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Katie Armiger
Katie Armiger – Come Play With Fire… You Won’t Get Hurt
by Danielle Speiss
Meet talented country singer Katie Armiger. I am glad I did. She’s a very pretty, strong willed, girly girl currently touring to promote her fourth album Fall Into Me. This sweet young lady has a penchant for fancy dresses and old school country classics. She also has a variety of songs ranging from vulnerable ballads to edgy modern country tunes. It’s just the way a lady should be… offering the right mix, just to keep you guessing.
“Safe” and “Okay Alone” are two beautiful ballads with delicate but strong, mature vocals. “Better in a Black Dress” and “Playin’ With Fire” are her singles – both a bit riskier and more contemporary. Then there is the fun and catchy “Black and White.” These are just a few of the songs she has written (or co-written). Of her long repertoire she already has five singles that made the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. But it’s not only her music that’s been noticed. Armiger also garnered the number one spot by her fans in Country Weekly‘s “Hottest Bachelorette” issue two years in a row.
This summer Armiger will be making the rounds of music festivals and country fairs. She will be joining the likes of Thompson Square, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church, Big & Rich and many more.
Not only will she be busy performing across the country, Armiger is also busy promoting Pastry as their newest brand ambassador. Pastry is a lifestyle line of apparel, accessories and footwear for junior girls. Katie is the first country singer to be chosen as a face for Pastry, joining the current celebrity lineup of Cody Simpson, Alli Simpson, Madison Pettis, Jessica Jarrell, Coco Jones and others. I had the privilege of spending the day with Armiger on the set of a Pastry photo shoot for their 2013 fall campaign. She was gracious and kind to all during the long, hot day in Topanga Canyon above Malibu. Armiger struck me as a very feminine and nice young woman that would be a great role model for her fans.
Armiger graciously took the time to speak with me again last week, while she had a brief stop at home in Nashville. Then she was off on the road again to continue her tour.
How did you get involved with Pastry Shoes?
It was through my manager and then Laura from CAA (Creative Artists Agency). They just kept talking. I know that Pastry kept talking to them and they’re like let’s take her – meaning me – to New York and have her meet the whole crew and see if it would be a good fit. It was. Everybody there is so incredible and great.
So you are going to be their brand ambassador for their Academy Sports Stores?
That’s what the goal is. We are hoping we can work something like that out.
I notice that you seem to dress very elegantly, wearing gowns both at the Pastry photo shoot and on your Fall Into Me album cover. Is that a look you want to have?
My manager probably wishes that it wasn’t the thing that I always choose, but I am a total girly girl. I just love stuff like that, so whenever somebody goes “Hey you do you think that maybe you’d like to wear a gown?” I’m like yes.
I thought you looked so nice at the Pastry shoot in a gown and wondered if that was your style or if they selected the dress for you.
Honestly I had no clue what the wardrobe was going to be. They told me they were picking everything out. When I got there they were like: “Hope you don’t mind some of these things we picked out. If you don’t like it of course let us know.” But yeah, I love it.
How long have you been singing?
Oh gosh, I’ve been singing for twelve, thirteen years. I was adding it all up in my head.
Is singing something that came naturally or did you one day say “I’d like to do that?”
I’ve always loved singing. It’s always been what I’ve wanted to do. I’d always tell my mom that I want to sing. I want to sing. I grew up in a suburb of Houston and nobody sang. You played sports, that’s what you did. Or you could be in the band, but you didn’t sing. So I kept telling my mom that’s what I wanted to do. Finally she’s like “Okay.” We started looking in the newspaper and listening to the radio [to] find festivals or things that would be in town. We would send them my CD – or back then we would actually send them a mix tape. That’s how I started.
Was the music you were sending original songs or was it covers?
They were covers. They were like Dolly [Parton], Patsy Cline, Martina McBride… they were definitely covers.
So the traditional country female vocalist songs?
Oh yeah. I always loved listening to the old school stuff. That’s what I try to incorporate, even into my stuff now.
Did you start writing music at an early age?
I write most of my songs. On my last album I wrote all the songs. I have always written stuff, even from when I first started singing. When you first start writing you are so self-conscious. I would sing it for my mom and that was about it. Eventually they were like “No, it’s good, it’s good. You should be more confident. It sounds great.” So I would start to play it out. That’s how it all started.
Do you play any instruments with your singing?
I do for songwriting. If it’s just me. That’s typically how it happens. If I am going into a session with somebody, I’ll have something recorded down that I want to write. I don’t play in front of a lot of people, but I do play guitar.
So you don’t play guitar on stage?
No, just for songwriting.
What type of environment inspires you when writing music?
I would say definitely quiet areas. The best for me is when I’m alone. It’s typically like three AM and I’ll want to be going to sleep. I’ll be in bed and something will come to me. I know if I don’t get up now, I’m going to forget it and it’s going to be gone.
So what do you do, hop out of bed and jot it down?
I do, I do.
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