About the artist
Kate Mills is making her presence in the NYC music scene felt with the the release of her debut EP, Little Bird. The record showcases the versatility of her smooth, buttery vocals and the well-crafted songs ranging from the soulful and sultry “Little Bird,” to the fun, romantic single, “Cherry Tree” which makes the listener feel like they are on a stroll through Central Park on a Saturday afternoon.
In the brief time leading up to the EP, this social worker-turned-songwriter has gained a solid fan-base by performing at some of New York’s most famous music venues including The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall and Pianos. Kate has earned two JAM Awards nominations, and landed multiple TV performances, such as The Gimme Mo Show hosted by “High School Musical’s” Monique Coleman and Open to Hope. Two of Kate’s songs can be heard in the feature film “Hits” written and directed by Arrested Development’s David Cross.
Kate, who has been performing in front of audiences since she was 9, is no stranger to the stage. As a pre-teen, her voice carried her to multiple musical theater opportunities from performances with Debbie Gibson at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia, to the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. Throughout her adolescence, Kate continued to develop her piano and vocal skills while writing original music and performing in local showcases.
In college, Kate was a founding member of the band Drive Thru Parking, where she fell in love with the recording process. The group toured the northeast for several years, including a performance at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in January of 2010. After 5 years with the band, Kate felt it was time to pursue her solo career in New York City and she and the band parted ways.
While Kate was transporting her large keyboard to and from rehearsals and performances, she was also juggling a rigorous course load at the University of Pennsylvania, earning her Master’s in Social Work. As one who continues to work towards raising awareness of emotional and mental health issues, Kate is always looking for opportunities to merge her love of music with the pursuit of social good. “I believe music, at it’s core, is emotional. It’s not only a platform for raising awareness about important social issues, but music itself can offer healing, expression, and create genuine connections that help us feel less isolated and alone.” She continues to draw on her experiences as an adolescent social worker in her songwriting.
Lyrics
CHERRY TREE
(Kate Mills)
Will you sit with me under the cherry tree?
For the Springtime is fading fast
Its blushing colors you know, we won’t see again
until another year has past
Weatherman says it looks like rain
Let’s bask in the warmth while we can
Even if we both get left behind
I’ll gladly waste the day if I can hold your hand
Will you sit with me under the cherry tree?
For the springtime is fading fast
Its blushing colors you know, we won’t see again
until another year has past
Please don’t look ahead
Like I know you do
For your own good, just look around
The sunlight calls to you
I’m calling out to you
Will you sit with me under the cherry tree?
For the springtime is fading fast
Its blushing colors you know, we won’t see again
until another year has past
Yes we've seen these trees change 20 times
And yes, they’ll bloom again next May
But 12 months time, can bring so much change
where we are right now, will never be the same
Will you sit with me under the cherry tree?
For the springtime is fading fast
Its blushing colors you know, we won’t see again
until another year has past