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

4

point now where I have to really believe

like the law Of attraction is very real

5

Being somewhat grounded and stuff.

6

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

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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,

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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

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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.

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One time I was out, um, playing where

I'm at the ski lift and a lady came

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off of the mountain and comes over

to me and she goes, is your name cat?

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And I said, yeah.

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And she goes, dude, I don't know how.

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But I know your music and she pulls

her phone up and she had like four

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of my songs saved to her phone.

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And she's like, I can't

believe you're playing here.

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And I was like, I can't

believe you know who I am.

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Like, what is this?

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And she was like, dude, this is so cool.

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And so she's just sitting there with her

skis hanging out for like the next hour.

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And, uh, that was, that was just wild.

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But as far as like industry

connections go, this one was,

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this one takes the cake for me.

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So there's a really cool music festival

that happens every year in Tampa, Florida.

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And it's called Gasparilla.

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I've wanted to play it for years,

but I just straight up did not know

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the people behind it and I had asked

around, but we just, I don't know, just

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different circles of people, you know?

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So I'm playing at this same place.

397

And I mentioned on stage

that I'm from Florida.

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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.

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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!

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Dude answers me.

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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

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