Singer-songwriter Kat Edwards shares what it’s really like on tour as an Australian musician

“I think lots of people forget that being a musician is a full-time job.” 

For those of us who are inclined to bouts of wanderlust, being a touring musician seems like a dream. I always pictured it like backpacking, but more glamorous – hotels instead of 16-bed hostels, concerts every night and hanging out with bandmates in a refreshment-stocked green room.

When indie singer-songwriter Kat Edwards was propelled into a music career shortly after she started writing her own songs, her fantasy of life on the road came one step closer to becoming a reality. Now with a studio album, a handful of singles and a full-length EP behind her, the 22-year-old artist has spent a good part of her early adulthood travelling across the country with her band in tow.

Discover more about Australia’s musical talent in FJ’s Music section.

Backed by Wrangler, whose durable pieces are kind of an open secret in the music industry, we caught up with Kat during a period of rest in her hometown of Tasmania and talked about how she’s handling the whirlwind of life on the road.

How did you get your start in the music industry? 

I started writing my own songs and playing them at open mic nights when I was around 16 years old. I also used to busk on the weekends at the local markets in Tasmania. A few months into writing my own material, some friends of mine helped me record a really rough demo. I uploaded it to Triple J Unearthed and I just got lucky, I guess. I’ve been working in the music industry ever since.

Can you give us a brief rundown of the touring you’ve been up to recently? 

I’ve just finished up playing some festivals and support slots over the summer. I got to support Clinton Kane and Dodie and play my first New Year’s Eve festival slot at Mona! However, my most recent national tour was with Gretta Ray. I was the support act for that tour, and it was the most fun I’ve ever had on the road. Everyone in her team is just so lovely and a pleasure to work with.

I feel like many people have a romanticised idea about what it’s like to go on tour. You know, seeing new places, meeting fans. Is that what it’s really like on the road? 

It’s definitely lots of fun if you have a great team around you, but it’s pretty mentally and physically draining too. I find I’ll often finish a tour and get the flu or cold a couple of days later. I think lots of people forget that being a musician is a full-time job, and touring is just going to work – doing said job. Meeting fans and actually getting to chat with them after the show is over is pretty special, though. 

Do you find it exciting to always be in motion, or do you ever get homesick? 

I love my alone time and I love my room. I do remember getting a little homesick when I was a bit younger, but lately, I’ve been loving changing things up and keeping the wheel turning! I went to the UK last year to make a new record, and I think that really opened my eyes to how big the world is and how exciting new experiences can be.

What are you wearing on stage and behind the scenes? Do you have any clothing items that you’d never go on the road without? 

I think I dress similarly on and off stage, but my stage outfits are just like a more amplified or louder version of my personal style. I always wear a lot of vintage pieces. As for things I couldn’t tour without… I’d say a pair of really well-made but comfy denim pieces, like my Wrangler jeans. I’ll just wear them over and over while I’m travelling. Oh, and my vintage boots – they’ve become a bit of a staple for my stage fits.

Where is your favourite city you’ve been to on tour and why? I know it’s probably a hard choice. 

While I was on that tour with Gretta Ray, we played in Fremantle, and I had the best crowd experience. Everyone was just listening so intently, which was really special for me because it was my first time visiting and performing in Western Australia. It was also just a really pretty place and reminded me of my hometown, Tasmania/Lutruwita. 

What is the best part of being a touring musician? 

I think it would have to be the relationships I get to build with everyone, not only with fans but with the people who are working on the tour. The musicians, sound engineers and managers, it feels so nice to be a part of that community.

Suss some of Kat Edwards’ favourite Wrangler pieces here.