Q&A with Oceanport performer Cat Cosentino

Oceanport singer/songwriter Cat Cosentino performs throughout Central Jersey, from Espresso Joes in Keyport to the Annual Jersey Acoustic Music Awards next Saturday in Asbury Park, where she is nominated in the Female Vocalist category.

Little Silver-Oceanport Patch: What’s your story?

Cat Cosentino: About five years ago, right before college kicked in, I had an interest in writing original music. I had written a lot of poetry, still do…but then I wanted to transform it into song. My uncle, who had been a very big influence on me, had been getting me into cover-type band deals and that was fun, but I really wanted to get out there on my own. So my then-boyfriend got me a guitar and I guess because it was a really nice guitar it gave me that kick in the bum to project myself and get myself going. I started playing at places like the Twisted Tree in Asbury Park to get the ball rolling, and then I started playing at the bar on campus and I just grew year after year.

Who or what are your influences?

Jewel was a big inspiration of mine, so I would think maybe I should be doing that…you know, like very beautiful imagery based stuff…poetry, but always in the back of my mind I wanted something different, something very original, which is what you must always strive for, because no one is going to like you, if you’re actually someone else. But I think that’s pretty typical…everyone needs an inspiration or a mentor, even if you never meet your mentor…it could be Dave Matthews and he doesn’t even need to know it. But it doesn’t even need to be someone famous or accomplished, it can be a really strong family influence. My grandmother is my most important influence and my drive and that’s where the music comes from now.

In what way did your grandmother influence you, and how does she “drive” your music?

My grandmother, Estelle, is the driving passion behind my work, because when I was little and even still today, I get the story told to me that she was living in Hell’s Kitchen in New York and she was singing on the street corner with a bunch of friends and a producer came up to her and wanted to sign her, but her mother said no way, you have to stay with your family. And that story always gave me an inspiration and she always supports what I do. In some ways she wants me to succeed even more than I feel like I need to and I wouldn’t say she’s living vicariously through me. She throws her passion at me. She always tells me, go for the golden ring and I always do and I even wrote a song called The Golden Ring that is based on the game of the carousel…you go around and around and you reach for it.

What’s the golden ring for you?

That golden ring for me is being able to reach millions of people with what I have to say with my music and the passion involved with that and also to inspire others to write, to express how they think and feel.

How important is it for an artist to work in different mediums? Film, music, poetry, theater...you do it all. Tell me about wearing different hats as an artist.

I think it is so important for an artist to be an artist that is involved in that umbrella of artform, from theatre to film and radio and your music. I remember when I was younger saying I don’t like being without a focus…I don’t know if I want to do theater or fine arts or even marketing. I thought the lack of one focus was certainly not a blessing and now everything has changed. It’s wonderful and important to work in many mediums because it means you can relate to all of them and those who work in them and share their inspirations. I try to appreciate creation on every level. Especially with the internet and YouTube and all of that just taking over…you really need to be able to present yourself in many ways.

You’ve been in a couple of films, The Groundkeeper and Lines...what were those experiences like?

The Groundkeeper is actually going to be shown at the Garden State Film Festival in Asbury Park. My friend, Jenna Bush, not the president’s daughter, created the concept for this film last May. She asked me to act in it. She told me it was going to be very short. It’s six minutes long and I can’t give the plot away. She wants everyone to see it for themselves, but it’s so nice for me to be invited into things like student films. I was also in another film made by Nick Donnoli, called Lines. He’s actually directing a music video for me. And I did a film called Gig, about singer songwriters in Jersey. A buddy of mine and I went out and filmed and edited, and it was wonderful. I love film.

What inspires you to work or create?

I think there’s so much involved in a muse and I think the very essence of poetry as it exists as an artform is my muse.  If you were to say, poetry or lyrics, I would say poetry. I find it’s also important to have people in mind who believe in you…that’s nice too.

What effect has New Jersey had on your music?

New Jersey has had the ultimate effect on my art forms. I’m a Jersey girl through and through. The community of musicians here is wonderful, because it's not hard to break into. You just kinda mesh into it. You know, everyone here loves music and that’s Jersey for you. There’s something about Jersey…I don’t know if it’s Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi or…

Well, something about it inspired them too.

Maybe it is because we are between major entertainment cities, but we have the beach and ocean and that’s very inspiring, and Jersey, you know, has got these roots to it that are almost exposed.

In Jersey, we’re in the valley between these two great cities.

We’re the folk singers in the valley, banging on our banjos and here they’re listening to every note and lyric. Whereas in New York, they might not hear every note and lyric.

What’s playing on your iPod these days?

Lady Gaga, Damien Rice, Ryan Adams...not Bryan Adams. No Doubt and Weezer play a lot too.

What does the future look like?

The future, technically, doesn’t exist (laughs). The future? Hmmm…the future looks like a sun. It looks like a coastline. It looks red and orange with a little purple mixed in. There are birds flying and fish breaking in the water. That’s what the future looks like.

Download the movie