This summer has been pretty amazing. There are so many fun things to do around the city of Chicago. There are a ton of music venues, a ton of free classes, and a ton of people to meet! Every Thursday I attend a Drum Cardio class, which is as fun as it sounds.

The class takes place outside in Lincoln Park. We have a bucket in front of us, a yoga ball on top of it, and drumsticks in our hands. For about an hour and a half, we constantly move to the loud, pumped-up music, drumming on our yoga ball and bucket as we do squats, jumping jacks, and a bunch of other cardio. Everyone is super friendly, and it’s a very unique class.

This summer I’ve been working on music for the feature film Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm. Although that has been taking up much of my time, I have a ton of other projects I’ve been working on. I have a short film from the wonderfully talented Jordan Blazak from DePaul University, a feature film from Australia.I recently just finished creating a voice over demo reel for

In addition, I recently finished creating a voiceover demo reel for Shym Jamin, an incredible voiceover artist. Working with Shym has been a real treat. Collaborating with a voiceover artist is great fun because you get to help someone with diction and hear the unique voices that they can come up with, either on the spot or practiced.

At the end of last semester, I was feeling quite discouraged in my musical work. I almost felt like I wasn’t having fun anymore, and it was more of a task. Music has always been fun for me! So I talked to Kubi, the director of our program, and he mentioned that you can’t just write for a film, or someone else all the time. You have to write for yourself or find something else that can musically rejuvenate you.

In December, I took an Uber Pool and met a young man who asked what I do. I mentioned that I played bass guitar, but I wasn’t really playing very much. He mentioned that his friend was looking for a bass player and that I should give him my information to give his friend. I gave him my phone number, never thinking I’d hear a word back. Months later, right around the time I was questioning my own music, I got a text asking if I’d like to play bass guitar. Since May, I’ve been in a band called Doomerang.

Check out our Facebook page for information about upcoming shows. I can’t stress enough to all of you out there that you definitely need a musical outlet. Whether it’s playing in a band or composing something for fun, you need that break and that inspiration.

Thanks for reading,

Kat