Artist Spotlight: Katherine Woodman

CD/Song Compilation – Rearrange Genre: Pop/Worship
By Rhyne Armstrong

For my latest assignment, I was lucky enough to be given Katherine Woodman’s independent EP, Rearrange.

While I am not a professional musician, I do know what makes a good sound, and I like what I heard on Katherine’s CD.

The music is well put together and the instrumentals seem flawless. On top of that, the lyrics flow well with the music and express a genuine love for Christ. Personally, I hope to hear more from her in the future, and would jump at the chance to get a full sized CD from her when she puts one out.

When we contacted Katherine in the hopes of reviewing her music, we asked her a few questions to help us get to know the person as well as the music. Her response was amazing, and I’d like to share some of what she had to say.

We asked what her influences were, hoping to get some insight into where her motivations to play and write came from.  She said: “One of my influences is Watermark. When I was in 8th grade I saw them live and I told myself I want to do what they are doing one day. They are a husband and wife team and I liked seeing them worship God together. My oldest brother played guitar when I was growing up and was in a hard rock Christian band when he was in high school and would practice in our basement and that inspired me to learn guitar. My mom always encouraged me to never give up playing piano and made me stick with it no matter how much I disliked it when I was little.
I was a tom boy and thought the piano was a sissy thing to do, but now I am so
thankful.”

On when she started playing and writing music, she said: “I started writing poems and lyrics in 8th grade and would fill journal after journal with prayers and praises to God. I knew God wanted me to use music for Him so I just told Him that it was my desire and I just sat down and began writing and it ended up rhyming and flowing, and it became my outlet to get my thoughts out and a way to talk to God. I wanted the songs that I had written to be able to apply to other's lives and to become songs out of their hearts as well. I wanted to share with everyone what God was doing in my life.”

When I was preparing for the article, the one thing that stuck out from her interview that really hit home for me personally was her reply to a question about advice for those wanting to start out performing music live. Her response was: “To blossom where they are planted. Where they see a need, fill the need. Be faithful in the small things, and be obedient to the call of God on their life. If someone needs someone to lead worship be willing and work hard. Just listen to God, and when a door is opened then walk through it. Don't try to get big for your own glory, because if that is where God wants you, He'll take you there. Even if there are only three people in the room, sing your heart out to God as if the room was packed with people. Be real, be genuine.”