Sisteria lead singer Katie Williams dropped by Second Wind Coffeehouse to discuss the band and their upcoming set at Norman Music Festival. Sisteria will be performing Friday April 26 on the West Stage.
Did you grow up in Norman?
I did.
What has kept you around?
Well, it hasn’t always kept me around. I’ve lived several different places–New Mexico, Los Angeles—but I always say Oklahoma is a good place to leave and a good place to come back to.
What brought you back?
Community, family—the arts community is amazing.
What makes the Oklahoma music community stand out?
I think the fact that people support each other and want to see everyone win is rare, definitely compared to places like Los Angeles.
When did you start making music?
I was kind of a late bloomer. I mean—I did the whole choir thing in high school, but I didn’t start writing or performing music until like my mid 20s.
What’s your favorite part about being a musical artist?
There’s so many different things. Connection—human connection—healing experience. It’s a full body experience for me. It brings a lot of joy.
Who are your influences?
They vary from the oldie moldies, the classics like of course Zeppelin and Sabbath and all of those guys to Florence and the Machine, Black Mountain, All Them Witches from today.
Do you think people that listen to music, also listen to those people that you were influenced by?
I have no idea—I think we get people from all different backgrounds and all different tastes of music, which I think is a testament to the variety that we’re creating.
How would you describe your sound in 3 words?
Let’s see how self obsessed we can be here—transcendental. All-consuming, loud, powerful—I guess that’s four.
If you to pick one song from your setlist to play the entire time, what would it be?
It’s a song called Pale in the Darkness. It wears my drummer out by the end of it every single time but it’s a collective favorite of ours.
What are some of your favorite spots in Norman?
I’m a old faithful of the earth—I always love eating at the Earth with people over there. My best friends own the Bluebonnet Bar. Other good friends own Apple Tree Chocolate on Main Street.
How do you think the Norman Music Festival does for Oklahoma artists and for the wider community?
First of all, it’s free. Major kudos and shoutout to Shari Jackson for working her tail off every year and all the committees and folks that go into fundraising and making this possible for people. I think it’s really easy to critique something about things aren’t working but seeing behind the lines of this, it’s a massive team effort. It gives artists a platform that (they) maybe otherwise wouldn’t (have).
It gives us a chance to make our home community in a way that we really appreciate. We do play out of state—we don’t always play Norman—and so it’s a nice chance to connect with the fans.
What is one of your most formative moments in your career as an artist?
I think back to when I when I started this project…(I) evolved as an artist from feeling like I was—not a persona, but definitely in my head when I was on stage, just me and the guitar. I think that’s a natural evolution for a lot of artists, is just finding their true voice and kind of liberating themselves. This current project is the most “me” I’ve ever been—I don’t perform when I’m up there, I’m just me.
What do you hope people to take away from your music and from your set at the festival?
I want to be empowered I also always hope—and most times it happens, because I can feel it—just a collective release from the daily grind of human existence. It’s a nice 45-minute vacation.
This story was edited by Shelby Emery.
