one but the artists contributing to the tracks are pretty amazing! My Loyal We friend, Lindsay Lueders, has a track from her Vilorena project and the Loyal We has a track on there as well. Check it out.. your ears will thank you.

come witness natural reverb in the Church for All Nations…...

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:57:22 -0400

come witness natural reverb in the Church for All Nations… we promise to dress appropriately

We're All In This Together

Mon, 16 May 2011 13:56:22 -0400

My very talented lovely friend, Gabby Young, had this idea to re-record her song “We’re All In This Together” with voices from around the world in support of Japan after the tragic quake and tsunami in March. I’m happy to have lent my own voice to the cause… Check it out on itunes! All proceeds will go to the Japan Relief Fund. Ba ba ba ba ba ba baaaaa!

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/song-for-japan-were-all-in/id433404517

A Night (and a cause) to Remember

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:22:00 -0400

Thanks to Clean-cut.org here are some great photos from the Bands for Japan benefit at Maxwell’s!

http://clean-cut.org/photos/photos-bands-for-japan-benefit-maxwells-hoboken-nj-4-14-11/

Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 13:58:53 -0400

I just wanted to let everyone know that we raised $600 for the victims of the tsunami/earthquake in Fukushima prefecture at our “Bands for Japan Benefit” on Thursday. The money will be donated to the Japan Society which will go directly to the folks who need it most. http://www.japansociety.org/fund_recipients

Thank you, bands, for coming out to play and for being so gosh darn awesome! I hope to play with each and every one of you again. Thank you friends and fans for rocking out on a week night! We feel warm and fuzzy inside and we hope to do something like this again soon!

much love,

Kate

Hope to see you all there supporting great bands and a great...

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:57:07 -0400

Hope to see you all there supporting great bands and a great cause!

Featured in the Star Ledger!

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:56:13 -0400

Featured in the Star Ledger!:

I gotta hand it to Tris McCall… the man knows how to make me sound coherent!

Up and Coming....

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 19:07:00 -0400

I just wanted to share with you an event that the Loyal We (for those who don’t know, the Loyal We is my band with the ever-lovely Lindsay Lueders) is hosting to benefit the people of Japan. The Loyal We considers Japan our second home since that is where our friendship and band was born. We have many friends there and can’t begin to imagine the way it has impacted and will continue to impact this beautiful country in the years to come. “Jersey For Japan” is our way of showing Japan that we love her and will do what we can to help out. So far we’ve got a great venue and a few incredible bands lined up. We’re looking for 1 or 2 more bands to make this night as successful as can be and we’re also looking for a worthy place to donate the funds. All ticket sales will directly aid Japan…. More updates to come!

Love,
Kate

The Loyal We, The Roadside Graves, Ohnomoon and more!

Thursday 4/14 @ Maxwell’s

1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ

show time: TBA Tickets: $10

http://www.maxwellsnj.com/

Song For Japan

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:44:08 -0400

With all that is happening in Japan right now, my loved ones who are trying to get back to some sense of normalcy, the people trying to deal with their tragic losses… it’s hard for me to even think about it without tearing up. I’ve donated to the Red Cross and I’m in the process of planning a benefit concert with The Loyal We for Japan, our second home. A wonderful friend of mine, the talented Gabby Young, has presented another opportunity for musicians around the world to lend their voices in support of Japan. I’m so thrilled to be a part of this venture and I hope folks out there will join in the refrain “We’re All In This Together!” Go here for more information on how to get involved… http://gabbyyoungandotheranimals.com/blog/song-for-japan/

Featured on New Beats!

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 22:19:00 -0500

Featured on New Beats!:

http://newbeats.com/2011/01/18/features-an-interview-with-kate-sikora/

By Way of Japan: An Interview with New Jersey-Based Singer-Songwriter Kate Sikora
by David Chiu

It is not often that you hear about a singer-songwriter from New Jersey who teaches at a school in Japan. But that’s what characterizes the unique life story of emerging artist Kate Sikora of Boonton, New Jersey so far. One of the highlights from her time in the Land of the Rising Sun happened in 2009 playing the Rookie-A-Go-Go stage at Fuji Rock.

“I didn’t know at the time, but I was the first foreigner to play that particular stage,” she says. “It’s pretty easy to be oblivious of where I stand in the music industry over there because I am, essentially, illiterate in Japanese.”

This young performer has recorded two records so far, Grace in Rotation, which was released in 2005, and her recent six-song EP Aparto. Her experiences in Japan plays a role in her music, which draws on various styles and moods—from stripped-down folk to garagey rock–but has in common a melodic indie pop undercurrent. “I’m inspired by the people, sights, sounds, and smells there,” she says. “I’m still discovering it. Being far from familiarity and nostalgia are themes that come up a lot in my more recent songs.”

As she tells it, Sikora hails from a musical family and would listen to the music of her dad such as the Stones and the Doors. “Later on, my older brother would have band practices in our basement and the guys would leave their instruments at our house,” she recalls. “I used to sneak down and play their instruments when they weren’t around. My musical tastes were very much shaped by early 90’s alternative bands like The Breeders, Liz Phair, Hole, Helium, Nirvana, Mazzy Star.”

At age 12, Sikora got an acoustic guitar; four years later she performed at a local café and was the singer of a progressive rock band. She admitted to being a shy performer at the time. “At first, I was really awkward on stage but, eventually, sharing the stage with others helped me to get over my shyness. I’ve always joked about wanting “to be a rock star” but I think of myself more as a songwriter. I’ve had some pretty great performance and recording experiences which keep building up my confidence to do more.”

During a point in her life when she was trying to find some direction, a friend of hers, who had returned from the school where he taught, told Sikora about his experiences there. It piqued her interest. That same friend of Sikora later got her a job at the school and thus began her Japan adventure.

“Before I left for Japan,” she says, “a really great Japanese indie band, Apartment, found me on MySpace and invited me to play a show with them in Tokyo. That show really set things in motion for me as it introduced me to a few great musicians and friends who have introduced me to other wonderful musicians, friends, labels, venues, etc. I’ve been really lucky although my first year was pretty tough trying to balance the job with performing shows. The year flew by and I went home. I realized there was so much more that I wanted to do in Japan so I went back.”

Her ties to Japan remain strong after the four years she’s spent there—Sikora is going back to Japan in the fall. Apparently the Japanese hold Western performers in very high regard—just look at Cheap Trick for example. “There are a lot of western artists touring in Japan and the astronomical ticket prices don’t seem to sway Japanese fans,” says Sikora. “Being an American living in Japan has definitely sparked more interest in my music but I haven’t quite reached Budokan status yet, ha ha!”

In addition to her own music, Sikora is also part of an act called The Loyal We with Lindsay Leuders, an old friends of hers. Together they are working on the next Loyal We album. “Lindsay mostly writes on piano and her songs are very ballad-like and metaphoric,” says Sikora. “My songs are usually written on guitar, so they tend to be more rhythmic and upbeat. For our next venture, we’ve talked about writing the songs together. I’ve never really co-written a song before so I’m looking forward to the challenge. Lately, I’ve been playing drums and percussion on some of Lindsay’s songs. It’s opening a whole other world for me.”

This past December, Sikora had the opportunity to open for Liz Phair’s show at Maxwell’s. “Opening for Liz Phair was a dream come true! I’ve always liked her honest deadpan lyrics and signature guitar playing. She was a big reason why I picked up the guitar in the first place.

“On the day of the show I was determined to play it cool and not embarrass myself in front of her. It turned out that she is really sweet in person so I didn’t have to worry so much. She came right up to me and thanked me for opening the show (and even signed my cassette tape copy of Whipsmart– I know, I’m a dork! ).”

With Japan and new musical projects on the horizon, Sikora says that she would like to get into music licensing. She adds: “I’ve been moving around quite a bit so it’s been hard to build a regular fan base in one area. I’m working on building a larger internet fan base and, hopefully, I’ll get to do more touring. Mostly, I hope to keep the ideas flowing and write good songs.”

Kate Sikora will be playing at Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair, New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 22. For information , visit http://katesikora.com/

Tapes!

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 11:50:00 -0500

In the summer of 2009, I recorded 6 songs in a sweltering attic studio in Honkugenuma, Japan. In between air conditioner breaks, going to the “indie park,” beach Chu-His, eating soba and tempura with producer/engineer David Naughton and his adorable family, and sessions with an incredible band of Japanese musician friends, “Aparto” began to take shape. With hopes for a full length album in the near future, the Aparto ep is now available on cassette and digital download via Phantom Signals. Click on the image to listen and download!

Time Machine

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 10:48:30 -0500

I wish I could go back in time and tell my 12 year old self about this!

After several gleeful dances around the kitchen table and some rockin’ practices with my impromptu band, I’m happy to announce that I’m opening for Liz Phair this 12/12 at Maxwell’s. At that time, I’ll also be releasing a little EP, “Aparto,” I recorded in the hot breathless summer that was 2009 in Japan. For those driving the hooptie with the cassette player intact, you’re in luck! This release is on tape baby! For those a little more “with” the times, you’ll be pleased to see a nifty little download card inside. For those who love cats, like me, this photo is for you…

Life is good. Let's shop!

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:30:29 -0500

Come celebrate the Montclair Anthropologie store’s 1 year anniversary this Thursday 11/18 with me! I’ll be singing and strumming while you shop (and eat! food will be donated by Whole Foods) 10% of sales will be donated to the Montclair Art Museum so you don’t have to feel (too) guilty about buying that cute frilly frock or decorative door knob!

Anthropologie

470 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, NJ 07042

7pm-9pm

The Loyal We @ Bait & Tackle 11-06-10

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:35:34 -0500

The Loyal We @ Bait & Tackle 11-06-10:

The Loyal We, also known as Kate Sikora and Lindsay Lueders, played a most intimate show at the Red Hook Bait & Tackle last Saturday, November 6. These New York-based lasses, who met several years ago in Tokyo, assembled a memorable set of dreamy, melodic ditties. Kate’s songs like “Still Quiet” and “The Counting Song” range from poppy to grittier 90’s-inspired rock, while Lindsay’s songs like “Mr. Burgundy” and “The Grating” are darker piano-driven ballads. Surrounded by the bar’s taxidermy and nautical décor, their first of two sets was disturbed only by the fact that their volumes weren’t loud enough. Once everything was turned up, the sound of The Loyal We filled the bar and they proved loyal indeed, complimenting each other’s styles to create a harmonious and hypnotizing resonance for a jovial and attentive crowd.

Below you can listen to “The Counting Song” from their debut album Homes which is out via Japanese label, Contrarede, which is also home to Coco Rosie, Gang Gang Dance, and The Corin Tucker Band.

by Kerry Breen

Photos by Bill Shouldis