Rising Music Star Katherine Dines On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Eden Gold
Believe in yourself and your unique gift. There will always be others who are better or worse than you are. With so much phenomenal talent in the entertainment industry, world, it’s easy to compare your work to others and to just give up and stop trying. I have done that three times during my career and learned that the only reason we fail is that we stop trying.
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Katherine Dines.
Katherine Dines is a songwriter, recording and teaching artist who has captivated family audiences throughout the globe since 1993, incorporating movement, global instruments, American Sign Language, stories, zany props and participation into every performance. Her 13 albums in the series known as “Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Music for Growing Families” have garnered 39 national awards and her songs have been Grammy-nominated, licensed by Disney, WalMart and Hallmark, featured on United Airlines and can be heard on family-oriented radio stations. Katherine also presents songwriting workshops and keynote addresses for early childhood and library conferences. She is a teaching artist with THINK360 Arts and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts; a judge for the International Songwriting Contest; board member of Theater Arts Festival for Youth (TAFFY); District Advocate for the Recording Academy; and board advisory chair for the Children’s Music Network.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Denver, Colorado the eldest of three children. It was quite a musical household, since my parents had met in high school while performing together in HMS Pinafore. My Dad played the banjo, piano and harmonica, and my mom, guitar. Both were native to Colorado, and my Dad’s Great Grandfather, (so my Great Great) Benjamin Eaton, was the fourth Territorial Governor. Every morning Dad would turn on his old Victrola (turntable) and spin one of his favorite LP’s — usually hymns by Tennessee Ernie Ford, or early country songs by Grandpa Jones. The booming music filled the whole house. Any family road trip, included all of us learning or singing Barbershop Harmony. And for their friends’ special occasions, my parents made up funny lyrics to familiar songs. Although I played by ear, and managed to fool the instructor by pretending I was reading the sheet music, I was still forced to take piano lessons from a woman who had very bad breath and clicked her long red fingernails on every key.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?
I suppose it started “right out of the box.” Mom said I had a wooden rocking horse and would rock and sing songs before I could talk. Dad taught me to play “Chopsticks” when I was 3 or 4 and I remember inventing lots of different versions. When I turned 15, Mom gave me her old Martin guitar. She had a short bout of cancer, and ended up losing a major nerve in her left arm, so wasn’t able to play. Harry Tuft of Denver Folklore Center helped me exchange it for a beautiful 0–21, which I still own but rarely play. Then spent 3 summers working odd jobs to pay my Dad back the extra money it had cost. Learning other peoples’ songs had never occurred to me, so I just started writing my own. Up until the 8th grade my childhood was pretty sheltered. Then I saw the Rolling Stones at the Denver Coliseum and got to meet them back stage. Naturally, my first love HAD to be a Rock and Roll musician! The two of us played as a duo then in a small folk band between the rock sets in high school. We went to dozens of concerts. When I first heard Joni Mitchell, I was absolutely awestruck. Her wonderful lyrics, pure voice and unique guitar tunings were definitely my first conscious inspiration.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I was asked to do three international tours with the US Department of Defense. On the first, I arrived in Ramstein, Germany — totally jet-lagged — and was asked if I would come to the hospital and play songs to the first three soldiers who were injured on the front lines of the Iraqi war. Since I grew up in the 60’s as a flower child, singing to wounded soldiers was more emotional than I could have imagined. I cried while I sang the only soothing songs I could think of… lullabies. Five years later, I was performing in CA. After my concert, a man and his young daughter came up and asked if I remembered him. He told me he was one of the three wounded soldiers, and how special that lullaby had meant to him. I’ll never forget that.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Since I play by ear, I have never taken the time to read or write music, but wanted people to believe I could, so pretended. Once, in the studio making an album with some A players, I wrote down a series of chord progressions and notated a melody thinking they would be able to “get” the song after hearing me play it. When they tried to follow my written score, the secret was out, and thankfully, everyone had a good laugh. I learned not to ever fool a true musician.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Sooooo many! My parents. My music teacher in grade school, Johanna Reeves. John Braheney, who started Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase, and spent hours critiquing my very first lyrics. J. Aaron Brown, a publisher who insisted I could write lullabies, even thought I said I didn’t think I could. Two teachers who said “We love your work. It’s perfect for our classrooms and so educational!” Children who say, “Play that again.”
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I just completed my 13th album
“Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta SEASONS” and am excited about integrating the songs into videos. I am also creating books for children from my song lyric, which are really story songs. The first one is currently being illustrated by Lizzette Duvenage, a talented Canadian from Ukraine. I am also interested in exploring music from indigenous peoples — particularly Native American cultures and am exploring a project with several tribal members to see if I, as a white woman, can create something WITH them that would not be considered appropriating.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
- The entertainment industry has always been a major driving force for cultural awareness, human interaction and evolution. Thanks to the internet, we are finally able to experience the bigger world beyond our own bubbles.
- There is so much untapped musical waiting to be discovered — literally in every cultural and socio-economic corner.
- It seems that the entertainment industry is finally committed to creating greater awareness and appreciation for other cultures, emphasizing diversity, and fairly representing all people in order to help equalize opportunities for all.
As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?
When I see the current obstacles that children, teachers and parents face in our world today, that’s all the motivation I need for creating songs that will help them grow physically, mentally, and emotionally.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1 . Stay true to yourself and follow your heart. After I was offered my first recording contract, the label assigned me to a manager who wanted me to lie about my age, change my hair and write pop songs. It was so exciting to be signed to a major label back then, I almost agreed to everything and plenty of people thought I should do it. Looking back I am so glad I didn’t.
2 . Take risks! Be fearless about whatever twists and turns your path takes. The path is often unknown. I moved to Nashville to write country and pop songs and wouldn’t have found my bliss or a niche in the children’s music market had I refused to write lullabies.
3 . The people you criticize might be career game-changers someday. When I first moved to Nashville I listened to and made critical remarks about many songs. After two of my own were recorded on a Grammy-nominated album, I turned down opportunities to co-write with many of the songwriters whose work I had criticized. Today, those same songwriters have songs at the top of the charts, and are music supervisors for major films and television.
4 . Do the show — no matter what. I was flown to perform at Spoleto — my first major festival in Charleston, SC. It was 102 degrees and 100% humidity and no one was anywhere near the stage! They were all hiding 75 yards away in some trees. The woman who had booked me, said, “Oh — you don’t have to do the show if you don’t want to. It’s so terribly hot and I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t do it.” I didn’t do it and I’m pretty sure that’s why I was never asked to return. Another time I pulled up to a gig and the marquis mis-marked me as Hunk-ta-Bunk-Ta Hip Hop. I didn’t want to do it, but did — my children’s songs during Happy Hour at a loud bar full of young soldiers. It ended up being a total blast!
5 . Believe in yourself and your unique gift. There will always be others who are better or worse than you are. With so much phenomenal talent in the entertainment industry, world, it’s easy to compare your work to others and to just give up and stop trying. I have done that three times during my career and learned that the only reason we fail is that we stop trying.
Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?
My creative process is mostly one of spontaneity. My best work seems more like a gift that comes both to and through me. Lyrics, music and rhythm happen simultaneously, and when I work with children in classrooms, I tend to sing songs and directions or chant them as rhythmic phrases rather than speak them.
I cannot wait to begin collaborations, particularly as I venture into creating musical projects that are more global and targeted to broader audiences.
Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?
I have been told that my music embraces and involves children with it, rather than preaches and performs at or to them. I also try to be seen as a real human person rather than a cartoon character. That way, I hope children will be more empowered to become themselves.
How do you connect with your audience?
I try to be who I am without walls or fronts. I genuinely love and enjoy being with people of all shapes, sizes, cultures and abilities and hope that love keeps shining.
With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?
Hiking and immersing myself in the natural marvels of this world are essential outlets. Being an avid Hatha Yoga practitioner and teacher for 27 years has given me the gift of balance, flexibility, focus, strength and peace. Family and friends are a big part of my life, along with cooking, reading, adventure travel, entertaining and giving back to the community. I also try to stay off-screen and spend less time on social media although I’m not convinced that is a good career decision these days.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would promote more cross- cultural unity and environmental awareness and change.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I love film and have always been a fan of Stephen Spielberg. Plus, both Barack and Michelle O’Bama. I so admired their grace as leaders of our nation, and the wonderful films they are producing today.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
My website: https://hunktabunkta.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HunktabunktaMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunktabunkta/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-dines-0480148/
YouTub: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCezFmnZlWolrLl3vwZGkLcg
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.
Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold
