Daily Inspiration: Meet Kathy Forste

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy Forste.

Hi Kathy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in Broadcasting and a Minor in Music. I started working at various television stations over the next 32 years. I worked for all the major affiliates; ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and PBS. Mostly in the area of programming. In addition to working in television, I had been writing and performing my own music since 1992. In 2008 my two degrees and passions came together for me when I started KC Cafe Radio with a co-worker. As a singer/songwriter I noticed there were a lot of fellow singer/songwriters who were as good if not better than the artists I was hearing on the radio. One day my co-worker was saying he would love to start an internet radio station but didn’t know what format of music to play. I told him about my desire to feature unsigned singer/songwriters on a radio station that are not normally heard on terrestrial radio. So in May of 2008 we started streaming KC Cafe Radio and I became the Music Director choosing all the music played on the station. Conducting interviews and writing ads for the artists we played on the station to promote their albums. When we started KC Cafe Radio we were one of the first Internet Radio Stations out there so we were true pioneers. And we were pioneers in the fact that we only played unsigned artists. Over the fifteen years we were streaming I did over 200 interviews with artists from all over the world. We traveled to St. Louis, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Kansas City airing LIVE concerts for Folk Alliance International, The FARM Folk Alliance Conference, and the FAR-West Folk Alliance Conference. Plus our own shows that featured local Kansas City musicians.
In 1992 I began my career as a singer/songwriter playing in coffeehouses, bars, and restaurants. In 1998 I recorded my first solo album, “Mojo Hum”. I toured mostly in Kansas and Missouri but did occasional gigs in Nashville and Seattle. In 2000 I formed the band Swink. We recorded our album “Too Late For Regrets” in 2001. It remains my favorite of my albums. I recorded my second solo album “Home Fires” in 2004 to help me deal with the passing of my mother. In 2006 we adopted our son from Russia and I concentrated more on being a mom, running KC Cafe Radio, and working my day job in television. In 2016 I decided to make music my full-time job and I began teaching guitar, banjo, mandolin, and ukulele. But in 2020 I decided I wanted to record again with well-known producer, Merel Bregante, who I had met through my work with KC Cafe Radio. I went to Austin, Texas, and recorded my number one album “A Good Chord on A Bad Guitar”. It was very successful on the Folk Rock charts spending several weeks at number one. All five tracks went to number one on the Folk Rock singles charts.
In 2023 we decided to take KC Cafe Radio off the air. We felt the model of an unsigned artist internet radio station had run its course. I am teaching full-time at Shining Light Music in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and doing occasional gigs around the Kansas City area. I hope to record a new album this year and start a podcast with my best friend about music we love.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. I don’t think anyone can claim that. I have had a lot of loss in my life. Both of my parents have passed. I’ve lost friends and several members of my family.
In part, our decision to adopt came from going through several miscarriages that were difficult. Being a singer/songwriter also has its struggles. As someone who is not a good self promoter it’s always difficult for me to put myself out there as an artist. KC Cafe Radio also had a lot of bumps in the road. The first week we were on the air our website was hacked and we had to rework our entire streaming system.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a singer/songwriter. I would call my music Folk Rock. I think I’m very unique because my songs have my personal story and my view of the world. I am most proud of my growth as a songwriter and a musician over the years. It is difficult to pin point what sets me apart from others but my songs tend to have a more of a rock feel with a folk/pop aesthetic.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My favorite app is Ultimate Guitar Tabs. I use it a lot when one of my students wants to learn a song. It helps me quickly get the feel for a song even if the chords are not always exactly right. I am also a big sports fan so I use several sports apps like MLB and CBS Fantasy Football.
I like reading biographies and autobiographies. I also like non-fiction historical books. Sarah Vowel and Bill Bryson are two of my favorite authors.
I have recently gotten into listening/watching tarot podcasts. I am looking for hope for the future. 🙂 I also like WTF with Marc Maron and I have been enjoying Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
For music I watch Rick Beato and David Bennett. Both are very good at explaining how music is created through music theory.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathyforstemusic.com
• Instagram: kathyforstemusic
• Facebook: Kathy Forste Music
• Youtube: Kathy Forste Music
• Other: Spotify: Kathy Forste and KC Cafe Radio Podcast