Such is the case with Kate Schettler. Kate Schettler is the new face and voice of Gospel/Christian rock. She is the proverbial small-town-girl with a big-city-voice and worldly presence who is currently stomping her name all over the Christian rock genre.
After having several personal epiphany's and revelations along the way, sometimes interrupting her own ideas of life's calling, Kate finally settled into what God wanted her to do, spread her messages of faith through her voice. And perform she does.

Kate has had the opportunity to perform with the genre's leading singer and songwriter, Michael W. Smith. In addition, she has performed with numerous other musicians on the song and video, "Come Together Now", an effort to raise money for victims in Haiti.

With a soulful, sinewy voice, and deep penetrating lyrics that hint at the blues musicians she respects, to the power chords of alternative rock she grew up on, Kate Schettler masterfully juxtaposes several genres into a big explosive sound. Her lyrics and melodies whip around you, delicately piercing your heart. They offer relief and a place to feel safe to feel the emotions you have bottle deep inside. Providing of course you want to feel them.

Blessed with both talent and beauty, Kate is true to her calling of being an uplifting voice in the middle of the noise pollution surrounding us. She is not without her own trials though; through the struggles and self-doubt she encounters along the way, she often emerges victorious, bringing with her even stronger messages of faith.

Kate isn't boxing herself into the corner by only performing in the Gospel/Christian music genres. Recently, she has been expanding her opportunities to include Country, a genre that also allows for personal narratives and deep messages of faith.
antiMusic caught up with Kate Schettler for a glimpse into her soul.

antiMusic: What are your favorite tracks to perform live?

Kate: Hmmm… from the EP? Probably Jordan and He's Always Been. Jordan is a fun gospel tune that lends itself to improvisation, so it's fun for the band. He's Always Been is a throwback to 80's rock (which I grew up on)… I can really get into the bridge section especially.

antiMusic: What track is the most challenging to play?

Kate: Spirit because of all the key changes. There are three or four I think…

antiMusic: Do the songs you write and perform speak about specific instances in your life?

Kate: Yes, the songs reflect seasons of personal and spiritual growth. Writing songs is a form of therapy for me… helps me make sense of the emotions I am wrestling with and allows me to grieve losses.

antiMusic: What is the most meaningful song you perform?

Kate: Right now, it would be a new song that I wrote a couple months ago called "Precious Things."

antiMusic: What is your overall message you want to get across with your music?

Kate: I want people to feel uplifted, encouraged and hopeful while they listen to my songs… yet at the same time, I want the music to touch people in a deep, real place that allows them to grieve or hurt or laugh or cry or whatever they need at that moment.

antiMusic: Talk to me about how you came to be a Gospel/Christian singer?

Kate: I started out in musical theater in high school and college. Then, during my sophomore year of college, I had a powerful conversion experience and devoted myself totally to ministry for over ten years. During those years, God began to give me songs and a desire to pursue a career as an artist/songwriter.

antiMusic: You mentioned that you heard your calling while you were away at school. Can you talk more about that?

Kate: Sure. As a teenager, I had big ambitions about being on Broadway and in film. But mid-way through my four-year musical theater degree program, God interrupted my plans with a "divine stop" (as my pastor would say). Theater and performance had become idols in my life, and I heard God's voice say, "Do you love me as much as you love theater? Am I first in your life?" In response to this call, I surrendered my life and career ambitions to Jesus. Placing everything on an altar, I chose to follow Him completely…

antiMusic: Were you always interested in Gospel/Christian music?

Kate: Not necessarily. As a teenager, I listened to lots of classic rock, R&B, alternative rock, classical music and artsy, new age stuff like Enya and Tori Amos. I also listened to a lot of Gershwin, jazz, and blues music after I got into musical theater. My passion for gospel/CCM music really didn't started until I became a Christian in college.

antiMusic: When did you feel that this was absolutely what you should be doing with your life?

Kate: I completed a degree in education with a music concentration in 2001. Then I taught elementary school for three years. It dawned on me one day while I was sitting in my first-grade classroom cutting out doggie ears for a student project: "Cutting out doggie ears isn't what God has called me to do!" So I moved to Indianapolis the following year and did a church music degree before heading to Nashville in 2006.

antiMusic: Who have you had the opportunity to perform with?

Kate: I have been privileged to perform with some awesome country and Christian artists here in Nashville. This past Saturday, I sang in a line-up of arists with Billy Dawson, The Byrds, Eric Heatherly Band, and Winfield's Locket. Back in January, I was honored to sing under the direction of Michael W. Smith as a contributing artist for his "Come Together Now" video to benefit Haiti. Other artists in the ensemble included Wynnona Judd, The Oak Ridge Boys, Selah, Casting Crowns, Nicolle C. Mullen, Newsboys, Matthew West, and many other amazing artists.

antiMusic: Talk a little bit about the Help for Haiti performance. How did you get involved?

Kate: A musician friend of mine named Dale Dudley invited me to be a part of the ensemble. It was totally a God-thing! I enjoyed every moment of the recording and met some incredible people. And it felt great to do something to help provide relief to Haiti.

antiMusic: What was it like performing with the other musicians?

Kate: Thrilling! The talent in the room was overwhelming. Michael W. Smith was a perfect gentleman and a skilled conductor… it was a pleasure performing under his direction.

antiMusic: What has been the most memorable performance for you? Why?

Kate: Last summer I had the opportunity to lead worship for a chapel service at a maximum security women's prison here in Nashville. Seeing the response of the women to God's presence during the service totally changed my life. It was incredible!

antiMusic: Do you find it difficult when you first meet people to tell them that you are a Christian singer? Can you give an example of when it was hard to explain?

Kate: I actually love telling people that I am a Christian singer! To me, it's an honor to represent Christ and I look for opportunities to share my faith. Plus, here in Nashville, many country and pop artists are Christians as well so everyone is pretty receptive to Christian music.

antiMusic: Do you feel that your faith is strengthened with your singing?

Kate: Absolutely! Revelation 12:11 says that we overcome by the word of our testimony; for me, singing is way to tell people about God's love and grace.

antiMusic: Would you consider switching genres or musical performance tastes to appeal to a broader market?

Kate: I am currently writing some country and pop tunes for fun, so I'm not ruling out the possibility of doing some crossover into other genres. There's a lot of common ground between Christian and country music, for example, so I can share my faith and a values with whatever audience I sing for.

antiMusic: Do you feel pressured to live a certain way or model your life a certain way to coincide with your music?

Kate: That's a great question! I feel challenged to represent Christ at all times by modeling integrity and character… but not just as an artist. I feel that way about everything from how I treat the grocery store clerk to how I honor my loved ones on a daily basis. Yet I also recognize that there is only one perfect One: Jesus. He has already paid the price for my sins! He did for me what I could never have done, so I try to just rest in the Cross and not expect perfection from myself.

antiMusic: Did you ever have a moment of doubt that this is what you were called to do? How did you handle it?

Kate: All the time! Everyone feels discouraged now and then. My weakest moments are times of personal failure… like when I don't have good turn-out for a show, for example, or when I forget the words to a song! The remedy is usually a good night's sleep, prayer, and great friends who keep me going with positive, encouraging words.

antiMusic: Do you find that people from your past react to you differently when they discover your talent? If so, how?

Kate: Not really… can't think of any instances at the moment. I don't think I'm that well-known yet!

antiMusic: What has been your biggest self-imposed obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Kate:
Fear, I think. Prayer is really the only thing that works for me in overcoming my fears.

antiMusic: What are your future plans with the album? Do you plan on touring to support the album?

Kate: I've been touring this past year and for now I am playing mostly local shows in Nashville. Getting started on some demos of new songs this summer, so hopefully a new project is in the works for the coming year.

antiMusic: How has your self-titled debut album been received?

Kate: It's been a mixed bag, really. The church community has embraced it whole-heartedly, but the Christian music industry here has been lukewarm about it. I have grown considerably as a writer since the EP was released a year ago, so I'm ready to move forward with new stuff…

antiMusic: Talk a little bit about the Christian market and what it means to try and get your music out to the masses?

Kate: Right now, indie artists have tons of marketing resources available to them. The days of waiting around for a label's attention are over! The music industry at large is going through lots of changes, so counting on a label to get your voice heard is a long shot at best. The key is getting out there and taking every opportunity to promote your own stuff…

antiMusic: Are you actively seeking representation?

Kate: Yes!

antiMusic: If you could work with any producer, who would it be?

Kate: Wow, I've never thought about that. Maybe Bernie Herms?

antiMusic: Who is your dream performance with?

Kate: Celine I think. It could happen!

antiMusic: Nashville is filled to the brim with talent. You can't walk without tripping over an incredible talent. How has living in Nashville helped shape your music?

Kate: Being around talent challenges me to keep working on my craft and to put my best foot forward as an artist. There's no room for slackers here!

antiMusic: Who writes your songs?

Kate: In the past I pretty much wrote everything myself, but now I am with other writers including Nathan Brumley, Mark Heimermann, and Jimme Allen.

antiMusic: What is your inspiration?

Kate: Prayer, the Bible, books, nature walks, pain, life, relationships, other artists and writers…

antiMusic: Who do you respect as musicians?

Kate: Wow, there are so many names I could throw out there to answer this question! I think I will just say that I respect musicians who not only have talent, but who also have class and integrity. A few people that come to mind are Toby Mac, Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant, Christy Nockels, Norah Jones, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, I could go on and on!

You can check out Kate's EP on her artist's page, www.KateSchettler.com. Her self-titled debut album, which was released in late 2009, is available through CD Universe.