Full bio:
Kathy Zhou’s music blurs the boundaries of genre, with traces of pop, rock, vintage folk, theatre, and classical. Kathy is known for her unique, engaging, style, which marries her classical piano prowess with moments of improvisational, rock-inspired shredding. Her signature sound combines her instrumental virtuosity with witty, imaginative lyrics and haunting, whimsical vocals. Her work has been described as “mesmerizing,” evoking the feeling of being on a stormy island, in a colorful nightmare, or in a dramatic storybook. Each piece keeps audiences on their toes with unique twists and unexpected turns. A typical song could start out sounding like a soothing ballad, only to deceptively cut into a fiery stanza of intense flying piano keys and raw, passionate vocals.
Originally from California, Kathy began formal piano training at the age of 7. She spent her childhood training in the classical repertoire and winning nationwide competitions. Kathy then took a break from music when she began her studies at UCLA. While on campus, she exercised her creativity by founding a performing arts outreach club providing students at low income secondary schools opportunities to study theatre and music. The success of this organization led her to join Teach For America in Arkansas after graduation. While teaching high school in rural Arkansas, Kathy was exposed to Memphis, TN’s vibrant musical scene and creative community. She would drive into the city almost weekly to attend choir rehearsals and live shows. Those years planted the seeds in her eventually performing as a non-classical musician. Kathy then moved overseas and taught English in France for two years. When it came time to return to the states, moving to Memphis to pursue writing and performing music was an easy decision.
In 2022, Kathy released her first single, “Strange Child. This fantasy folk-rock tune was met with significant success. In 2023, the song's accompanying music video was a finalist in the Indie Memphis Film Festival.In 2024, Kathy’s live performance of “Strange Child” placed in the regional semifinals of the annual statewide Tennessee Songwriters Week competition.
In October 2025, Kathy released her debut EP “A Vivid, Magic, Scene,” and independently booked, routed, and completed her first tour spanning Chicago, New York City, Upstate New York,, Montréal, and Toronto to promote the EP. Drawing upon nature and fantasy themes, processing the past, and coming to terms with the present, this record features the Memphis-based artist’s piano virtuosity, imaginative folk-like lyrics, and hauntingly whimsical voice complemented by a rock fable-inspired violin, cinematic-funky bass, dreamlike-pensive guitar, and other instruments. Additionally, “A Vivid, Magic, Scene” is a colorful, cinematic, story of Kathy’s journey coming into her own as a new independent artist in her 30’s. Having already gone through several careers and lived all over the world throughout her 20’s, she was incredibly fulfilled career-wise and life-experience wise, yet consistently felt a huge part of her was missing. During those years, she longed to write and perform songs, but struggled to feel that she deserved to pursue that aspect of creativity. Thus, over a decade of powerful anthems, heart-wrenching lullabies, and colorful stories brewed until she finally picked up the pen and went to the piano in her 30’s. She is proud to share her first collection of songs in this EP.
Outside of writing, releasing, and producing her original songs, Kathy also writes and composes for theatre productions, and specializes in a variety of live performances. From entertaining audiences with lively piano cover requests to sharing songs in an intimate songwriter circle, all her performances bring a unique element of Avant-garde magic and engagement.
For fans of: Regina Spektor, Fiona Apple, Mitski, Judy Collins
Short bio:
Kathy Zhou is a piano-powered art-pop and burlesque-folk singer-songwriter. Based in the rock’n’roll soul capitol of Memphis, TN, Kathy crafts poignant and musically rich stories in line with her city’s soulful traditions, yet powered by her own unique, cinematic, theatrical, flair. Audiences repeatedly describe her sound as “mesmerizing,” sharing that “no one else sounds like her.” With piano stylings somewhere between a classical piano prodigy and rock and roll shredder, an equally dynamic voice that is soothing and gentle, yet passionate and empathic, and lyrics that are heartfelt and magical, Kathy’s shows are sure to bring avant-garde magic and prompt heartfelt and honest dialogue amongst audiences.
Shorter bio:
Kathy Zhou is a genre-bending, piano-powered, singer-songwriter whose music incorporates traces of art pop, burlesque folk, theatre, and classical. Her work has been described as “mesmerizing,” evoking the feeling of being on a stormy island, in a colorful nightmare, or in a dramatic storybook.
