LOCAL ARTIST
Up Close and Personal with Cat Chang

by Glenn Lafollette

Life is so hard for the beautiful. Well, it can be if you’re an artist trying rise to validation from a music scene blazed by Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Cat Chang is one such person. The 25-year-old local pop artist has the look of someone you’d expect to show more skin than vocal range, and on some occasions, she probably has. “I started in fashion,” said Chang, who was born in New York to South Korean parents before bouncing around Asian, Tampa and now the Peach State. “I’m very into fashion, and I love trying out different sexy outfits and clothes. So that’s still kind of an on-going identity thing for me. I’m getting older and evolving, and I’m more focused on the music side of it than I ever was before.”

For Chang, beauty isn’t just skin deep. The Georgia State graduate was classically trained in piano and singing before ever stepping on a runway. She is currently at work on her second independent album, but found a minute to step out of the studio for us:

So, how do you make the leap from classical piano to pop singer?

I was always a dancer through elementary school and high school, and I did cheerleading and things like that. So I was always listening to hiphop music, and dancing freestyle. Loving hiphop and pop music was never an issue.

Does the classical influence your work?

Of course. Well, I said ‘How amazing would it be for me to bring in my classical background and merging it with hiphop?’ Nobody’s really done it. It’s really fresh. That’s the direction we’re going in now on my second album is engaging the both sides and kind of experimenting.

Your parents still live in Asia. How do they react to having a pop singing daughter?

That’s always been a challenge (for my parents), especially for my mom. She’s the complete opposite. She’s very introverted, and I’m sort of out there. I always cutting up my clothing in high school and walking out on the street looking funky, and (my mom) would just want to have a heart attack.

Do they take it seriously?

It’s almost like gambling to my mom and dad. They didn’t approve of my music for a very long time. After high school, I went to Georgia State, and my dad was very keen on me finishing my education. I did. They live overseas, so its not easy for them to see me perform. They came in the summer of 2006 at a show at Apache Café. After that, for the first time, they took it seriously like this is what she’s doing with her life. They still have a hard time understanding why I do this or why I wear certain things, but now they completely support me.

Is it difficult to walk the line between serious singer and say…someone that would just look good in a bikini?

Yes. That’s something I’ve struggled with because I love people like Alicia Keys. She’s always saying you need to let the musicality be the presentation, not the sexuality. But part of that is my personality. When I was 18 or 21, I was focused on being the next Madonna or the next Britney (Spears), but now what is going to be longevity to me is continuing to try to make great music.

Favorite song right now?

John Legend “Everybody Knows.”

What do you do in your free time?

I don’t really have any, but when I do, I love planting. I love when things come to life. And I love baking. I’m a horrible cook, but I love to bake.

We noticed you weren’t on facebook. Did you miss the memo? Everyone is.

Yes. People keep nagging me about it. I think every other artist is on there. I don’t have time, but I’m a texting queen, so I’m on Twitter. I’m constantly texting people.

Would you ever ‘tweet’ during a show?

I don’t know. I’m not a very laid artist. I met Lenny Kravitz once, and he was super laid back before and during the show. But I’m just nervous, so I always hand my phone to my manager. I don’t know if I could do it during a show, but maybe I should try.

Random fact we should know about you?

I love flowers. I love getting flowers before or after my show. I think I love flowers so much they make me cry. Actually, I cry a lot. I cry when I’m playing the piano or working. It’s just something that happens all the time.

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