The New York Timespreviously described Kat Cunning as having an "exquisite, indie-siren quality." There's no question the queer artist has an enchanting voice that's equal parts ethereal and sexual.
A rising voice on the NYC arts scene, Kat Cunning (aka Katrina Cunningham) crafts songs blending pop, soul and Baroque arrangements, drawing from her study of dance as well as her time on stage ("Dangerous Liaisons," "Cirque Du Soleil's 'Paramour,'" and NYC's "Sleep No More").
OUT caught up with Kat to discuss her new single "Stay On The Line" -- a sultry song about phone sex between two lovers.
OUT: Kat, what was the inspiration for "Stay on the Line"?
Kat: A part of my mission as an artist is to set an example as an empowered woman who is in ownership of her body, her desire and her knowledge; so naturally, a lot of my music is about sex. "Stay On The Line" sets a particular scene (for which I am awfully nostalgic,) of two consenting individuals sneaking onto family landlines, willing to risk getting caught for the forbidden taste of closeness. It's a mark of our times that only some people remember how it feels to press a landline to their ear, cupping the crackling voice on the other end.
There is something beautiful about the way (my experiences with phone sex) have been filled with poetry, feverishly using words like a tennis match, and metaphor in place of scent, touch, and taste. It's about phone sex, but it's also about the poetic depths of desire and a need to connect in the modern age.
Does you queer identity in any way intersect with your music?
It's important for people who belong to marginalized communities to make themselves visible in whatever way they can, if they are safe to do so. I want to use my music to represent my community by being true to who I am and telling true stories that will help to elevate us, start conversations, and bring our narratives further into the mainstream.
I'm all about inclusion and hope that my music is appreciated by a diverse audience... but my little gay heart is a flutter when I imagine that I am giving queer people something that makes them feel seen and invited into another facet of art and society. I write from my heart. My heart is queer. No brainer. Not hiding.
What we can expect to see next from you?
More new music, touring the UK, new music video, and a recurring role in the new season of The Deuce on HBO starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Follow Kat on Instagram.
