Unexpected Connections and Musical Journeys with Cat Ridgeway
In this engaging episode of Curious Goldfish, host Jason English interviews Cat Ridgeway, a talented singer-songwriter from Orlando, Florida. Cat recounts fascinating coincidences and stories from her career, and discusses some of her influences and experiences. Listeners will get a deep dive into Cat's musical journey, from her early days at open mics to her unique connection with the Grateful Dead's former publicist. Cat also discusses her adventures performing in Colorado, her upcoming album, and her ventures into coffee roasting. This episode highlights Cat's authentic and joyful approach to life and music, providing a refreshing contrast to the current trend of sad songs. Tune in for an inspiring and entertaining conversation filled with insights, laughter, and a celebration of creativity.
00:00 Introduction and Coincidences
02:49 Welcome to Curious Goldfish
04:17 Celebrating Cat Ridgeway
06:16 Cat's Live Performances and Fanbase
07:26 Festival Experiences and Dream Lineup
13:21 Colorado Adventures and Musical Growth
19:24 Unexpected Connections and Opportunities
27:16 Coffee Roasting Passion
34:03 Supporting Small Coffee Businesses
34:39 The Art of Brewing Coffee
36:28 First Cupping Event
36:42 Musical Beginnings and Recording
40:16 Connection with the Grateful Dead
45:10 Challenges and Triumphs in the Music Industry
49:19 Lincoln Center Performance and Touring
51:50 Songwriting Inspirations and New Record
01:06:02 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth
01:09:11 Curiosity About the Future of Music
01:17:53 Conclusion and Farewell
But yeah, just that I'm, I don't know, stuff like that.
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:I feel like happens to me.
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:Often though like we're just the weirdest
coincidences happen and it's it's to a
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:point now where I have to really believe
like the law Of attraction is very real
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:Being somewhat grounded and stuff.
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:It's still pretty nuts to watch the
stuff unfold like every time I'm like
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:it never gets old to me and I never take
it for granted cuz it's like I'll meet
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:I'll meet Gasparilla people in Colorado
and I'm just like dude, what the hell?
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:That's so cool It's yeah, and so
I just kind of stay in a state of
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:like what what what happens next
like, you know, like cliffhanger
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:Jason English (Host): Welcome to
curious goldfish, a podcast community
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:where music and curiosity come together
through interesting conversations
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:with the music makers of our world.
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:I'm your host, Jason English.
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:You can find curious goldfish and all the
major podcast and social media platforms.
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:And of course, we have all of
our content on our website.
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:Curious goldfish.
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:com.
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:You might think this episode of the
podcast has pivoted to a tribute of
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:some of the classic songs from the
:
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:the cranberries released in 1992.
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:This song represents my favorite memories
of my college years in the Midwest,
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:but this isn't an episode about that.
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:And it's not an episode
about the cranberries.
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:Instead, it's a celebration of 20
something singer, songwriter, Cat Ridgway.
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:Performing a staple from her live shows,
a thunderous cover of a classic that
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:builds on itself throughout the duration
of the song until the penultimate climax,
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:where she layers loop upon loop of
her own vocals to a resounding finish.
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:If you had your eyes closed, you'd make
yourself believe you were listening to
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:a choir of angels, but it's just her
and a live looping machine that would
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:cause Ed Sheeran to do a double take.
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:Listen for yourself,
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:but there's more to Cat
Ridgeway than covers.
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:She's achieved modest success on radio and
Americana charts with the song giving you
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:up and has collaborated with artists like
Shawn Mullins, where they co-wrote and
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:co performed a song called Give Me Love.
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:To spend time with Cat is to smile,
laugh, and have a renewed sense of
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:joy about life and the state of music.
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:A refreshing change of pace
that contradicts a time when
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:sad girl songs are all the rage.
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:If you have a chance to see
her perform live, her vocals
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:will punch you in your gut.
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:But you will head home infused by
an infectious happiness after she
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:manages to sing your sorrows away.
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:She's finalizing a new album
set to release later this year.
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:We talk about that, her dream festival
lineup, her time in Colorado this past
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:winter, and everything in between.
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:And there's a crazy Grateful Dead
connection that was instrumental
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:to her career as a musician.
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:Here's Cat Ridgeway from Orlando, Florida.
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:Let's dive in.
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:Hey Cat Ridgeway.
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:Cat Ridgeway: Oh, hey.
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:Jason English (Host): Thanks
for, thanks for joining the show.
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:Cat Ridgeway: Thanks for having me.
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:Jason English (Host): So I know you're,
you're from Orlando and I know you have
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:a huge following in Orlando, but if you
were to start a fan club, I think your
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:first chapter might be Roswell, Georgia.
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:Cat Ridgeway: I've, I
believe that wholeheartedly.
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:Y'all have been so great to us.
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:It's a kind of insane.
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:Jason English (Host): insane.
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:A lot of us have come, come to know
you through the 30 a festival done,
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:you know, down to 30 in Florida.
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:But yeah, and yesterday you're
here at the Roswell music festival.
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:And that was intentional.
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:The people that put on the show,
love you and wanted to include you.
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:So yeah, you have a big following here.
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:Cat Ridgeway: That's so cool.
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:Yeah, I really appreciate that.
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:Like y'all have no idea.
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:It's so cool to meet people.
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:And have dots connect
from different places too.
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:Like it's, it's been, that's one of the
most fun parts of having a music career.
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:Actually, when you're not on stage,
it's just people you meet and then
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:all these weird coincidences align
and it happens so frequently.
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:It's so weird.
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:Yeah.
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:Jason English (Host): That's yeah, I think
that's amazing part about music, you know?
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:Yeah.
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:Cat Ridgeway: The great
connector for sure.
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
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:No, that's great.
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:Uh, so the Roswell music festival
yesterday, do you do a lot
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:of festivals in the summer?
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah we've done a lot
through the years festivals in the summer?
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:Actually, I think it was two years
ago, we got up to Philadelphia
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:for the first time and played
Philly Folk Fest on my birthday.
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:So that was cool.
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:Um, yeah, so that was in August.
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:It was hot.
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:Um
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:But yeah, we've definitely started playing
more festivals in the past couple years.
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:And that's something I wanted to get
into because festivals are just fun.
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:They're like, everyone's in a great mood.
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:It's usually like a quick set.
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:It's like wham, bam, boom, done.
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:And then you get to just hang out and
hear a bunch of other people play.
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:Because, I don't know, as a gigging
musician, like someone who does this as
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:a job, so much of the time, you don't
have the chance to see other people play
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:or go see your friends play and stuff.
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:So if you end up on a bill with people
that you love or know, it's so much fun.
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:Um, so yeah, it's cool.
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:Jason English (Host): All right,
well, great job Yesterday.
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:Uh, the, the weather, the weather
was great for, for the most part.
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:So speaking of festivals,
I guess if you had to
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:up a line.
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:there, it doesn't have to be rhyme
or reason to it, but like, if you
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:had to put a lineup together, what,
what would those bands look like?
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:Who would, who would open
and what's, what's the order?
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:Cat Ridgeway: Oh man, well first we need
to pick who the bands are going to be but
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:to be.
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:off the bat,
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:the order.
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:in the past couple been
an act called Dijon.
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:Have you heard of Dijon?
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:So, they Have you heard of
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:the supporting acts
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:So they were one of the supporting
acts for Bon Iver's last tour.
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:And this dude is like, if Bon Iver
had a baby with Frank Ocean mixed with
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:some other something, I don't know.
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:There's a very nice je he has, but
it's like, it's very, um, artsy.
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:There's like definitely R& B elements.
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:But it's, it's very indie
in, in the tonality of it.
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:I love that guy.
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:I think he's so cool.
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:And the show was just so sick.
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:Like I haven't believed a vocalist
as much as Dijon in a long time.
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:Um, I also am a huge fan of Pine
Grove and big thief that kind of
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:like, uh, alternative folk thing
that's really hitting right now.
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:I'm into it.
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:I'm, I'm out.
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:I'm all about it.
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:I love Adrienne Linker's writing.
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:I think she's one of the
most prolific people.
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:Um, and just insane lyricist.
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:Um, who else?
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:is so
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:Hmm.
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:is
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:This is so hard.
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:This is really hard.
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:Um, another act I'm thinking
about is Sylvan Esso.
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:They've been, oh no, you
know, Tall Tall Trees.
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:Okay, I'm not just saying this to,
to say this, but Tall Tall Trees is
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:actually my co producer on my new record.
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:But the reason we started working
together was because I saw him
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:play live and I was like, this man,
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:bands
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:after watching him play like two songs.
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:Um, he plays banjo.
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:It's like psychedelic banjo.
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:And then he, he loops all of this
stuff and like plays the, plays
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:the, uh, banjo with a fiddle bow.
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:He's smacking it with a mallet.
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:I mean, he's, he's using every
sound you can get out of that thing.
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:And it is just, he's freaking magic.
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:So I would totally put tall,
tall trees on, on this list.
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:Um, so yeah, I think, I think we
kind of ended up in like a little bit
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:of like a, an indie rock folk bill
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah, where's this,
where's this festival at, by the way?
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:Like, Eastern Tim It's
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:Cat Ridgeway: thing or something.
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:I don't know.
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:I've never been there, but it feels right.
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:Jason English (Host): never been there.
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:It's kind of random.
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah, I know.
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:Jason English (Host): know, right?
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:Cat Ridgeway: it just
feels like the place.
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:Jason English (Host): never been there.
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:Cat Ridgeway: I know.
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:Well, my, my fanmates and I have this
running joke where like if someone says
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:something we'll be like, um, I don't know.
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:Uh,
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:like,
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:like Ceramic Vase,
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:A Art rock
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:like New York City or something.
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:Yeah, yeah, you just like, or
like, if you're in the middle of
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:a conversation, and someone says
something, like we'll just stop.
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:and repeat the thing and try
to figure out what the band
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:would be and where they're from.
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:And it's just, I don't know, it's
just been this thing for years.
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:Jason English (Host):
That's a great road trip
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:Cat Ridgeway: It's the best.
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:And like, but we do it all the time.
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:Like, it doesn't matter if
we're on the road or not.
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:But anyway, that's what
that just made me think
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:Jason English (Host): But
anyway, that's the best.
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:Yeah.
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:Jason English (Host): Alright.
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:Cat Ridgeway: But anyway, Lake Michigan
feels like a place that we would have
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:just been like, yeah, you know, like
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:Jason English (Host): Are you
in the middle of the lake?
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:Are you next to the
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:Cat Ridgeway: we're in the lake, yeah.
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:In the lake, no electronics allowed,
you know, or maybe they are.
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:That's Dijon for you.
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
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:So the Lake Michigan Indie, indie
Alternative, is that what you said?
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:It's like, like a folky
and the alternative stuff.
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:Yeah.
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:Jason English (Host): Perfect.
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:Okay.
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:Cat Ridgeway: there you go.
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:Jason English (Host): Awesome.
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:Cat Ridgeway: what would you name it?
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:What would you name this festival?
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:Do you know those bands?
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:Jason English (Host): I know.
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:I'm excited to.
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:Yeah.
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:I'm
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:Cat Ridgeway: my god, you're welcome.
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:Those are good ones.
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:Yeah.
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:Oh man, man, it's early for me
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:early
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:eyes are just watering.
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:I'm like, we weren't ready.
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:We're so excited about this festival
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:Jason English (Host): just
watering, we weren't ready, we're
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:so excited about this festival,
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:How did
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:so beautiful.
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:a Florida girl think about it?
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:It was
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:Jason English (Host): The Rocky Mountains.
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:Yeah.
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:Cat Ridgeway: was, I
love, I love the cold.
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:Jason English (Host): Oh, really?
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:Cat Ridgeway: feel like no one was
expecting me to say that, but I truly do.
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:I, I'm actually.
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:I'm so burnt out from the heat
down in Florida, pun intended.
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:I can't do it no mo.
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:It's too much.
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:Um, and like outdoor gigs in
Florida in the summertime.
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:No, just no.
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:Like why are we doing anything
outside in Florida after like April?
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:Let me know.
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:Um, but I, I had a family friend who has
played out in the Valley for decades.
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:See my band play actually a couple of
years ago when we were at Matilda's.
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:Jason English (Host): ago when
here, here in North Atlanta, yeah.
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:And
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:Cat Ridgeway: Mm hmm.
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:And, so he was like,
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:would
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:Yo, you would kill in Colorado.
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:And I was like, cool.
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:I have no idea what the music market is
like out there, but if you say so, I'm
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:all about finding out if you're right.
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:And he's like, Would you want
to go do a season out there?
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:Cause I'll, I'll make some calls.
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:And I was like, sure.
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:So one thing leads to another, but it
ended up just not working out that year.
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:Cause it was just, the
season was too close.
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:They already had people kind of
slated for the roster that year.
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:I had stuff on the band calendar.
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:I couldn't get out of, it was
just, it just wasn't meant to be.
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:So.
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:We play Matilda's again and
family friend comes back and he's
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:like, you know, I still think
Colorado would be great for you.
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:And I'm like, you know what?
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:Let's do it.
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:And we shook hands and I was
like, let's make this happen.
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:He's like, all right, if you're serious,
clear your schedule from Thanksgiving
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:on through the rest of the year.
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:Like just don't book anything, which
asking a, like a working musician
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:to do that is a huge Hail Mary.
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:But I was like, you know, I believe.
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:Ted Lasso
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:months.
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:And
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:I was like, I really do feel in my
bones that this is going to happen.
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:I don't know how or why, but sure.
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:And dude, it took up until about
three weeks before I left for
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:everything to fall into place.
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:But it did.
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:And I was sweating.
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:Um, but it ended up working out and
I had two residencies out there.
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:So I was playing at one
really historic bar.
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:It was one of the first bed and
breakfasts ever built in Vail.
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:And the owner One of the
owners is still alive.
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:Her name is Shika.
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:She's an 87 year old Austrian woman.
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:And, um, yeah,
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:Jason English (Host): That's awesome,
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:Cat Ridgeway: working there was nuts, but
she is, she's credited for being one of
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:the founders of the entire town of Vail.
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:And, um, so to play there is pretty
nuts, especially to be the new kid on
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:the block and walk into that place.
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:It was pretty wild.
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:Um, So then, um, from there
I also ended up playing over
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:at the Hyatt in Beaver Creek.
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:And so I mean, like I was at the
base of like three or four ski runs.
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:Like I was at a lift just outside
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:Jason English (Host): How many warm
chocolate chip cookies did you eat?
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:I
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:Cat Ridgeway: Honestly,
I'm gluten intolerant.
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:So I only had like two,
but I did, I still did it.
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:Jason English (Host): I still did it.
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:Oh, yeah.
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:Oh, yeah.
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:We actually
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:Cat Ridgeway: Oh, yeah.
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:Oh, yeah.
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:We actually got, like, they
tried to enlist us, uh, to, me
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:and my roommate, to, to be, um,
holiday help is what they call it.
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:And you dress up like a chef
and hand out the cookies.
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:And I was like, I wish I had the
free time to come hand out cookies
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:and just be like this bearer of joy.
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:But, um, I, I was playing
like five plus days a week.
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:It was, I was hustling.
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:It was insane.
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:I don't think I've ever worked that
hard for a period of time in my life.
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:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
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:And then during the winter time,
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:And I was, I was adjusting to the
altitude and the lack of humidity.
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:Um, and, and at Pepe's, I mean, The
gig is a four hour a night minimum.
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:And I was playing upwards
of four hours every night.
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:Like, so there were days in a row where
I was singing five, six hours at a time.
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:Uh, and I, I had to completely
reconstruct how I sing to, to get
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:through those gigs, but it made me a
better vocalist, honestly, like 10,
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:000 hours happened in one season.
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:Um, but yeah, it was, it was a rare,
very, very interesting experience.
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:I learned how to deal with a lot of
drunk people for the first time too.
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:Um, and I also had no idea, but
most of the visitors who come
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:through Vail are from Mexico.
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:And so, right.
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:And I was like, it kind of makes
sense when you think about the
336
:proximity, but at the same time,
it's just never even crossed my mind.
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:And so I get there and.
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:I made friends with a lot of
the staff that worked at this
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:place and they're from all over.
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:South America.
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:And, um, so I got to practice
my Spanish a little bit and they
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:gave me a handful of songs and I
learned like five songs in Spanish.
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:And man, me and the
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:Jason English (Host): And man, me
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:Cat Ridgeway: had a party every night.
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:It was so, it was legit.
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:It was so much fun.
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:And it gave me, So much more of
an appreciation for the culture.
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:I've always thought Latin culture as a
whole is just beautiful, but then like
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:to see how they connect to music and
how they're dancing and just singing
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:with their full chest to a song they
know, uh, it's, it was just so fun.
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:I love them.
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:And I had so much tequila
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:way more than I normally would.
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:Yeah,
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:Jason English (Host): well if you
were doing your gigs in Breckenridge,
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:everybody would be from Texas.
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:Like,
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:Cat Ridgeway: do.
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:You know, it's funny, like in Vail,
um, people call the people who
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:go to Brecken Ridge Brecken Bros.
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:Because it's a lot snowboard heavier
out there, uh, which I snowboard.
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:So I was like, ah, get me out.
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:I want to go to Breck.
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:I it's been a long time
since I've been out there.
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:Um, I think my family took a trip there
like one time when we were little,
367
:but the altitude again, it just slaps
you when you're from sea level, it's
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:account for like three or four days
to get adjusted before you try to
369
:do something physical, seriously.
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:Jason English (Host): awesome.
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:Yeah.
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:Jason English (Host): that, I'm sure
that was a new audience for you.
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:Did you, did any cool
connections come out of that?
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:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
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:Uh, It was really wild, some of the stuff.
377
:One time I was out, um, playing where
I'm at the ski lift and a lady came
378
:off of the mountain and comes over
to me and she goes, is your name cat?
379
:And I said, yeah.
380
:And she goes, dude, I don't know how.
381
:But I know your music and she pulls
her phone up and she had like four
382
:of my songs saved to her phone.
383
:And she's like, I can't
believe you're playing here.
384
:And I was like, I can't
believe you know who I am.
385
:Like, what is this?
386
:And she was like, dude, this is so cool.
387
:And so she's just sitting there with her
skis hanging out for like the next hour.
388
:And, uh, that was, that was just wild.
389
:But as far as like industry
connections go, this one was,
390
:this one takes the cake for me.
391
:So there's a really cool music festival
that happens every year in Tampa, Florida.
392
:And it's called Gasparilla.
393
:I've wanted to play it for years,
but I just straight up did not know
394
:the people behind it and I had asked
around, but we just, I don't know, just
395
:different circles of people, you know?
396
:So I'm playing at this same place.
397
:And I mentioned on stage
that I'm from Florida.
398
:And so I get off stage and this
couple comes up and they're like, Hey,
399
:did you say you were from Florida?
400
:Are you from Tampa?
401
:And I was like, no, I'm from Orlando.
402
:They're like, Oh, cool.
403
:And so we kind of just
talk Florida for a sec.
404
:And then they go there
wherever they were headed to.
405
:I'm packing up all my gear.
406
:I have all my stuff on a luggage cart.
407
:Cause I'm playing at the hotel, you know,
and I'm wheeling all my stuff to the car.
408
:It took me way longer than it should
have to load up that day, because I
409
:kept getting held up with some stuff.
410
:So I'm like, wow, I'm
really behind schedule.
411
:I had nowhere to be, so it wasn't
a problem, but I was just, you
412
:know, my timeline was extended.
413
:So I'm putting all my stuff in my car,
and this couple walks up behind me again.
414
:And I'm like, hello!
415
:And they're like, hey!
416
:Um, So wait, you said, you
said you weren't from Tampa.
417
:I was like, correct.
418
:And they're like, that's so crazy.
419
:Have you ever played Gasparilla though?
420
:And I was like, no.
421
:And I was like, I really,
I really want to though.
422
:And they were like, Oh really?
423
:And I'm like, yeah, why?
424
:And they're like, That's
actually really funny.
425
:We're like best friends with
the owner of the festival.
426
:And I was like, what?
427
:And I was like, I cannot
make this stuff up, man.
428
:And I'm like, are you serious?
429
:And so they're like, yeah, give
us your, your number and stuff.
430
:So I do.
431
:And they're like, we'll connect you.
432
:And I mean, I've, I've met
people before who say they're
433
:going to connect you and stuff.
434
:And it usually kind of fizzles out
435
:out.
436
:Or,
437
:excuse me, they put you in touch and the
person never gets back in touch with you,
438
:you know, whatever, you know how it goes.
439
:And so I'm not expecting anything.
440
:And.
441
:They put us in a group chat that night.
442
:Dude answers me.
443
:I end up in Tampa like
first week I'm back home.
444
:Um, As like a little side
festival that they do.
445
:And now we're like in contact
doing a bunch more stuff together.
446
:So, I mean, there has been
no mention of Gasparilla yet.
447
:But um,
448
:me some time.
449
:just thought
450
:But, um, but I just thought it
was just wild that I had mentioned
451
:that I really wanted to play that
before I went out to Colorado.
452
:Jason English (Host): Um,
453
:Cat Ridgeway: And that was like
one of the main things I was
454
:trying to work on in Florida.
455
:And then poof, it's just there.
456
:And it's yeah, in Colorado, like
I had to go all the way out here
457
:Jason English (Host): in
458
:Cat Ridgeway: in my own state wild.
459
:But yeah, just that I'm, I
don't know, stuff like that.
460
:I feel like happens to me.
461
:Often though like we're just the weirdest
coincidences happen and it's it's to a
462
:point now where I have to really believe
like the law Of attraction is very real
463
:Jason English (Host): No,
well, it's, it's your intention
464
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah
465
:Jason English (Host): and like,
for someone like you that I'm, you
466
:know, I don't really know you, but
I've seen you perform quite a bit.
467
:Like you're so authentic and genuine
and, and just like a lovely person
468
:Cat Ridgeway: shucks
469
:Jason English (Host): things, things will
happen, like good things will happen.
470
:Right.
471
:I believe that.
472
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah, I thank you
I really appreciate that um, but
473
:yeah, it's I mean even even with
474
:Jason English (Host): uh,
475
:Cat Ridgeway: Being
somewhat grounded and stuff.
476
:It's still pretty nuts to watch the
stuff unfold like every time I'm like
477
:it never gets old to me and I never take
it for granted cuz it's like I'll meet
478
:I'll meet Gasparilla people in Colorado
and I'm just like dude, what the hell?
479
:That's so cool It's yeah, and so
I just kind of stay in a state of
480
:like what what what happens next
like, you know, like cliffhanger
481
:Jason English (Host): be, be open to it.
482
:Like, you know, you know,
cause you never know.
483
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah,
it's, man, it's so true.
484
:Um, and that's, I mean, that's
the story of my whole career,
485
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
486
:Cat Ridgeway: you know?
487
:Um, but yeah, uh, that was, that
was probably the craziest connection
488
:that happened in Colorado.
489
:Um, the other one was actually
the, the lady I was living with.
490
:was the head of TEDxVail.
491
:Jason English (Host): bail.
492
:Oh, nice.
493
:Yeah.
494
:Yeah.
495
:Cat Ridgeway: and I got to be
involved with some of the TED stuff
496
:that was happening out in Vail.
497
:So that was really cool too cause
I grew up watching TED talks
498
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
499
:Cat Ridgeway: um, that was actually
before in a past life, uh, before I
500
:was doing music full time when I was
in college, I was actually studying
501
:biotechnology for a couple of years.
502
:Jason English (Host): Okay.
503
:Cat Ridgeway: Um, and, and, I got
into the field because of a TED talk.
504
:Uh, I knew I wanted to go into
STEM before I left it for the arts.
505
:Um, but yeah, it was just so weird to be
connected to something that had altered my
506
:life in such a big way at that point too.
507
:So that was cool.
508
:Um,
509
:Jason English (Host): speaking of, so
that's, you just reminded me of something.
510
:So I, I'm in technology, it's my day job.
511
:Yeah.
512
:Uh, my old boss, my, one of my mentors,
uh, who I owe pretty much everything
513
:to, uh, his name's Eric Berridge.
514
:He gave a TED Talk.
515
:Gosh, six, six years
ago, and it was all about
516
:technology needs the arts
517
:Cat Ridgeway: Oh, that's cool
518
:Jason English (Host): and the humanities.
519
:And, uh, he, I think, I think I'm
getting this right, but he went
520
:to Cal Berkeley as an undergrad,
and I think he studied Shakespeare
521
:Cat Ridgeway: Cool,
522
:Jason English (Host):
he's, he's incredible.
523
:Like he's had this incredible
career, founder of this company,
524
:uh, and ended up selling it to IBM.
525
:He's still, he's still in the industry.
526
:Just, you know, just a great guy, but
like the, the Ted talk is actually really
527
:cool because he, he ties, I think he ties
the STEM stuff together with the art.
528
:So I'll, I'll send you that link.
529
:Yeah.
530
:I'll send you the link.
531
:Cat Ridgeway: That's so cool.
532
:Yeah.
533
:I've always loved seeing the marriage.
534
:Of those two things, because I
don't know, growing up in school,
535
:being an artsy person, but also
science was my strongest subject.
536
:Like, I love science.
537
:Yeah, and I know, it's like, no one
ever expects that from me, but I'm
538
:like, you know, man, I really love it.
539
:It's, uh, it was one of my favorite
things, and, um, like, even when
540
:I got to college, I was, like,
tutoring chemistry and stuff.
541
:Like, I love how things
work and seeing how.
542
:Stuff is all connected, you
know, and, um, I've always felt.
543
:Jason English (Host): in school.
544
:Cat Ridgeway: Anyway, it felt
like you were kind of team
545
:left brain or team right brain.
546
:And I was always interested in finding
the ways to see where they come together.
547
:And my brother actually, I think
has pretty successfully done it.
548
:He's an electrical engineer now.
549
:So he sometimes he'll tinker with
music gear and stuff like that.
550
:So, um, That's cool to watch, but
he's, he's ended up going actually
551
:more into like teaching these days,
but, um, yeah, it's, that's always
552
:been something I've been intrigued by.
553
:So that's, that's really neat.
554
:What's
555
:Jason English (Host): And tell me more
about the, um, so what's interesting
556
:talking to like a lot of artists.
557
:Like not a lot, but a few artists this
year after starting this, many of you,
558
:many of whom, you know, I'm always
fascinated by kind of the hustle, you
559
:know, and like the gigging and, and
everybody's now it's like, you're,
560
:you're a, you're a T T shirt merchant,
you know, to make money or whatever.
561
:And so some people doing kind of random
stuff, you're, you might be doing the most
562
:random thing, which is coffee roasting.
563
:So does that, I guess that might tie
into your biology interest and yeah.
564
:Yeah.
565
:Um,
566
:Cat Ridgeway: Um, so when lockdown
happened, I missed going to coffee shops
567
:because I've always really loved coffee.
568
:Um, but I really missed
the coffee culture.
569
:And I was like, well.
570
:All the stuff I make at
home is just not that good.
571
:Let me just get better at it, I guess.
572
:Cause I got all the time in
the world on my hands now.
573
:And I had actually gotten
my brother a book about
574
:homebrewing and he never read it.
575
:So I took it back
576
:Jason English (Host): and I was
577
:Cat Ridgeway: and I was like,
I'm going to read this thing.
578
:So I read it cover to cover.
579
:And when you really start getting into the
mechanics of coffee and, and the brewing,
580
:uh, process, the different variables that
change the outcome, it's very scientific.
581
:You have a bunch of different things.
582
:So there's agitation, uh, time, heat,
um, the grind size, which is surface
583
:area, um, the roast level, just the, the
584
:Jason English (Host): how
585
:Cat Ridgeway: all work together.
586
:Pressure too, which I guess was
technically agitation, but you know, it's
587
:like, um, when you start to dissect all
the things and you only adjust one thing
588
:at a time and see how it changes stuff.
589
:I mean, it's, it, you're literally
just drinking an experiment every day.
590
:And it's, I don't know.
591
:I just got, I totally went down
the rabbit hole like completely.
592
:And so once I got.
593
:A lot better at brewing.
594
:I was like, well, what if I back up a
step and start getting into roasting?
595
:So, um, a lot of roasters will start
with a popcorn popper actually,
596
:and just go like stove top with it.
597
:Um, do not recommend doing this in
your house by the way, cause there's,
598
:uh, like a little papery, you know
how like peanuts have like that
599
:papery lining that you have to kind of
600
:Jason English (Host): Oh yeah, yeah.
601
:Cat Ridgeway: off.
602
:So coffee beans are the same way.
603
:And it's called the chaff.
604
:And when you start to roast
it, it can actually catch on
605
:fire and get really smoky.
606
:So don't do this inside your house.
607
:Uh, if you're trying it for
the first time, especially.
608
:So I took like a little camping
stovetop burner, brought it outside,
609
:brought the, um, popcorn popper.
610
:I started getting into roasting
and I was like, dude, this is fun.
611
:This would be so cool to do as merch
because everyone sells t shirts.
612
:Um, And I was like, I wonder how I
can figure out how to scale this.
613
:And as things started opening up post
COVID, I started getting way more
614
:involved in the coffee culture in Orlando,
which honestly, after traveling more
615
:around the country, Orlando is popping
when it comes to the coffee culture.
616
:I had no idea how good I had it until I
left no shade to Colorado, just saying.
617
:Um, but
618
:Jason English (Host): in Colorado, it's
619
:Cat Ridgeway: some cool
spots in Colorado too.
620
:It's just, there's a lot less of them.
621
:Um, But I ended up meeting a really
awesome roaster, uh, who goes by Kappa.
622
:His name's Landon.
623
:And I was like, dude, I've been
thinking about trying to scale this
624
:up to like a production level where
I can have inventory for a tour.
625
:And he was like, I have an
industrial roaster, like let's talk.
626
:So he actually does the roasting
on my behalf now, but we'll meet
627
:up and talk different topics.
628
:Types of coffee and varietals and
roast levels and profiles and stuff.
629
:And like, so right now we have
a seasonal roast for spring.
630
:That's like a lot fruitier.
631
:And then we have like our flagship
roast, which is just a Guatemalan.
632
:Um, and it's awesome.
633
:Like it's, that one's a little more like.
634
:a normal coffee.
635
:Like I would say it's like, think of
like your favorite diner coffee, but
636
:it's the hotter older brother, you
know, it's like, there's a little
637
:Jason English (Host): Well,
it's, well, it's Guatemalan.
638
:Yeah.
639
:Cat Ridgeway: It's, I mean, you
can't be, you can't be mad at it.
640
:Um, but yeah.
641
:So anyway, that's, I, I
honestly can tell you though.
642
:It was one of the best decisions
I've ever made on a whim.
643
:It kind of was just a passion project
and I wanted to see how it would go
644
:and I was fully prepared for it to
645
:Jason English (Host): Right.
646
:Cat Ridgeway: totally
647
:Jason English (Host): What's
the name of the brand?
648
:J I T T E
649
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
650
:Yeah.
651
:Um, but honestly, I can tell you at
shows and when we've been on tour, we
652
:sell more coffee than anything else
653
:Jason English (Host): That's
654
:Cat Ridgeway: It's so
weird and it's so fun.
655
:I love talking about it with people
because it's like, it's, it was like
656
:totally my hyper fixation and, uh,
I know way too much about it now.
657
:Um,
658
:Jason English (Host): of your ADHD?
659
:It totally
660
:Cat Ridgeway: totally is.
661
:Yeah, absolutely.
662
:And actually, you know, what else I found
out is, um, a lot of the time people
663
:with ADHD, when they drink coffee, they
don't get the jittery feeling from it.
664
:Cause it hits you in the same
place as like stimulants do.
665
:And so a lot of the time.
666
:I'll drink coffee and
actually get sleepy afterward.
667
:Um, or like, just kind
of like Zen relaxed.
668
:Um, and that's how I'm able to
drink so much more than my brother.
669
:Jason English (Host): brother.
670
:My gosh,
671
:Cat Ridgeway: it's like, it's so
672
:Jason English (Host): that's
673
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
674
:Um, I've never tried stimulants though.
675
:So I can't like give you
an accurate comparison.
676
:All I can tell you is that it
like, it does quiet me down
677
:sometimes, which is not good.
678
:Totally not what you
would expect it to do.
679
:Right.
680
:Um, but yeah,
681
:Jason English (Host): that's so
682
:Cat Ridgeway: yeah.
683
:It's again, fun little science thing.
684
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
685
:Both sides of your brain active.
686
:Yeah, that's good.
687
:Well, so obviously
688
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
689
:Yeah, yeah.
690
:Jason English (Host):
of my favorite shows.
691
:Another show that I love that I need
to watch more of, although it kind
692
:of stresses me out, even though it's
hilarious is curb your enthusiasm.
693
:Cat Ridgeway: I have never
actually watched that.
694
:Jason English (Host): Okay.
695
:Well, I mean, it's.
696
:It just ended, I think, but I just came
back from a trip overseas for work and,
697
:you know, you can watch stuff, you know,
behind the, you know, uh, at the seat.
698
:And, uh, I watched a few episodes and
it was funny cause he, one of the, one
699
:of the plot lines and one of the later
seasons is he has this, he, he starts this
700
:right, Larry David, the main character
starts this rivalry with this guy that
701
:runs a coffee shop called Mocha Joe.
702
:And he's like, Mocha Joe, I'm, you know,
I'm going to put you out of business
703
:because he got, he got into some fight.
704
:He's always fighting with somebody.
705
:Um, but the whole premise was how
can he put Mocha Joe out of business?
706
:Well, he, he leases a place right next
door, but Mocha Joe's like, Larry, you're
707
:not going to put me out of business.
708
:Cause it's all about the beans.
709
:He's like, you can't, he's
like, I've got the best beans.
710
:Is that true?
711
:Like in terms of coffee, like,
is it, is it all about the beans?
712
:Cause you mentioned, you
mentioned a bunch of other
713
:Cat Ridgeway: of, of a
lot of different things.
714
:So yes,
715
:Jason English (Host): storm
of a lot of different things.
716
:Cat Ridgeway: you do need to
have good beans and they need
717
:to be roasted well, not burnt.
718
:Jason English (Host): to be
719
:Cat Ridgeway: I'm not going to
name names, but we all know the
720
:big chain that burns the beans.
721
:Jason English (Host):
names, but we all know who
722
:Cat Ridgeway: a little bit,
you know, a little bit.
723
:Jason English (Host): Once you
724
:Cat Ridgeway: you start to like
actually support small businesses,
725
:you will notice the difference.
726
:I promise.
727
:And you're going to spend
about the same amount of money.
728
:Honestly, give it, give it to real people.
729
:Um, just my
730
:Jason English (Host): jitter.
731
:What's your website?
732
:Jitter?
733
:Cat Ridgeway: Oh, actually
it's just on my website.
734
:It's a cat Ridgeway.
735
:com.
736
:And, um, yeah, it's in the merch tab,
but, um, Yeah, as far as like getting
737
:a good cup of coffee, yes, you have to
have good beans, it has to be roasted
738
:well, and then brewing it, um, because
I can't tell you how many times I've
739
:had a coffee that was like brilliant
at a place, and then I've bought a bag,
740
:and then it takes me, you know, Four or
five cups to get it to the same place.
741
:And that whole process is called dialing
742
:Jason English (Host): in.
743
:Cat Ridgeway: Cause every single roast
of bean that you're going to deal with
744
:is going to have a different nuance
and you're going to have to like adjust
745
:certain variables to get it to be optimal.
746
:So like the older a bean is or the
darker it's roasted, the coarser you
747
:want to grind because it extracts faster.
748
:And so like, if you've had the same
bean for, You know, a couple months
749
:sitting on your counter, eventually
you're going to have to start
750
:adjusting the grind size to account
for the time it's, it's been around.
751
:Right.
752
:And so like, if you have baristas or
staff that aren't aware of how to like
753
:flow with the bean, it won't be as good.
754
:Um, and like, I don't know, I've
definitely had coffee at like.
755
:Very swanky coffee shops where like
the the barista definitely didn't
756
:know what was going on and you can
taste it like, you know, you can tell
757
:um, but then there are some places
where it's freaking awesome and that's
758
:where I honestly feel like the brew
methods like the most important thing
759
:because even if you have like a not
as optimal roast, I feel like there
760
:are things you can kind of counteract
that with when it comes to coffee.
761
:The different ways you can brew.
762
:Jason English (Host): yeah, honestly.
763
:Cat Ridgeway: yeah, honestly.
764
:Yeah.
765
:I mean, I'd like, like I said, like,
I know way too much about this now.
766
:Jason English (Host): Um, I'm
767
:Cat Ridgeway: Um, I'm actually
going to be hosting my very first
768
:cupping in a couple of weeks,
which is going to be really cool.
769
:It's like the coffee equivalent of a wine
770
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
771
:Cat Ridgeway: And, um, that's
going to be really fun.
772
:I'm excited for that.
773
:Jason English (Host): That's
774
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
775
:Jason English (Host): All right.
776
:Well, before you got into coffee,
obviously you've, I think growing up
777
:playing music, learning music and stuff,
but you have in, in, in speaking of
778
:kind of cool connections, you have a
connection to like the Grateful Dead.
779
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah.
780
:Yeah, tell
781
:Jason English (Host): Yeah.
782
:Tell us about
783
:Cat Ridgeway: This, dude, I'm
telling you, this is, this
784
:Jason English (Host): Another example.
785
:Cat Ridgeway: this is another one of
those weird full circle connection things.
786
:But, um, when I was probably 13
or so, this was when I, okay, let
787
:me back up even a little more.
788
:So when I'm in
789
:Jason English (Host): I
790
:Cat Ridgeway: seventh grade, I want to
say, which would have made me like 12 or
791
:Jason English (Host): 15.
792
:Um,
793
:Cat Ridgeway: I, Showed my parents
one of the first songs I ever
794
:wrote and I remember my dad being
like, wow, that doesn't suck.
795
:You know?
796
:And I was like, cool.
797
:You know, I thought, I thought
it was pretty cool too.
798
:And, um,
799
:Jason English (Host): um, yeah,
800
:Cat Ridgeway: yeah, it
was called parachute.
801
:And, um, so I showed that to my parents
and they were like, this is really cool.
802
:And I happened to live about, I don't
know, 10 minutes from a recording studio.
803
:It was GRP Studios and
the guy that owned it.
804
:Jason English (Host): owns it.
805
:They
806
:Cat Ridgeway: still owns it,
they've just moved, but it's
807
:called Greg Reich Productions.
808
:And Greg, um, he's worked with all sorts
of people, Deep Purple, Little Feet.
809
:And he was actually one of the
studios where, uh, Britney Spears
810
:and some of the early 2000s pop
boom got recorded in Orlando.
811
:So he's, he's done a bunch of stuff.
812
:And so my dad was like, you
guys should come see the studio.
813
:So he just got us in there
because my brother was also
814
:really into music at this point.
815
:And, um, so he lined stuff up with Greg.
816
:We went and toured the studio,
got a look at all the gear.
817
:Neither of us knew what the heck anything
did, but we were just like, cool.
818
:And, um, so a little bit after
that, Greg opens up this open
819
:mic series called the music cafe.
820
:And it was every single Tuesday.
821
:And I went and played that open mic
every week, religiously for probably A
822
:couple of years and I tried to have a
new song written every single week and
823
:I kept up with that for so long and it's
like now I'm like, how did I do that?
824
:Um, but I was just, I was in it
and eventually my dad and Greg got
825
:to talking and they're like, you
know, you should maybe like record
826
:a song and so I end up recording
my very first song at like 14 with.
827
:Greg.
828
:So I guess I played the music, uh,
at the music cafe for like a year.
829
:Um, and then, and then
we ended up recording.
830
:Um, and so that was just nuts.
831
:And, um, so one thing leads to
another, and then Greg is like,
832
:Hey, is this what you want to do?
833
:And I'm like, yeah.
834
:And he's like, okay, well, I'm going to
help you start building your resume now.
835
:So by the time.
836
:You're able to start gigging more
consistently or like by the time you
837
:get out of school You actually have
a reason for people to want to book
838
:you and I'm like at the time I did
not realize how big of a solid he was
839
:Jason English (Host):
big of a solid he was.
840
:It was massive.
841
:Cat Ridgeway: and so I was like, okay, you
know and so he had this series where they
842
:were filming Like living legends coming
in doing live sessions And so, I'm 14,
843
:15, opening for Bill Payne of Little Feet,
Marty Ballin from Jefferson Airplane, uh,
844
:just like all of these dudes, and, um, I
845
:Jason English (Host): in
846
:Cat Ridgeway: in love with all of it,
but at the, uh, At the Bill Payne show,
847
:there was another person on tour with
him named Dennis McNally, who was touring
848
:behind a book that he had written.
849
:And so he gets to talking to my
dad back in the control room.
850
:I don't know where I was.
851
:I was off doing something.
852
:And so dad starts talking to
Dennis and Dennis is like, Hey,
853
:you know, I'm actually the former
publicist for the Grateful Dead
854
:and my dad's like, Hey, Cool.
855
:You know, his book that he was
touring was all about his experiences
856
:working with them and how he did
the work that he did with them.
857
:And so they start talking and then
Dennis is like, look, I know Cat's
858
:really young right now, but whenever
you feel like the time is right
859
:and she's ready, give me a call.
860
:And he gives my dad his card.
861
:I didn't know any of that
happened until I was like 23.
862
:And my dad's like, or 24, I guess.
863
:And my dad's like, Hey, um,
cause we, I had just gotten the
864
:master's back for nice to meet you.
865
:And
866
:Jason English (Host): My
867
:Cat Ridgeway: my dad gives it a listen and
he goes, okay, I have something to tell
868
:Jason English (Host): And I'm like, what?
869
:Cat Ridgeway: what?
870
:And he's like, hang on.
871
:And he's digging through his desk like
a mad scientist and he finds this card
872
:and he's like, do you know what this is?
873
:And I was like, no.
874
:And he's like, this is
Dennis McNally's card.
875
:I kept it for 10 years.
876
:And I was like, what?
877
:And he tells me the whole conversation
I didn't even know happened.
878
:And so he's like, let's call him.
879
:I'm like, okay, so we call him and
we're not even expecting him to
880
:remember us or anything, you know?
881
:And my dad's like, Hey Dennis, you know.
882
:I'm glad this is still your number, uh,
you know, I don't know if you remember,
883
:but my daughter opened when you were on
tour with Bill Payne, blah, blah, blah.
884
:And he's like, Oh yeah,
I'm glad you called.
885
:And he, and he, boom, I
mean, he knew everything.
886
:Everything.
887
:He remembered everything sharp as a tack.
888
:And, um, he was like, you
know, I gotta be honest.
889
:I'm not really that involved
in the industry anymore.
890
:These days, blah, blah, blah.
891
:And my dad's like, that's cool.
892
:Can I still just send you the record
just so you can take a listen to it?
893
:He's like, sure.
894
:So he listens to it and then the
next day or no, not even the next
895
:day, he calls us back that day and
he just goes, okay, all right, fine.
896
:And he's like, I'll help
you work this record.
897
:And honestly, if.
898
:If you traced everything that
has happened in my career back
899
:to one person, it's, it's Dennis.
900
:And yeah, he's, he's like the
godfather of, of everything we've done.
901
:And I love him so much.
902
:And he's, he's just the coolest too.
903
:Like we were on tour, um, I
think this was last summer.
904
:We're in the van and he called cause
he had tuned into a radio interview or
905
:something that we had done as a band.
906
:And I was like, Hey, Dennis.
907
:Jason English (Host): like, hey
908
:Cat Ridgeway: If you have time,
like, can you tell, can you tell us a
909
:Jason English (Host): can you tell
910
:Cat Ridgeway: And he's like, yeah.
911
:So we're all driving in the van and he
tells us this, this crazy story about
912
:how the Grateful Dead had their own plane
and their own pilot, and it's actually.
913
:against like FAA regulations for
them to fly below a certain altitude
914
:in Colorado, like in the rocks.
915
:But the pilot kind of did it
anyway, because it was just like
916
:an unbelievably pretty sunset.
917
:And he's like, and I'm just on this plane,
and Jerry's over Somewhere babbling on
918
:about all the movies that were filmed.
919
:Um, because it was like, oh, where was it?
920
:I want to say it was like
sedona like old hollywood.
921
:Basically.
922
:It was like one of the old where
tons of old films were set.
923
:Yeah.
924
:And, um, so Jerry's like babbling off in
the corner about all the, all the movies
925
:and no one's really listening to him.
926
:And, um, one of the other, uh, members
of the band like had a, a, Really young
927
:son and they sat him in the pilot seat
and he was flying the plane for a minute
928
:Jason English (Host): know, I'm
like, and then I'm like, haha,
929
:Cat Ridgeway: else like he was just
like pretty much just telling us what
930
:everybody in the band was doing and he was
like and it's Just one of those memories
931
:that's burned in my brain because it
was just everyone being so 100 percent
932
:themselves in that moment It was just
beautiful and then and then you look
933
:out and you're in the middle of these
rocks And and the sunset is like the same
934
:shade of Orange and red as these rocks.
935
:And it's, I was just like, that's insane.
936
:But the way he told the story,
man, it was just so, I feel like
937
:I have that memory now, you know?
938
:Um, but yeah, he's just
the freaking coolest.
939
:I, I
940
:Jason English (Host): freaking coolest.
941
:I, I adore him.
942
:I hear a lot about, especially
like in technology, you know, women
943
:are trying to have opportunity.
944
:Right.
945
:And, and I think it's improving.
946
:Right.
947
:But you know, technology has
been male dominated forever.
948
:I'm sure music's been male dominated
forever, but the fact that they were so
949
:proactive and, You know, Greg giving you,
you know, the shot and then, and then
950
:Dennis, you know, being so impactful,
that's really cool for like a young
951
:Cat Ridgeway: Yeah, no kidding.
952
:I, you know, and I've thought a lot about
this because I've, I definitely have
953
:had my own experiences of, of facing
prejudice and sexism in the industry,
954
:but honestly, I feel like the amount
and Severity of those instances has been
955
:so much less than other folks that I've
talked to and I don't really know why
956
:Jason English (Host): Um, Um,
957
:Cat Ridgeway: But I am very grateful
for that and I've I've been very very
958
:lucky to be surrounded by a lot of really
great men And I'll bring it back to
959
:Jason English (Host): Mike, uh,
960
:Cat Ridgeway: Tall, tall trees.
961
:My co producer on this last
record is such a champion of,
962
:Jason English (Host): of,
963
:Cat Ridgeway: of women in the industry.
964
:And, and he doesn't do it to be,
you know, like I'm a feminist.
965
:Like he's like, those words have never
come out of his mouth and I don't
966
:think they ever would, you know, but
like, he's one of the first people I
967
:hear say, have you listened to this?
968
:Like, oh, she's such a badass.
969
:And like, when we're in the
studio, he's teaching me how to
970
:do things as we're going along.
971
:And I won't lie, like, in the studio
before, I've been in different
972
:situations, whether I was playing as
a session player or whatever, where,
973
:uh, people I was working with in the
studio, they were like, Oh, well,
974
:like, yeah, Cat, you play guitar, but
like, let's get a real guitar player
975
:and to come track this or something,
you know, like, like little, like the
976
:microaggression kind of stuff like that.
977
:And I'm like, I mean, I
play guitar for a living.
978
:I think I'm kind of a real guitar player.
979
:Like I definitely am less of a lead
player than a rhythm player, but like,
980
:I can get the job done, you know, give
me a couple of passes and we're good.
981
:So.
982
:Um, but anytime I would find myself
kind of falling into the patterns that
983
:other people had built for me where
when we were in the studio, you know,
984
:I'd be like, Oh, Mike, cause he's an
insane guitarist, banjo player, like
985
:everything, anything with strings.
986
:He's a magician.
987
:Um, and I was just like, yeah, like,
do you, do you want to track that?
988
:I'm sure you're going to come
up with something way cooler.
989
:And he goes, no, this is your record.
990
:You're going to play on your
991
:Jason English (Host): going to
992
:Cat Ridgeway: And I was like,
993
:Jason English (Host): Oh, sweet.
994
:And I was
995
:Cat Ridgeway: But then it was like,
he, he was very, like, he had such a
996
:guiding hand and all of those moments
too, where he'd be like, Hey, like,
997
:when you play this lead line, like,
try like bending into the note instead
998
:of just like hitting it or whatever.
999
:And so it was like, You know, I just, I
felt like I was, I was being, uh, held
:
00:47:58,522 --> 00:48:00,912
in very good hands, uh, the whole time.
:
00:48:00,922 --> 00:48:05,772
But again, it's just, I actually had this
conversation with a couple of my bandmates
:
00:48:05,772 --> 00:48:08,992
and some of my friends, like, as I was
working with Mike, I was like, I don't, I
:
00:48:08,992 --> 00:48:14,832
don't know if I've ever had this type of
energy from a guy in the studio before.
:
00:48:14,902 --> 00:48:18,072
Like, this is, this is
like very, very special.
:
00:48:18,122 --> 00:48:23,152
I've never had someone, uh, Empower
me that much and and be such a
:
00:48:23,152 --> 00:48:27,632
cheerleader during the process
in like the least cheesy way.
:
00:48:27,652 --> 00:48:34,102
It was, it's like, he's like water, like,
you know, like just very calm and steady.
:
00:48:34,172 --> 00:48:38,432
And like the way water erodes
a mountain is how he took down
:
00:48:38,577 --> 00:48:38,997
Jason English (Host): That's good
:
00:48:39,702 --> 00:48:43,602
Cat Ridgeway: preconceived, um,
patterns from, from other people.
:
00:48:43,612 --> 00:48:49,122
You know, it was, it was really a,
a, a really beautiful partnership
:
00:48:49,222 --> 00:48:50,742
to work with him on this record.
:
00:48:51,082 --> 00:48:53,142
Um, and I'm really excited
for people to hear it.
:
00:48:53,142 --> 00:48:54,452
Cause it does feel the most.
:
00:48:54,837 --> 00:48:59,647
Like myself of anything I've ever recorded
and it's because he pushed me to let it
:
00:48:59,667 --> 00:49:05,847
be, you know, um, So yes, um, I have been
very lucky with with the men that have
:
00:49:05,915 --> 00:49:07,568
Jason English (Host): have been in my
:
00:49:07,627 --> 00:49:11,427
Cat Ridgeway: i'm Totally, I totally
acknowledge that they they're awesome.
:
00:49:11,577 --> 00:49:18,177
Thanks guys Yeah,
:
00:49:19,477 --> 00:49:21,797
Jason English (Host): you you, was
it New York City that you did the
:
00:49:21,797 --> 00:49:26,387
Lincoln Center performance and that
was about women in uh Americana.
:
00:49:26,427 --> 00:49:26,967
Is that right?
:
00:49:26,977 --> 00:49:27,247
Yeah.
:
00:49:27,247 --> 00:49:28,257
How how did that happen?
:
00:49:28,517 --> 00:49:28,777
That
:
00:49:28,792 --> 00:49:29,772
Cat Ridgeway: was pretty nuts.
:
00:49:29,842 --> 00:49:37,202
Um, that was actually so through
a very crazy again, like these,
:
00:49:37,242 --> 00:49:38,912
these dots, man, they connect.
:
00:49:39,352 --> 00:49:43,332
Um, I had been on the lookout for
a booking agent for a long time
:
00:49:43,412 --> 00:49:46,622
and I had been given the name.
:
00:49:47,052 --> 00:49:47,382
Jason English (Host): agent.
:
00:49:48,067 --> 00:49:49,097
Cat Ridgeway: agent, her name's Joy.
:
00:49:49,147 --> 00:49:52,877
I had been given her name from
multiple people and we just
:
00:49:52,877 --> 00:49:55,297
never quite made full contact.
:
00:49:55,807 --> 00:50:01,767
And, um, When we started working
on this record, I have a new team
:
00:50:01,767 --> 00:50:07,557
that's on board as part of the, the
promotion and, um, back end of, of
:
00:50:07,557 --> 00:50:10,797
making the, like the, the business
side basically of the, of the record.
:
00:50:11,277 --> 00:50:15,097
And they were like, Hey, we have a,
an agent that we have in mind for you.
:
00:50:15,097 --> 00:50:16,237
And it was joy.
:
00:50:16,277 --> 00:50:17,907
And I was like, are you kidding me?
:
00:50:17,907 --> 00:50:21,617
Like of all the people in the industry
for you to connect me to it's her.
:
00:50:21,997 --> 00:50:25,277
And, um, actually we just, uh,
hit one year of working together,
:
00:50:25,277 --> 00:50:26,797
like yesterday or the day before.
:
00:50:27,662 --> 00:50:28,082
Excuse me.
:
00:50:28,082 --> 00:50:33,712
And so like the first show she
gets for me is the Lincoln Center.
:
00:50:33,772 --> 00:50:35,812
And I'm like, are you kidding me?
:
00:50:35,812 --> 00:50:37,242
Like what?
:
00:50:37,602 --> 00:50:41,532
And, um, yeah, so she, she has a great
working relationship with the room.
:
00:50:41,592 --> 00:50:45,292
And, um, so she was like, yeah,
I got these two other artists.
:
00:50:45,292 --> 00:50:48,852
I think you would be really cool on a
bill with, and you want to go to New York.
:
00:50:48,852 --> 00:50:51,382
And I was like, I don't, yeah,
I always want to go to New York.
:
00:50:51,382 --> 00:50:56,742
And so, um, in the middle of the season,
I, I popped over from Colorado and.
:
00:50:56,762 --> 00:51:03,032
It probably ended up being about a week
long tour with um, Lauren Calve and
:
00:51:03,102 --> 00:51:05,642
Caterina it was, it was a lot of fun, man.
:
00:51:05,652 --> 00:51:06,562
It was really cool.
:
00:51:06,937 --> 00:51:10,817
And, uh, yeah, hit some really neat rooms.
:
00:51:10,827 --> 00:51:13,247
I played the pie shop
for the first time in DC.
:
00:51:13,247 --> 00:51:18,517
And honestly, like I was not expecting
the kind of response that we got in DC,
:
00:51:18,517 --> 00:51:21,447
but there was a whole group of friends.
:
00:51:21,457 --> 00:51:26,297
One person had seen me play a random
house show, uh, a couple of years
:
00:51:26,307 --> 00:51:30,452
ago, like a so far sound show, and
then brought an entire, like, team
:
00:51:30,742 --> 00:51:32,552
that goes rock climbing together.
:
00:51:32,582 --> 00:51:35,072
And then we all like hung
out downstairs and stuff.
:
00:51:35,072 --> 00:51:37,762
And it was just like, it's
like, I love that shit, man.
:
00:51:37,782 --> 00:51:38,572
It's the best.
:
00:51:38,582 --> 00:51:39,522
It is the best.
:
00:51:39,962 --> 00:51:43,212
Um, and anyway, yeah, that's like
one of the, one of the other memories
:
00:51:43,212 --> 00:51:44,562
that really sticks out from that run.
:
00:51:44,562 --> 00:51:49,982
But yeah, Lincoln center, DC and,
um, yeah, it was a really cool run.
:
00:51:50,062 --> 00:51:50,452
Jason English (Host): run.
:
00:51:50,452 --> 00:51:52,962
Well, I want to talk about
your songwriting, but in that
:
00:51:52,962 --> 00:51:57,487
performance, uh, in You didn't do
it yesterday, which is fine, but
:
00:51:57,847 --> 00:51:59,577
most, most of the time, that's right.
:
00:52:00,117 --> 00:52:03,537
Most of the time you're able to
sneak in a cover of the cranberries.
:
00:52:03,542 --> 00:52:03,972
Cat Ridgeway: Oh yeah.
:
00:52:04,577 --> 00:52:08,887
Jason English (Host): Like, and we,
my friends and I, uh, Rob Roswell,
:
00:52:08,887 --> 00:52:12,157
Rob from Roswell, who, you know,
he always calls it the looper.
:
00:52:12,667 --> 00:52:14,027
He's like, is she going
to play the looper?
:
00:52:14,917 --> 00:52:15,817
And it's crazy.
:
00:52:15,997 --> 00:52:21,327
Cause it's, you know, it's, it's crazy,
but like how, how, how much practice
:
00:52:22,637 --> 00:52:26,227
Did that take to kind of get that down
because you basically, what is it?
:
00:52:26,227 --> 00:52:31,587
Five, is it four or five at the end where
you, you know, you record like live and
:
00:52:31,897 --> 00:52:35,137
loop it back and it's, I don't know what
you call it cause I'm not a musician, but
:
00:52:35,137 --> 00:52:39,997
it's, you're, you basically harmonize with
yourself four or five different layers.
:
00:52:40,603 --> 00:52:45,847
Cat Ridgeway: or five different layers?
:
00:52:47,957 --> 00:52:47,977
Jason English (Host): Um,
:
00:52:48,847 --> 00:52:50,377
Cat Ridgeway: I'm going
to be so real with you.
:
00:52:50,387 --> 00:52:55,327
There was just one day my brother and I
were playing, yeah, like my brother and I
:
00:52:55,327 --> 00:52:58,217
were playing a show down in our hometown.
:
00:52:58,247 --> 00:53:00,647
Um, there's a really cool
venue called Wekiva Island.
:
00:53:00,747 --> 00:53:08,007
And, um, someone asked for dreams and I
just midway through the song remembered
:
00:53:08,007 --> 00:53:10,927
like, Oh yeah, doesn't this end with that?
:
00:53:10,927 --> 00:53:12,337
Like, ah, stuff, you know?
:
00:53:12,697 --> 00:53:16,017
And, um, I couldn't really
remember how it went, but I was
:
00:53:16,027 --> 00:53:17,317
like, I'm going to try it anyway.
:
00:53:18,457 --> 00:53:19,637
We're among friends here.
:
00:53:19,637 --> 00:53:20,897
Like no one cares that much.
:
00:53:20,907 --> 00:53:22,257
It's, it's a cover gig, you know?
:
00:53:22,257 --> 00:53:24,007
I mean, like I respect cover gigs.
:
00:53:24,007 --> 00:53:25,127
Don't hear, don't get me wrong.
:
00:53:25,147 --> 00:53:28,527
But I was like, I'm going to take a
little risk here, just see how it goes.
:
00:53:28,947 --> 00:53:33,107
And, um, that night, I think it
was only like two or three layers.
:
00:53:33,127 --> 00:53:37,242
It wasn't anything like that extravagant,
but I was like, Oh, that was cool.
:
00:53:37,572 --> 00:53:40,942
And, and people dug it
and I was like, huh.
:
00:53:41,142 --> 00:53:45,942
So then I just started like doing it
at gigs, but I never like rehearsed it.
:
00:53:45,992 --> 00:53:49,762
It was more of just kind of a, let me
see what the, what happens this time?
:
00:53:49,762 --> 00:53:53,602
Because the thing about looping that
I love so much is it's, it's like a.
:
00:53:54,577 --> 00:53:57,887
An audio mandala, you know,
it's never the same twice.
:
00:53:57,917 --> 00:54:00,397
Even if you do the same parts,
it's never quite the same.
:
00:54:00,817 --> 00:54:05,457
And so there's a spontaneity about
it that I like to try to keep, which
:
00:54:05,457 --> 00:54:09,337
is part of the reason I don't really
rehearse stuff like that as much.
:
00:54:09,682 --> 00:54:10,152
Jason English (Host): Um,
:
00:54:10,992 --> 00:54:14,302
Cat Ridgeway: And then once, once
I did it a good handful of times
:
00:54:14,302 --> 00:54:17,612
live, I did kind of settle into
like an arrangement, but again, it,
:
00:54:17,622 --> 00:54:19,452
it does, it changes all the time.
:
00:54:19,462 --> 00:54:23,302
Like the, the bass harmonies
are the same, but then I I'll
:
00:54:23,602 --> 00:54:25,332
go off on top of it and stuff.
:
00:54:25,332 --> 00:54:29,022
And, um, I've done it
different lengths and stuff.
:
00:54:29,022 --> 00:54:32,132
And you know, it's, like I said, it
just, it changes a little bit here and
:
00:54:32,132 --> 00:54:37,597
there, but for the most part, um, I have
it pretty down now, but yeah, that's
:
00:54:37,597 --> 00:54:39,037
one of my favorite things to cover now.
:
00:54:39,037 --> 00:54:39,577
It's super
:
00:54:39,626 --> 00:54:39,873
Jason English (Host): fun.
:
00:54:39,873 --> 00:54:41,352
It always gets a really good
:
00:54:41,417 --> 00:54:42,007
Cat Ridgeway: Thanks.
:
00:54:42,037 --> 00:54:42,397
Yeah.
:
00:54:42,397 --> 00:54:43,597
I mean, it's just fun.
:
00:54:43,597 --> 00:54:44,827
I mean, well, I mean, come on.
:
00:54:44,827 --> 00:54:48,887
The cranberries, uh,
um, it's Dolores, right?
:
00:54:49,027 --> 00:54:50,397
That was, that was her name.
:
00:54:50,547 --> 00:54:51,047
Jason English (Host): I don't know.
:
00:54:51,047 --> 00:54:51,597
Am I sure?
:
00:54:51,727 --> 00:54:53,247
Cat Ridgeway: never remember
how to say her name.
:
00:54:53,247 --> 00:54:55,707
Like Dolores Riordan, Riordan.
:
00:54:55,707 --> 00:55:00,807
I don't know what she, I mean,
she's one of the greatest.
:
00:55:01,412 --> 00:55:03,222
Alternative vocalists of all time.
:
00:55:03,222 --> 00:55:08,082
And I mean, just to be a, a tiny little
blip of that, of the history of that
:
00:55:08,082 --> 00:55:14,102
song and keeping it alive is, is, uh, an
honor, honestly, that song is fantastic.
:
00:55:14,262 --> 00:55:14,622
Jason English (Host): it's great.
:
00:55:14,672 --> 00:55:16,162
I mean, and your voice is
:
00:55:16,442 --> 00:55:17,112
Cat Ridgeway: thank you.
:
00:55:17,242 --> 00:55:18,912
Jason English (Host): the
chart too, so yeah, yeah.
:
00:55:18,942 --> 00:55:19,622
Um, all right.
:
00:55:19,622 --> 00:55:23,272
So real quick, you're
still relatively young.
:
00:55:23,282 --> 00:55:26,372
You're not 14 anymore, but you're,
you're on the younger side, I guess.
:
00:55:26,372 --> 00:55:28,482
What, what inspires you
when you write songs?
:
00:55:29,042 --> 00:55:32,222
Is it, is it more on the
heartbreak grief side of things?
:
00:55:32,282 --> 00:55:35,192
Cause I, which I don't imagine
cause you're so happy all the time,
:
00:55:35,197 --> 00:55:35,887
Cat Ridgeway: you know, it's
:
00:55:35,952 --> 00:55:36,932
Jason English (Host): is it, is it love?
:
00:55:36,932 --> 00:55:37,722
Is it, what is it?
:
00:55:37,847 --> 00:55:39,757
Cat Ridgeway: for more recently.
:
00:55:39,847 --> 00:55:41,352
Um, Okay.
:
00:55:41,352 --> 00:55:47,382
So like in the past, yes, it was like
a lot of very happy stuff in, um, like
:
00:55:47,382 --> 00:55:51,972
one of, probably one of them, the better
known songs of mine when we've played
:
00:55:51,972 --> 00:55:56,722
at shows and stuff, uh, for people who
follow me are, uh, is the song Aspen,
:
00:55:56,728 --> 00:55:56,967
Jason English (Host): know,
:
00:55:57,132 --> 00:56:00,392
Cat Ridgeway: um, which is just like
about being a rambling traveler and stuff.
:
00:56:00,392 --> 00:56:02,092
So like it's very, it's
very sunny, you know?
:
00:56:02,092 --> 00:56:06,082
And so when we went to work on this new
record though, I was like, you know, man,
:
00:56:06,092 --> 00:56:08,492
I, I just really feel like I have not.
:
00:56:08,738 --> 00:56:09,400
Jason English (Host): said
:
00:56:10,057 --> 00:56:11,997
Cat Ridgeway: stuff with enough substance.
:
00:56:12,337 --> 00:56:18,797
Um, cause so much of the music I love
moves me because it's real, you know?
:
00:56:18,797 --> 00:56:24,787
And I feel like, I mean, happy songs
are fantastic and kind of my artist
:
00:56:24,787 --> 00:56:28,367
motto for the longest time was just
to be a means of escapism for people.
:
00:56:28,367 --> 00:56:33,918
But then I kind of realized like, is
it, is it for them or is it for me?
:
00:56:33,918 --> 00:56:37,962
And that was, uh, that was
a trip and I kind of 180'd.
:
00:56:38,652 --> 00:56:45,312
Everything I was thinking about
songwriting and, um, I had honestly,
:
00:56:45,332 --> 00:56:50,322
probably like the, the string of a string
of three years that were like the worst
:
00:56:50,342 --> 00:56:57,782
of my life debt, like from:or I guess it was like two years from 2021
:
00:56:57,782 --> 00:56:59,442
Jason English (Host):
Oh, she's why is that?
:
00:56:59,632 --> 00:57:03,232
Cat Ridgeway: um, One bad breakup.
:
00:57:03,262 --> 00:57:08,202
Then it was like, uh, I got COVID
three times and mono in between.
:
00:57:08,422 --> 00:57:10,312
I got mono at like 26.
:
00:57:10,362 --> 00:57:13,402
I'm like, how does that when
during social distancing?
:
00:57:13,442 --> 00:57:14,592
I don't know how that happened.
:
00:57:14,622 --> 00:57:17,372
Um, but apparently there was
like a weird uptick of mono
:
00:57:17,422 --> 00:57:19,932
Jason English (Host): Yeah, I've heard
of, I've actually heard that around here.
:
00:57:20,052 --> 00:57:20,312
Yeah.
:
00:57:20,492 --> 00:57:24,712
Cat Ridgeway: Um, and I, they
say, uh, that, uh, at least the
:
00:57:24,712 --> 00:57:26,292
doctors I talked to, which were
:
00:57:26,552 --> 00:57:27,722
Jason English (Host): were many, um,
:
00:57:27,737 --> 00:57:29,847
Cat Ridgeway: they were like, it could
have actually been from contaminated
:
00:57:29,847 --> 00:57:33,897
silverware when you first started
eating out again, um, because everyone's
:
00:57:33,897 --> 00:57:37,277
immune systems were just so shot
after, uh, quarantine and stuff.
:
00:57:37,277 --> 00:57:40,767
So I, I still am not sure how that
happened because I wasn't seeing anybody.
:
00:57:41,177 --> 00:57:46,147
Um, but between, um, All
four of those, uh, viruses.
:
00:57:46,177 --> 00:57:49,737
I was, I was in and out of the
hospital and I was having really
:
00:57:49,737 --> 00:57:53,497
crazy pain in my side that the
doctors could not figure out.
:
00:57:53,537 --> 00:57:56,147
And every test luckily was coming back
:
00:57:56,280 --> 00:57:56,610
Jason English (Host): was
:
00:57:56,847 --> 00:57:57,387
Cat Ridgeway: fine.
:
00:57:57,407 --> 00:58:01,707
I was in like, at one point I was in
the ER, like, Doubled over in pain.
:
00:58:01,707 --> 00:58:05,507
And my doctor's like, you know, I know
you don't feel good, but, uh, you're
:
00:58:05,507 --> 00:58:07,807
actually super freaking healthy.
:
00:58:07,837 --> 00:58:10,937
And I was like, thank you
so much, but please fix me.
:
00:58:10,937 --> 00:58:13,777
Like, you know, it was
like debilitating pain.
:
00:58:14,137 --> 00:58:18,957
And, um, and then the anxiety that came
along with just like being in that much
:
00:58:18,957 --> 00:58:22,497
pain and not knowing what was wrong was
just, I mean, I was, it was just more
:
00:58:22,497 --> 00:58:24,407
than my brain could, could deal with.
:
00:58:24,417 --> 00:58:28,407
Cause I mean, I was, I almost passed
out on stage a couple of times.
:
00:58:28,417 --> 00:58:29,307
It was that bad.
:
00:58:29,387 --> 00:58:35,527
And, um, So, eventually, as a last
resort, I ended up getting a colonoscopy
:
00:58:35,527 --> 00:58:38,307
because they did a bunch of scans
but never anything internal, and
:
00:58:38,307 --> 00:58:40,137
then they actually found pre cancer,
:
00:58:40,162 --> 00:58:40,682
Jason English (Host): Oh, she's
:
00:58:40,697 --> 00:58:43,037
Cat Ridgeway: like, oh my god, and
that was what like really sent me
:
00:58:43,037 --> 00:58:44,547
over the edge, and then I was just
:
00:58:44,792 --> 00:58:45,381
Jason English (Host): then I
:
00:58:45,407 --> 00:58:49,757
Cat Ridgeway: yeah, so then I was
like, I think I actually have PTSD
:
00:58:49,757 --> 00:58:52,027
after all of this, and I actually did.
:
00:58:52,217 --> 00:58:52,727
Um, like
:
00:58:52,782 --> 00:58:53,092
Jason English (Host): write up?
:
00:58:53,142 --> 00:58:55,042
Did you write some songs based on like,
:
00:58:55,247 --> 00:58:55,687
Cat Ridgeway: I did.
:
00:58:55,747 --> 00:58:56,177
Yeah.
:
00:58:56,177 --> 00:59:00,077
And I mean, honestly, like once I
started, like, I, I was like, I think
:
00:59:00,077 --> 00:59:03,297
I need to go to therapy, like after all
of this, cause I was just, I just like,
:
00:59:03,297 --> 00:59:06,967
couldn't get out of the cycle of being
freaked out about everything all the time
:
00:59:06,967 --> 00:59:08,677
because I kept thinking I was like dying.
:
00:59:09,197 --> 00:59:13,557
Um, and so, um, in the midst of
that, you know, you start working
:
00:59:13,557 --> 00:59:16,637
through all the things you've
ever been through in your life.
:
00:59:16,987 --> 00:59:21,847
And so this record honestly is a, is a
lot of, of that dive, uh, that I took.
:
00:59:22,187 --> 00:59:24,697
Uh, and so, I mean, it's the whole record.
:
00:59:24,697 --> 00:59:26,607
It's not like a super
doom and gloom record.
:
00:59:26,607 --> 00:59:27,367
Like, don't get me wrong.
:
00:59:27,367 --> 00:59:30,477
There are definitely some happy songs
and stuff on there and, and things
:
00:59:30,477 --> 00:59:35,627
that are more contemplative, not quite
sad, but like, it's definitely, um,
:
00:59:36,467 --> 00:59:38,302
a more thoughtful lyric, you know,
:
00:59:38,329 --> 00:59:39,305
Jason English (Host): compilation
:
00:59:39,762 --> 00:59:41,522
Cat Ridgeway: than anything
I've ever released.
:
00:59:41,592 --> 00:59:44,552
I actually think it's the strongest
lyricism I've ever written.
:
00:59:44,582 --> 00:59:46,242
I'm very, very proud of it.
:
00:59:46,242 --> 00:59:54,152
Um, um, you know, I don't think, I don't
think it's actually quite a breakup song.
:
00:59:54,152 --> 00:59:58,262
There, there's a song called cursive
though, which is just me just, uh,
:
00:59:58,392 --> 01:00:03,402
lamenting the entire time about how bad I
am at expressing myself in relationships.
:
01:00:03,402 --> 01:00:08,182
Cause it's like, like the lyric is
like, um, sometimes when I talk, I just
:
01:00:08,182 --> 01:00:11,757
can't stop, um, And, uh, what else?
:
01:00:12,297 --> 01:00:14,457
All this cursive talk I'm caught up in.
:
01:00:14,877 --> 01:00:17,297
Can't get a straight answer from
me, but it's pretty, isn't it?
:
01:00:17,432 --> 01:00:19,593
Jason English (Host): all
that kind of stuff, you know?
:
01:00:19,593 --> 01:00:19,902
Yeah,
:
01:00:20,032 --> 01:00:20,282
Cat Ridgeway: you know?
:
01:00:20,312 --> 01:00:20,682
Yeah.
:
01:00:20,682 --> 01:00:23,502
And so it's, it's more of like,
just like not being able to say
:
01:00:23,502 --> 01:00:24,912
what you need to say or say it well,
:
01:00:24,931 --> 01:00:26,362
Jason English (Host): say or say it well.
:
01:00:26,362 --> 01:00:27,220
Yes, and I
:
01:00:27,452 --> 01:00:27,902
Cat Ridgeway: Yes.
:
01:00:28,142 --> 01:00:32,442
And it's so funny because like, I
mean, I feel like I, I'm, I'm pretty
:
01:00:32,442 --> 01:00:35,212
good with words when it comes to
like writing songs, but then it's
:
01:00:35,212 --> 01:00:39,772
like, you put me, put me on the spot
in a relationship, but by like, no.
:
01:00:40,342 --> 01:00:45,752
And so, um, yeah, that song, that song
hits, uh, hits me in a nice place.
:
01:00:45,772 --> 01:00:47,002
Cause it just, I don't know.
:
01:00:47,597 --> 01:00:50,217
It felt like something very
specific I was trying to express.
:
01:00:50,217 --> 01:00:54,107
And, um, that was actually the first
song Mike and I started laying down.
:
01:00:54,107 --> 01:00:58,177
And when we got to tracking, even just
the scratch vocal, we were, we just
:
01:00:58,177 --> 01:01:02,577
looked at each other and we were like,
dude, like we did something today.
:
01:01:02,767 --> 01:01:06,607
And that was kind of the jumping off
point for the whole record sonically.
:
01:01:06,617 --> 01:01:07,547
So yeah.
:
01:01:07,647 --> 01:01:10,777
Um, but then there, I mean, but
then there's like another, like
:
01:01:10,807 --> 01:01:12,437
really dumb song on the record.
:
01:01:13,017 --> 01:01:14,937
This you'll probably get
a kick out of this story.
:
01:01:15,462 --> 01:01:20,682
So I ended up back in Georgia last
year because I got invited to be an
:
01:01:20,692 --> 01:01:22,922
artist in residence for an art gallery.
:
01:01:22,922 --> 01:01:24,632
I was on the road with Abe Partridge
:
01:01:24,794 --> 01:01:25,093
Jason English (Host): Okay.
:
01:01:25,093 --> 01:01:25,391
Yeah.
:
01:01:25,391 --> 01:01:25,689
Abe.
:
01:01:25,802 --> 01:01:28,662
Cat Ridgeway: yeah, and so for
anyone who doesn't know Abe, he's
:
01:01:28,662 --> 01:01:32,372
also, he's an amazing songwriter,
um, but he's also a fine artist.
:
01:01:32,372 --> 01:01:35,762
And so between the shows, we were
stopping in at different art galleries
:
01:01:35,772 --> 01:01:39,612
for him to talk about his work that
was either already on display or talk
:
01:01:39,622 --> 01:01:43,092
about getting it on display, um, at
different places we were touring through.
:
01:01:43,442 --> 01:01:44,792
So we're in LaGrange.
:
01:01:45,662 --> 01:01:51,492
And, uh, we end up at this, uh, the
Cochran Gallery and they're inviting
:
01:01:51,782 --> 01:01:54,442
Abe to come stay in this little
cabin to paint and then they're
:
01:01:54,442 --> 01:01:55,852
like, Cat, we also have writers.
:
01:01:55,852 --> 01:01:58,682
If you ever want to do like an artist
in residence thing, you just come up and
:
01:01:58,692 --> 01:02:03,122
stay in our cabin and there's no internet
connection and you can just make stuff
:
01:02:03,122 --> 01:02:04,272
all day and no one's going to bother you.
:
01:02:04,272 --> 01:02:08,472
And I was like, Yeah, I need to
finish writing for this album.
:
01:02:08,472 --> 01:02:09,312
Like, let's go.
:
01:02:09,612 --> 01:02:16,142
So I end up in this cabin trying so hard
to finish writing these songs and, um, and
:
01:02:16,142 --> 01:02:19,842
just get in a flow state again, because
I haven't really been able to in a while.
:
01:02:20,372 --> 01:02:24,952
And so one day I'm like,
you know what, send it.
:
01:02:25,152 --> 01:02:27,162
And I take two gummies instead of
:
01:02:27,256 --> 01:02:27,670
Jason English (Host): one.
:
01:02:27,670 --> 01:02:28,085
And
:
01:02:28,132 --> 01:02:30,102
Cat Ridgeway: And then I'm like,
I'm gonna go on a walk in the woods.
:
01:02:30,132 --> 01:02:33,652
And I and I do, and I get completely lost.
:
01:02:33,732 --> 01:02:34,982
And I'm like,
:
01:02:35,131 --> 01:02:36,788
Jason English (Host):
I get completely lost.
:
01:02:36,822 --> 01:02:39,822
Cat Ridgeway: I, I done, I
done really messed this up.
:
01:02:39,962 --> 01:02:40,332
Oops.
:
01:02:40,402 --> 01:02:45,222
And so I call, I call Wes, the, the guy
who owns the gallery, he and his wife.
:
01:02:45,642 --> 01:02:48,662
And, um, I call him and I'm like,
dude, I think I might've gotten
:
01:02:48,662 --> 01:02:52,422
lost on your property, which mind
you is like 50 acres of Woodland.
:
01:02:52,472 --> 01:02:54,182
Jason English (Host):
Southwest, uh, Georgia.
:
01:02:54,217 --> 01:02:54,507
Yeah.
:
01:02:54,682 --> 01:02:56,792
Cat Ridgeway: And
:
01:02:57,172 --> 01:02:58,642
Jason English (Host): that's the
middle, that's the middle of nowhere by
:
01:02:58,682 --> 01:03:00,972
Cat Ridgeway: is, yeah, it is
totally the middle of nowhere.
:
01:03:01,012 --> 01:03:06,542
And, um, I find a telephone tower and
I call Wes and I tell him I'm lost.
:
01:03:06,542 --> 01:03:09,472
And his response is just, well.
:
01:03:09,487 --> 01:03:11,977
And
:
01:03:14,537 --> 01:03:15,657
I was like, oh no!
:
01:03:17,267 --> 01:03:18,227
I'm gonna die!
:
01:03:18,477 --> 01:03:21,357
I'm literally gonna die
in the woods in LaGrange.
:
01:03:21,747 --> 01:03:23,797
And oh my god, what a way to go.
:
01:03:23,817 --> 01:03:25,977
This is so, my parents
are gonna be so mad at me.
:
01:03:26,007 --> 01:03:26,697
Like, you know,
:
01:03:26,767 --> 01:03:27,427
Jason English (Host): and I'm like,
:
01:03:28,087 --> 01:03:29,327
Cat Ridgeway: this is
the dumbest thing ever.
:
01:03:29,777 --> 01:03:33,262
And um, Anyway, so then he's like, let
me, let me give the phone to my wife.
:
01:03:33,262 --> 01:03:36,582
So he puts his wife on the phone
and she's like, Hey cat, do
:
01:03:36,582 --> 01:03:38,382
you, do you see where that rusty
:
01:03:38,522 --> 01:03:39,035
Jason English (Host): like, yeah.
:
01:03:39,112 --> 01:03:41,832
Cat Ridgeway: And I'm like, yeah, she's
like, you see that one slap that's
:
01:03:41,832 --> 01:03:43,542
sticking up a little more than the others.
:
01:03:43,542 --> 01:03:47,372
I'm like, yeah, if that's to your
back, you're walking the right way.
:
01:03:47,662 --> 01:03:52,312
And I'm like, those are some backwoods
directions if I ever heard them.
:
01:03:52,602 --> 01:03:56,042
And, and so I follow them and
I'm losing reception on the
:
01:03:56,042 --> 01:03:57,342
phone and I'm freaking out.
:
01:03:57,772 --> 01:03:58,482
Jason English (Host): And I'm,
:
01:03:58,617 --> 01:04:01,117
Cat Ridgeway: I just keep walking
because I'm like, that slats to my back.
:
01:04:01,117 --> 01:04:02,317
I'm going the right way, you know?
:
01:04:02,317 --> 01:04:06,467
And so I finally find the cabin and
I realize I was never more than 50
:
01:04:06,583 --> 01:04:07,107
Jason English (Host): yards away.
:
01:04:07,107 --> 01:04:07,117
Oh,
:
01:04:07,127 --> 01:04:07,267
Cat Ridgeway: the whole time.
:
01:04:07,267 --> 01:04:11,337
And I'm like, dude, this is classic.
:
01:04:11,517 --> 01:04:14,867
And, um, I, I just keep
thinking though, like.
:
01:04:15,337 --> 01:04:19,317
If parallel universes exist, I
definitely died in those woods
:
01:04:19,317 --> 01:04:20,457
and at least like five of them.
:
01:04:20,867 --> 01:04:23,867
And I can't get my head out of that cycle.
:
01:04:23,867 --> 01:04:27,846
And so I wrote this song called what
if and it's just, it's just stupid.
:
01:04:27,857 --> 01:04:30,477
And it's actually, I
think it's hilarious now.
:
01:04:30,537 --> 01:04:34,487
Um, but knowing like the anxious
place it came from and how now the
:
01:04:34,487 --> 01:04:39,142
song is like, so funny to me is
so, You know, and like, like legit.
:
01:04:39,462 --> 01:04:43,382
Um, and I love where the song ended
up too, because, um, again, being on
:
01:04:43,382 --> 01:04:47,412
tour with Abe so recently, I had a
lot of like bluegrass kind of stuff in
:
01:04:47,412 --> 01:04:49,512
my head from the way he played banjo.
:
01:04:49,512 --> 01:04:56,322
And, um, I loved the way the bluegrass
banjo had a melody to what was
:
01:04:56,332 --> 01:04:57,672
being played, it wasn't just chords.
:
01:04:57,672 --> 01:05:01,782
Like it was like an actual thing
you could hum back to somebody.
:
01:05:02,027 --> 01:05:02,371
Jason English (Host): so
:
01:05:02,582 --> 01:05:04,942
Cat Ridgeway: And so I wanted
to come up with something that
:
01:05:04,942 --> 01:05:07,967
melodic that, you know, Also had
a vocal melody sitting over it.
:
01:05:07,967 --> 01:05:10,467
And so I wrote this thing and
then I showed it to Mike and I
:
01:05:10,467 --> 01:05:14,217
was like, dude, I really like this
thing, but it's way too bluegrass.
:
01:05:14,217 --> 01:05:17,337
I need us to get it out
of like Yeehaw town.
:
01:05:17,667 --> 01:05:20,477
And he's like, okay, well we just
don't make bluegrass decisions.
:
01:05:20,527 --> 01:05:22,707
And so it ended up being like.
:
01:05:23,962 --> 01:05:24,471
Jason English (Host): Really
:
01:05:24,942 --> 01:05:25,362
Cat Ridgeway: weird.
:
01:05:25,372 --> 01:05:28,572
I don't even know how to explain it, but
it starts off with like a little eighties
:
01:05:28,662 --> 01:05:31,252
Casio keyboard, like preset, just like,
:
01:05:32,471 --> 01:05:32,872
Jason English (Host): Sweet.
:
01:05:33,132 --> 01:05:34,632
Cat Ridgeway: yeah, it's really cool.
:
01:05:35,432 --> 01:05:36,442
Um, but yeah.
:
01:05:36,442 --> 01:05:41,412
So anyway, in, in some, uh, yes, the
record's definitely a lot deeper than
:
01:05:41,412 --> 01:05:45,312
anything I've put out, but it's definitely
also like, it's not just like sad.
:
01:05:45,692 --> 01:05:46,162
Jason English (Host): well good.
:
01:05:46,692 --> 01:05:47,762
When can we expect that?
:
01:05:48,272 --> 01:05:52,132
Cat Ridgeway: We're hoping for
October, but like definitely fall.
:
01:05:52,512 --> 01:05:52,922
Mm hmm.
:
01:05:53,002 --> 01:05:54,152
I think it's a fall record.
:
01:05:54,152 --> 01:05:55,132
It feels like a fall record.
:
01:05:55,522 --> 01:05:55,892
Yeah.
:
01:05:55,892 --> 01:06:02,632
Um,
:
01:06:02,742 --> 01:06:04,002
Jason English (Host): Are you dating?
:
01:06:04,012 --> 01:06:05,332
Like, is it hard to date when you're.
:
01:06:05,346 --> 01:06:08,978
I am in a relationship at the moment,
:
01:06:09,072 --> 01:06:11,372
Cat Ridgeway: I am in a
relationship at the moment.
:
01:06:11,372 --> 01:06:11,922
Yes.
:
01:06:11,971 --> 01:06:14,582
Um, but it's honestly,
it's been really chill.
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01:06:14,892 --> 01:06:16,192
It's been very, very easy.
:
01:06:16,522 --> 01:06:18,892
Um, which just, you know, that's when
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01:06:18,963 --> 01:06:19,871
Jason English (Host): Uh, yeah.
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01:06:19,871 --> 01:06:21,686
Making time for each
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01:06:21,832 --> 01:06:22,252
Cat Ridgeway: yeah.
:
01:06:22,352 --> 01:06:23,212
Uh, yeah.
:
01:06:23,212 --> 01:06:24,172
Making time for each other.
:
01:06:24,172 --> 01:06:25,772
Definitely high on the priority list.
:
01:06:25,772 --> 01:06:33,022
You know, I have to try, uh, which, uh,
as, as I've gotten older, I realized
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01:06:33,052 --> 01:06:38,352
like, oh, like effort is, is needed,
you know, um, when I was like in college
:
01:06:38,352 --> 01:06:40,552
and stuff, I was just like, oh, I'll
see you when I see you, you know?
:
01:06:40,855 --> 01:06:41,574
Jason English (Host): see, uh,
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01:06:41,902 --> 01:06:44,272
Cat Ridgeway: Um, uh, and to
be fair, that was kind of the
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01:06:44,272 --> 01:06:45,582
energy I was receiving back.
:
01:06:45,582 --> 01:06:48,252
So it's like now, now I'm
a little bit older and, you
:
01:06:48,922 --> 01:06:49,292
Jason English (Host): um,
:
01:06:49,312 --> 01:06:52,352
Cat Ridgeway: Yeah, so I mean, it's,
it's been, it's been pretty easy.
:
01:06:52,512 --> 01:06:57,742
Um, but yeah, I definitely have had to
like be intentional with, with my time
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01:06:57,742 --> 01:07:01,932
and, uh, and, and how I make my schedule
and, and make sure that things are on the
:
01:07:01,932 --> 01:07:07,232
calendar before, uh, tour dates and stuff
start, start filling in all the gaps.
:
01:07:08,032 --> 01:07:08,402
Jason English (Host): Hmm.
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01:07:09,292 --> 01:07:10,022
Cat Ridgeway: Mm.
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01:07:13,382 --> 01:07:14,612
No, not really.
:
01:07:14,932 --> 01:07:16,772
I just like, I don't, I don't know.
:
01:07:17,103 --> 01:07:19,799
Jason English (Host): I don't,
yeah, I hear people talk
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01:07:19,832 --> 01:07:20,262
Cat Ridgeway: I don't know.
:
01:07:20,342 --> 01:07:25,732
Yeah, I hear people talk about the ick and
I'm just kind of like, what do you mean?
:
01:07:26,392 --> 01:07:27,792
Like, do you, do you like this person?
:
01:07:27,886 --> 01:07:30,582
Jason English (Host): it's
like, you know, it's like, uh,
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01:07:30,582 --> 01:07:31,082
Cat Ridgeway: I don't know.
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01:07:31,082 --> 01:07:34,832
I mean, maybe I'm, maybe I'm like really
in the minority here, but I just like,
:
01:07:34,852 --> 01:07:36,802
I've never like resonated with the ick
:
01:07:36,824 --> 01:07:39,811
Jason English (Host): someone
actually gives me an ick,
:
01:07:40,032 --> 01:07:42,482
Cat Ridgeway: honestly, if I'm being
real, it's like, if someone actually
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01:07:42,482 --> 01:07:43,632
gives me an ick, I'm like, we're
:
01:07:43,793 --> 01:07:44,290
Jason English (Host): Yeah.
:
01:07:44,290 --> 01:07:44,788
Oh,
:
01:07:44,862 --> 01:07:45,642
Cat Ridgeway: clearly like
:
01:07:45,784 --> 01:07:46,779
Jason English (Host): I, I
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01:07:47,082 --> 01:07:47,612
Cat Ridgeway: yeah.
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01:07:47,642 --> 01:07:48,362
Well, okay.
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01:07:48,372 --> 01:07:51,002
So I guess like, just.
:
01:07:51,259 --> 01:07:52,254
Jason English (Host): that's, I
:
01:07:52,592 --> 01:07:57,382
Cat Ridgeway: Lack of reciprocity is just
like, not, I mean that, but I feel like,
:
01:07:57,452 --> 01:08:01,512
like, Ick is more of just like a Yeah.
:
01:08:01,742 --> 01:08:02,102
Yeah.
:
01:08:02,102 --> 01:08:04,502
And like, I just, yeah, I know.
:
01:08:04,502 --> 01:08:05,442
I don't know.
:
01:08:05,442 --> 01:08:08,382
Like I've never, I've never
felt that way toward anyone.
:
01:08:08,382 --> 01:08:13,592
I'm just kind of like, you do you, like,
you know, it's, you're a whole ass person.
:
01:08:13,602 --> 01:08:16,542
Like if you want to wear a
flip flop, wear a flip flop.
:
01:08:16,852 --> 01:08:17,532
I don't know.
:
01:08:17,542 --> 01:08:17,822
Like
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01:08:18,017 --> 01:08:18,037
Jason English (Host): know.
:
01:08:18,037 --> 01:08:19,287
That's a great answer, by the way.
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01:08:19,336 --> 01:08:23,147
Because the, the, yeah, it's like,
they get hung up on, like, the dumbest
:
01:08:23,322 --> 01:08:24,282
Cat Ridgeway: Yeah, I don't know.
:
01:08:24,282 --> 01:08:29,682
I feel like, I mean, in, in my, um, past
couple of years of therapy, I feel like
:
01:08:29,682 --> 01:08:34,992
a lot of this is just like getting hung
up on something as a, as a scapegoat
:
01:08:34,992 --> 01:08:39,352
for either insecurity or like a, like an
underlying perfectionism type of thing,
:
01:08:39,447 --> 01:08:40,017
Jason English (Host): I love that.
:
01:08:40,082 --> 01:08:41,260
Um, and it's
:
01:08:41,282 --> 01:08:43,672
Cat Ridgeway: and it's like, when, when
you have that, it's like, okay, well,
:
01:08:43,672 --> 01:08:46,812
why, why does something that insignificant
actually bother you that much?
:
01:08:46,812 --> 01:08:50,172
Like back it up five steps, you know?
:
01:08:50,642 --> 01:08:52,542
I don't know.
:
01:08:52,922 --> 01:08:56,062
I don't, not to get like
too cerebral on it, but
:
01:08:56,176 --> 01:08:56,961
Jason English (Host): but yeah.
:
01:08:57,301 --> 01:08:58,312
Cat Ridgeway: yeah, I don't know.
:
01:08:58,341 --> 01:09:01,711
I've just never, that's not, that's never
been something I've experienced, but it
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01:09:01,711 --> 01:09:03,312
doesn't mean it's not real, you know?
:
01:09:04,022 --> 01:09:05,102
Um, but yeah.
:
01:09:05,247 --> 01:09:05,466
Jason English (Host): All right.
:
01:09:05,707 --> 01:09:06,617
So last question.
:
01:09:06,907 --> 01:09:07,697
Thanks for your time.
:
01:09:07,707 --> 01:09:08,107
I guess.
:
01:09:08,107 --> 01:09:09,707
Uh, what are you most curious about?
:
01:09:10,792 --> 01:09:11,752
Cat Ridgeway: Ooh.
:
01:09:11,977 --> 01:09:13,727
Jason English (Host): Because you
you're out you're obviously curious
:
01:09:13,727 --> 01:09:19,836
about coffee and biology and all
the things but like what Yeah
:
01:09:19,932 --> 01:09:24,672
Cat Ridgeway: I am the most curious
about where music is going to go.
:
01:09:25,142 --> 01:09:31,237
Um, in the, in, in the
way of, What is a sound
:
01:09:32,522 --> 01:09:32,761
Jason English (Host): that
:
01:09:32,926 --> 01:09:33,997
Cat Ridgeway: haven't heard yet?
:
01:09:34,437 --> 01:09:39,136
Um, cause one of my favorite records
of all time is Bon Iver's 22 a
:
01:09:39,136 --> 01:09:44,697
million, because that was the only
record in my lifetime where I heard
:
01:09:44,707 --> 01:09:47,386
sounds that I had never heard before.
:
01:09:47,407 --> 01:09:51,886
Because I, I mean, I came into the world
after the revolutions of the seventies,
:
01:09:51,926 --> 01:09:57,177
of the eighties with technology entering
into music and, um, you know, all of these
:
01:09:57,177 --> 01:10:00,087
different inventions that were tied into.
:
01:10:00,682 --> 01:10:00,722
Jason English (Host): sound.
:
01:10:01,347 --> 01:10:05,107
Cat Ridgeway: And so I, I constantly
do wonder, like, what's the next
:
01:10:05,217 --> 01:10:07,297
genre that's going to be born?
:
01:10:07,297 --> 01:10:11,297
And what's, what's the new
sound, like how the eighties
:
01:10:11,307 --> 01:10:15,287
brought electronics into music?
:
01:10:15,287 --> 01:10:17,127
Like what's, what's the next thing?
:
01:10:17,287 --> 01:10:18,867
That's, that's what I think about a lot.
:
01:10:19,932 --> 01:10:20,312
Jason English (Host): All right.
:
01:10:20,322 --> 01:10:20,872
That's awesome.
:
01:10:21,142 --> 01:10:21,692
All right.
:
01:10:22,132 --> 01:10:22,862
Well, thanks so much for your
:
01:10:23,147 --> 01:10:23,627
Cat Ridgeway: No, thank
:
01:10:23,802 --> 01:10:25,922
Jason English (Host): Can you, can
you play us some songs from the new
:
01:10:26,017 --> 01:10:26,927
Cat Ridgeway: Yeah,
:
01:10:27,902 --> 01:10:28,392
Jason English (Host): Thanks Cat.
:
01:10:28,677 --> 01:10:29,267
Cat Ridgeway: for sure.
:
01:18:01,034 --> 01:18:02,594
Jason English (Host): Thanks so
much for joining us for another
:
01:18:02,594 --> 01:18:04,384
episode of Curious Goldfish.
:
01:18:04,824 --> 01:18:08,104
Please follow and subscribe to
the podcast and on social media.
:
01:18:08,684 --> 01:18:11,304
Also tell your music loving
friends about us too.
:
01:18:12,054 --> 01:18:14,154
Until next time, stay curious.