Watch as Hometown Sound Winner, Katrina Stone, rocks maurices 9 different ways in her first ever music video!
I have to admit it was SO FUN to get the opportunity to style Katrina in LA on her video shoot. She looks amazing in every outfit!
Wondering what her experience throughout maurices Hometown Sound was like? Check out the interview I got the opportunity to have with her below…
- What was your experience at SXSW, was it what you expected?
My experience at SXSW was incredible! I had never been to this event before and had wanted to go for several years. Maurices and the Play Network treated us like rock stars and we were surrounded by amazing music and people the whole time. Honestly, the best part was all the amazing clothes from maurices that were picked out just for me to wear for interviews, meet and greets, and the performance. It’s amazing what a great little black dress will do for your stage presence!
- What has been going on since your performance at SXSW?
Since SXSW, I have had the opportunity to visit the maurices headquarters in Duluth, MN and play an acoustic set for the employees and their families. It was really great to see what goes on behind the scenes to create such an awesome brand like maurices. I was also flown to Los Angeles for my music video shoot with the Play Network. I absolutely fell in love with LA and all the performing/writing opportunities there, so my husband and I are moving there with our two year-old this summer!
- Tell me about shooting your music video with maurices and PlayNetwork in Los Angeles. What did you think final version?
Shooting the music video was everything I hoped it would be. Once again, Erin picked out a huge assortment of clothes that fit well and that I adored. We were able to put together 9 completely different looks for all of my “characters” in the video. When I showed up on set, I got my first round of hair and makeup done and we were off! I was a little bit nervous at first, mostly that I was going to forget the words to my own song or trip in my 4 inch heels. But Tim, Nicole, and the whole crew were phenomenal and directing me and working with me. By the end of the day, I knew it was going to be a hit! I loved the final version. I thought I knew what to expect, but when I saw it for the first time, I was floored. I couldn’t stop smiling and I think I watched it about 15 times in a row!
- What inspires you to write, record, perform, and make music?
I love to write about people in my life, relationships I have or have had, circumstances my loved ones are going through. I am very inspired by reality and what is going on around me. I wrote Songbird about my two year-old daughter when she was learning to walk. She had a rough go of it for a little while and I wanted to write an encouraging song that could get through everything she was going to experience in life. I love being on stage as well. Interacting with a crowd and watching them smile or fight back tears when you are singing is really motivating to keep getting back on that stage. I like to give people a real experience, whether it is light-hearted and fun or emotional and thoughtful.
- What advice would you give other artists just starting out? What has worked for you? what challenges have you had?
I don’t think I could even count on two hands the number of times I have tried to give up music, but when you are truly a musician, you can’t. Trying to pave a new way in music is so difficult and there is so much opposition, but I love singing/performing/writing too much to really ever walk away. My advice to anyone starting out is to become an expert in your craft, whether it is singing, playing guitar, writing songs, etc. It’s hard to ignore someone who has honed their skill to the point of drawing a crowd whenever they sing or play. My biggest challenges have always been time and money. You can’t take a lot of days off, you need to hustle and continue to get music and content out to your fans, and you need to believe that you have something different and unique to offer people in the form of your talent. I’ve had a lot of success with using a site called Sonicbids which sets up an Electronic Press Kit and lets you apply for gigs and contests. That is how I first heard about the maurices competition!
- Do you get nervous before performing, if yes, how do you manage it?
For bigger shows, I do get a little nervous. I just try to remember this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson- “A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver for 5 minutes longer.” I know that once I get on that stage and start singing, it is going to be great, I just have to make it to that point. And really, what is the worst that can happen? I have forgotten words, tripped and fallen, had people not clap at all, sang in the wrong key for an entire song, dropped microphones. It all turned out okay in the end.
- Who do you look up to - who do you emulate while you’re on stage?
I love watching performers like Zooey Deschanel and Joy Williams. They are so expressive and authentic. I spent a long time trying to emulate different artists when I got on stage and nothing ever felt quite right. A few years back, I just decided to have fun and stop caring about how I was being perceived and that’s when I forged my own on stage personality. I have a lot to think about when I am performing, I didn’t want that to be one of them!
- Every girl wants to be comfortable when working, what do you wear on stage to be at your best? (ie: comfy shoes, Big earrings, great fitting jeans?)
I like to be comfortable, but I also like to feel like a million bucks. My go-to stage outfit staple is a great fitting dress or skirt. I like to feel dressed up and ready to take on the world. I also never leave the house without at least 2 accessories like earrings, scarves, hair clips, necklaces, or bangles. My favorite right now are these long feather earrings with pearls from maurices. I get compliments on them everywhere I go. When my outfit is totally put together, I feel like I can do anything!
- How would you describe your style?
My style is edgy and retro, but still very feminine. I love pearls and lace and feathers, but I also love black and sequins and stilettos. I like to fuse different looks to create a new one, like pairing an edgy black off-the-shoulder top with some long pearls and a floral skirt.
- What is your favorite maurices look from the video? In your wardrobe?