Kate Davis

Kathryn L. "Kate" Davis was born on February 4, 1991 in West Linn, Oregon, and quickly demonstrated a prodigious talent for music. Her earliest instruction came on the violin, a foundation that expanded when she moved to the Pacific Northwest during middle school and began studying the double bass, eventually performing both instruments with the Portland Youth Philharmonic. While attending West Linn High School she earned the prestigious title of Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2009 through the YoungArts national arts scholarship program, underscoring her emerging reputation as a versatile young musician. After graduating, she enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music in 2009, concentrating on jazz and classic American songs, and released a Christmas themed album that same year, followed by a live recording in 2010. Her early recordings, such as Introducing Kate Davis (2008), showcased a blend of pop sensibility and jazz sophistication, and collaborations with guitarist Gabe Schnider and drummer Conor Szymanski earned her airtime on Michael Feinstein's NPR show Song Travels. In 2012 the ASCAP honored her with the Robert Alan Award for new songwriters, cementing her status as an emerging voice in contemporary music.

In 2014, MTV named her one of the "Fifteen Fresh Females to Rule Pop," and her viral YouTube cover of Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" performed on double bass with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox amassed over eight million views in just three months. Appearances on PBS NewsHour and the special American Voices with Renée Fleming highlighted her ability to step into high‑pressure situations, once replacing Grammy‑winner Kurt Elling on short notice. Shifting toward indie rock, she released the critically praised album Trophy in 2019, followed by a full cover of Daniel Johnston's Retired Boxer titled Strange Boy (2021), which supported the Hi How Are You Project mental‑health charity. Recent projects include the original single "Consequences" (2022) and the album Fish Bowl (2023) on Anti‑Records, demonstrating her continued evolution as a musician, singer, songwriter, and bassist who effortlessly bridges genres while maintaining a distinct artistic voice.