Kat Perkins Brings a Bit of Danger Back to Rock with Scarlet Haze

So do you like your rock and roll safe and free from risk or possibility? If so, you better not tell Kat Perkins. Kat is ready to bring rock music back to its dangerous roots. She and her band Scarlet Haze are about to release their major label debut disc, "One Bad Bitch" with a leadoff single, (Reach Down) that takes on the theme of ahh -- self pleasure. I had the opportunity to chat with Kat, in an effort to find out where the danger in rock has gone.

David Carr: You got your start in the local music scene in North Dakota correct? What kind of a local rock scene does North Dakota have?

Kat Perkins: Well I grew up there so that's mainly why I started playing there. There is one big festival that happens every year at a huge amphitheater. It's literally the biggest amphitheater in the US. I had the chance to play there but overall there is not much of a rock scene in North Dakota. That's basically why I left there and went to Nashville and New York.

David Carr: So while playing small bars and clubs your band won a battle of the bands contest and you ended up opening an arena show for Bon Jovi. What was that like? Were you all prepared for something like that?

Kat Perkins: I wish I could say we were so cool about it but the bottom line is I have never been so nervous before in my life! HA! We found out we won the contest and then had two days to prepare for the show. I was literally holding back the vomit! We had 35 minutes on stage and it felt like it flew by! All of our parents were there. My best memory of that entire evening is seeing my mom in the audience with her fist pumping in the air.

David Carr: How long had the band been together before that show?

Kat Perkins: We had been playing together for about eleven months.

David Carr: It seems that with the record business being in such disarray, it's easier for a new artist/band to get their music on a TV show or movie. Would you agree?

Kat Perkins: Absolutely! I was doing a lot of the leg work on my own with getting my music on TV shows, and then I hired a firm to help me. It's a lot of phone calls and follow up work. Most music directors for TV shows and movies are interested in helping indie artists. It's also easier and cheaper for them to get the music of indie artists. It's a great way to gain exposure.

David Carr: Let's chat about your upcoming disc, "One Bad Bitch". First, what inspired the title? I mean, you don't sound like a bitch at all! You sound quite pleasant.

Kat: HA! The title is actually the name of a clothing line. They are all about the "bad girl thing". They approached me about writing a song with that title. At first I was not into it. I figured ok, I can just write this tune and sell it to someone else. I just started to fall in love with it. I liked the edginess of it. I like the element of danger in it. Rock music has become too safe. The guys in rock get to be dangerous all the time! I feel like a lot of the time, the women play it safe. I think the last dangerous female I saw in rock was Lita Ford! It has been a while, and it's time to bring some of that back.

David Carr: So I can assume that the song Reach Down is also an attempt to bring back rock's edginess?

Kat Perkins: That song is honestly about being a confident woman. It's about being a very strong woman.

David Carr: Has your record company been supportive of your quest to bring a little female edginess back to rock?

Kat Perkins: I went through a lot of negotiations and a lot of talk before I settled with my current label and it has been great! I was actually pretty successful as an indie artist in the Midwest so I was really looking for a fair, supportive deal. Everyone has been very supportive and fantastic.

David Carr: What's the plan after the disc is released? Will you be touring in the spring?

Kat Perkins: We are gonna hit it super hard when it comes to touring this year. We will start off doing some club dates in the spring. In the summer we will hopefully be opening for a national act.

David Carr: With so many bands on the road this summer tell me why folks should check out Scarlet Haze.

Kat Perkins: If you come to see is you will get a super high energy rock show, cut rate vocals and a lot of sexual energy! It's the total package.

Don't ignore this total package. Check out "One Bad Bitch" by Scarlet Haze when it drops this spring.