She loves rock 'n' roll: Fort Myers singer Kate Skales rising on local music scene, with dreams of LA
Ashley Collins
Kate Skales describes her edgy sound a cross between Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Queens of the Stone Age.
"There's rock 'n' roll and blues," and even a little country, said the 30-year-old singer-songwriter about her debut album, "Ready for Me," before a performance early August at Buddha Rock Club in Fort Myers.
With her signature pixie cut and punk style, Skales has made a name for herself fast in Southwest Florida, performing at venues and bars across Fort Myers and Cape Coral after releasing her six-track album in April.
The Pennsylvania native, who grew up singing in choir and musicals and playing guitar, moved to Southwest Florida three years ago for her husband's job.
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Here, she began pursuing music as a career and met her fellow music-loving band members: bassist Corey Moses, drummer Danny Delgado and lead guitarist Alex Zurawsky.
"I was lucky enough to find all three of them," Skales said. Most performances, you'll find all four band members, but sometimes Skales and Moses perform duets.
The four meet at least twice a week at Delgado's Cape Coral home for rehearsals between gigs.
Delgado couldn't say enough great things about his frontwoman.
"She's really good on stage," he said. "She really engages the crowd and has a good time."
Juniper Recording in Cape Coral is the spot where Skales and her band record music. Earlier this year, Skales recorded her debut album and shot a music video for the catchy, pop-rock song, "Saw it Coming." Skales said the song was inspired by a trip to Miami, where she's performed before.
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Most of her songs are inspired by love.
"A lot of my music is stuff from my past. I try to make it super relatable," she said.
Skales and her crew are working on shooting another music video, this time at Nice Guys Pizza and Beer in Cape Coral. And, writing up more original songs in hopes of recording new material before the end of the year.
Check out other local bands:
- Positive note: Naples-based Perfect Sequence takes alt-rock genre to the next level
- Reggae fever: Soul, rock bands rise up in Naples, Fort Myers as genre goes mainstream
- South Street in Naples spices up local music scene with nightly shows, national acts
Come 2019, Skales and some of her bandmates may move to Los Angeles as many musicians do in hopes of making it big.
And if that comes to pass, Skales said she'll miss her fans and fellow local bands like The Electric Mud the most.
Relate:New albums from Fort Myers, Cape Coral bands: Young Dead, COBRESS, Electric Mud, etc.
"The only reason I've had so much success here is because of the people and the bands. I'm not from here, but everyone has made me feel very welcomed. I feel like I fit right in," Skales said.
"But if we don't go we'll never know and I know Fort Myers will welcome us back."
Future shows
- 9 p.m., Aug. 31 -- Kate Skales and Corey Moses -- at Rack'em Spirits & Times, Cape Coral
- 8 p.m., Sept. 1 Kate Skales along with other artists at HOWL Tattoo & Piercing, Fort Myers
- 8 p.m., Sept. 22 Kate Skales with South Florida's Yardij at Old Soul Brewing, Fort Myers
Follow Kate Skales on Instagram @kateskales_ or visit www.kateskales.com/