Kaitlin McGaw
Photo compliments of media local.com and LAPhotoBooth.net
Meet WCS Board Member, Kaitlin McGaw
How did you get your start?
Although I had been singing and writing all of my life, I didn't start writing songs until I moved to San Francisco and worked with an amazing artist/vocal coach, Dwayne Calizo. After I started writing, I honed the craft studying with Bonnie Hayes, and started collaborating with a lot of different musicians to find my voice. Collaborating and working with teachers is a great way to not only start and improve your skills, but also to network in your community. This is also why West Coast Songwriters is so crucial for our development and support of one another as songwriters.
Who are your major influences?
Vocal performance as a songwriter: Annie Lennox - the way she sings conveys the message and stories of her songs in the most breathtaking ways. Harmony: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Prolific: Dolly Parton and Ryan Adams. I still need to figure out how she writes so many songs. Ryan I heard writes a song a day. Business: P Diddy. Say what you will, but he is fearless and incredible in my book. And all together, I greatly admire Kara Dioguardi.
What sparks your passion to write?
For some reason, I start hearing melodies when I'm inconveniently doing other things. Driving, walking, and showers seem to end up in song ideas that I quickly try to record into my phone, and then vet and develop at the piano and in the studio thereafter. The worst moment for the muse is actually right before bed or in the middle of the night, because man, the urge to "remember it tomorrow and just sleep" always results in lost songs!
Muse aside, what sparks me to write is pure emotion from the soul. What inspires me to record and share the songs is touching people's lives - whether it be a pop dance song, a love song or an educational song played in kindergartens around the country, being a part of the music that makes life richer for all of us is an honor.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
John Legend
Where do you find the best place to write your songs, at home, restaurant, coffee house etc…?
Walking for ideas, and at home for finishing. Ideally I'd be working in collaboration with my cowriter and producer in the studio, tracking and mixing as we develop the song. It's both efficient and forces songs to be finished. When they get too precious and unrecorded.... it seems like the songs are in purgatory. I'd rather see them live their creativity to the fullest.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Producing and writing for TV in children's music and pop.
What made you join WCS?
WCS is the premiere organization for bettering yourself as a songwriter and performer. Since it provides 100 options to do so in the calendar year, why would you not be a member?
What made you decide to join the Board?
After 5 years of attending the conference and going to events, it was a wonderful step to step up my volunteerism and join the Board. I love helping others achieve their dreams, and being a part of the organization that does that in the Bay Area was an honor.
