Katherine Paul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katherine Paul
Paul performing at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, 2019
Background information
Born	(1989-06-16) June 16, 1989 (age 36) Anacortes, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock indie rock
Occupation(s)	Musician singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards drums
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Saddle Creek

Katherine Paul (born in 1989) is a talented singer and musician from the Swinomish and Iñupiaq tribes. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Her music, known as Black Belt Eagle Scout, mixes sounds from post-rock, alternative rock, and traditional Native American music. She has released an EP (a shorter music collection) and three full albums. Her first EP, called Black Belt Eagle Scout, came out in June 2014. Her first album, Mother of My Children, was released in 2017 and then again in 2018 by Saddle Creek Records. In 2019, she released a single called "Loss & Relax".

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Katherine Paul was born in Anacortes, Washington. Her father is Swinomish and Colville, and her mother is Iñupiaq from Alaska. Katherine grew up on the Swinomish Reservation in Washington.

Discovering Music and Culture

From a young age, Katherine was surrounded by music. She listened to and sang traditional songs of the Coast Salish people. She was also a jingle dress dancer at pow wows with her family's drum group, the Skagit Valley Singers. She started learning piano and played the flute in her school band.

Learning Guitar and Drums

Katherine's interest in guitar and drums grew when she found some old video tapes of bands like Hole and Nirvana. She taught herself to play these instruments by pausing the videos and watching how the musicians played.

Joining the Music Scene

In high school, Katherine became part of the local music scene in Anacortes. She went to shows at a place called the Department of Safety. There, she met Canadian artist Geneviève Castrée, who became a helpful guide and friend to Katherine. Geneviève encouraged Katherine's early performances.

In 2007, Katherine moved to Portland, Oregon, to go to Lewis & Clark College. In Portland, she got involved with the Rock and Roll Camp for Girls. She also played guitar, drums, and sang for local bands called Forest Park and Genders.

Music Career and Albums

Katherine Paul's first music release as Black Belt Eagle Scout was an eight-song EP in 2014.

Mother of My Children Album (2017)

Her first full album, Mother of My Children, came out in 2017. Katherine played almost all the instruments on the album herself, including bass, keyboard, drums, and guitar. She recorded the album in a converted church studio in Anacortes, staying with her parents on the reservation during that time.

The songs on the album talk about feelings like loss and heartbreak. They also explore Katherine's identity as an indigenous woman. Music helped her through difficult times, especially after her mentor Geneviève Castrée passed away in 2016. Katherine believes this healing power of music comes from her Native upbringing, where singing and drumming are important for well-being.

One song, "Indians Never Die," speaks about the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock and changes happening in Portland. Katherine is a strong voice for indigenous people.

Black Belt Eagle Scout Discography

Here are the main music releases by Black Belt Eagle Scout:

Studio Albums

• Mother of My Children (2017)
• At the Party with My Brown Friends (2019)
• The Land, the Water, the Sky (2023)

Extended Plays (EPs)

• Black Belt Eagle Scout (2014)

Singles

• "Loss & Relax" (2019)
• "Half Colored Hair" (2019)
• "My Heart Dreams" (July 24, 2019)
• "Run It to Ya" (August 27, 2019)
• "Don't Give Up" (2022)
• "My Blood Runs Through This Land" (2022)
• "Nobody" (2023)
• "Spaces" (2023)