Kaitlin McGaw
Kaitlin McGaw grew up in Boston and graduated with honors from Harvard University before moving to San Francisco. Like fellow Harvard grads Bonnie Raitt, Rivers Cuomo, and Yo-Yo Ma Kaitlin left the academic realm to pursue music (though recently someone called her a "genius" behind her back). From the young age of four, Kaitlin was always jumping on stage to perform, joining children’s music performers RosenShontz onstage (uninvited) to sing and dance with them at the first live show she attended. She was on stage throughout her childhood, only slowing down while at Harvard where she studied African-American Studies, followed by literary research in post-apartheid South Africa. The spark of the love of music and performance was reignited upon her relocation to San Francisco, where she starred in cutting-edge theatrical productions before venturing off on her own to pursue songwriting and vocal performance. Along the road Kaitlin found herself working at Blue Bear School of Music as Development Director and The Recording Academy as Project Manager, supporting the San Francisco music community.
Kaitlin is known by audiences for the power behind her voice. Much like San Francisco icon Janis Joplin, Kaitlin can draw in listeners from the first few notes, with the sultry soul and heart she puts into the delivery of the story of the song. Currently she is performing in every style from hard rock to hip hop, children's music to lounge music, for audiences of all ages. She recently performed upstairs at the Fillmore for the Smashing Pumpkins residency. She combines a vast and edgy vocal range with hip-hop rhythms and blues. She has trained with Raz Kennedy (Metallica, Counting Crows), Dwayne Calizo (Experimental Performance Institute), and Bonnie Hayes (Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray). San Francisco should keep their ears out for this one; a true “San Francisco Treasure.”
Something for everyone: Kaitlin shares her enchanting songs with band THE SIMPLE THINGS, and her funky fresh rhymes and dance with children's music production ALPHABET ROCKERS.
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