Press Info

Kate Trajan is a Canadian singer songwriter living on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Her song-writing draws on two decades of experience performing as a singer with jazz, folk and indie groups in Victoria, Calgary, Montreal, the UK, and the Netherlands.

Originally from Nanaimo BC, Trajan began classical piano and voice training at four years old and started writing songs as a teenager. She moved to Montreal for university when she was 17 and joined an indie rock band, D’Arc, singing backup and playing keys. D’Arc performed at venues including Club Soda and the Hard Rock Café. Trajan wrote prolifically during these years and D’Arcperformed and recorded one of her original songs, “Unscrupulously Me”. Another of her songs, “I Already Miss You”, was recorded as a dancehall number and released by the Montreal artist Ketsia.

From Montreal, Trajan moved to the UK and then The Netherlands. During these years she performed in an acapella group, a folk-rock band, and the Afropean Choir under Anita Daulne of Zap Mama. She recorded a compilation album of original songs and covers, called “A Good Chapter” with friends in Wageningen, The Netherlands. Two trips to New Orleans inspired her to sign up for jazz courses at the Victoria Conservatory of Music once she was back home in BC. In Victoria, Trajan sang regularly with two jazz trios and a swing group. She continued writing songs, incorporating more jazz influences into her body of work.

In 2014 she moved to Calgary for work, where she sang and played keys with a pop cover band, The Lady Brothers. She also pulled the trigger on recording some of her original songs. Kate’s debut EP, “Yesterday Left Without Her Suitcase”, was released in June 2022.

Trajan began working with British-American singer-songwriter and producer Sarah Gillespie in the fall of 2021 on the writing and planning for a full-length album of original music. Ancient Fires was recorded in London UK in April 2023 and will be released in September 2024.

Kate Trajan’s songs are piano driven, blending jazz, folk and pop, with provocative lyrics that feature her mezzo-soprano voice. Stories of lost love and moral dilemmas show up through intimate and forceful performances, with hope glimmering in dark themes.

Her influences include Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones, Neko Case, Amy Winehouse, Eva Cassidy, and Kate Bush.

Trajan now lives on Salt Spring Island, BC. She is also an environmental engineer, a mom and a bonus mom.