With one of the boldest, brashest, turn-your-day-around vocals in music, singer/ songwriter Katie Kadan is back with another original track for the holiday season. The cheeky “Hey, Mr. Santa” is available today and follows the Windy City, soul-singer's recent release, “Unless I Fall In Love” which gave fans another taste of her debut EP to be released next year. Listen to “Hey Mr. Santa” HERE, “Unless I Fall In Love” HERE and watch the official video for “Unless I Fall In Love” below.
“Instead of your typical Christmas song about decorating trees, cozying up with a loved one or listening for sleigh bells, we wanted to write a Christmas song with the cheeky fun my fans know and love,” shared Kadan. “This song is for all of my single folks out there. I hope you find a Santa to get wrapped up with this holiday season.”
Written by Kadan with Johnny Reid who also serves as producer, the song finds the powerhouse chanteuse, with her rich swagger and stadium-sized vocal, playfully asking the “man with the bag” if he’d be her Santa tonight.
Kadan’s second original holiday release in as many years follows her new song, the sultry “Unless I Fall In Love” released last month. On the track she finds the self-worth we all need … waiting within. “Sometimes life can be like ‘If I'm not this certain way, do I have value? Am I ever going to have purpose?’” she says. “Am I ever going to be worthy of love, or will I keep falling short?’”
Pulling big emotions from simple, self-penned songs and delivering them with a blowtorch of a vocal, Kadan has finally answered those questions for herself. It’s up to each of us to do the same, but a little inspiration never hurts.
A classically-inspired soul diva for a brand-new age, sharing her growth toward self-respect through the empowering joy of music has become Kadan’s calling – her sense of purpose. A born entertainer and the youngest of four in a church-centered, deeply-musical family, it took Kadan her whole life to find her purpose. But now that she has, it seems almost inevitable.
Praising her “big, loud family,” the vocal phenom learned to harmonize as soon as she could talk and delivered her first performance in front of her church congregation at 3 years old. Homeschooled by a songwriting mother who loved the ‘60s folk revival, and with a father whose taste kept Otis Redding, James Brown and the giants of soul on repeat, music was embedded in Kadan’s daily life – so deep that when she couldn’t concentrate on her studies, the fix was to play some piano and quiet her mind.
Obviously talented, her parents helped a teenaged Kadan join one of Chicago’s top choirs, and they even scraped enough money together to send her to conservatory. But feeling like she had no shot at a career, she dropped out, taking odd jobs and teaching vocal lessons instead. “I was unhappy,” she admits now. “That's not what I wanted to do, but I had no idea how to get into the music business. And honestly, I didn't think I would have a place … because I'm a fat lady.”
Needing some joy in her life, Kadan knew where to turn. She found her way to the female owned and operated Underground Wonder Bar and got herself a life-changing gig. Thrilling local crowds with her dynamic voice – an explosive, all-natural mix of raspy soul and gospel power – she made a point to go her own way, performing original songs right from her first night … and people took notice. A producer from NBC’s The Voice soon got in touch, but still feeling unworthy, Kadan turned them down.
“I didn't want to do it. I thought, it's kind of a sellout,” she says with a laugh. “I was going to go back to school actually, because I was tired of the hustle. I was going to go for psychology, and I'm like, ‘Music to me is the healer. And if I can't be a singer, I’ve got to help people in a different way.’”
Eventually, though, Kadan changed her mind. Determined to give herself just one chance – and feeling like she had nothing to lose – she showed up for The Voice and stood out immediately, taking third place on Season 17 in 2019. Impressing judges and fans alike with her big style, big voice, and ability to leave her heart on the stage each night, Kadan’s joyful personality and clear comfort in her own skin tore through countless stereotypes. She became an inspiration to millions.
“Hey, Mr. Santa” and “Unless I Fall In Love” follow her summer release, “Without You,” the first taste of what fans can expect from Kadan’s debut EP set for release next year. For more information and to stay updated on the latest news and tour dates, visit katiekadan.com and follow along on Instagram @KatieKadanOfficial and @KatieKadan on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.
