Pop-rock perfection has arrived to all streaming platforms with Leah Kate’s new single, “Super Over,” which is the ultimate banger for anyone going through a difficult breakup.
After achieving massive virality with her hit songs “10 Things I Hate About You” and “Twinkle Twinkle,” Leah Kate has continued to write hard-hitting tracks with playful lyrics, head-bopping melodies, and intoxicatingly catchy choruses. “Super Over” is no exception, potentially being her best release yet.
Along with new music, Kate has fallen in love with touring. She’s recently opened for artists like Madison Beer and Hayley Kiyoko, and many more shows are on the horizon for this sensational talent. Her next performance is coming up soon, as she’s dominating the Summerfest stage in Milwaukee, WI, with her very own set on July 6.
Calling in from her Hawaiian vacation, Leah Kate chatted with Pop Crave about her new single, “Super Over,” how being an artist during the age of TikTok has affected her, and what her musical plans are for the rest of 2023. Keep reading for the full interview!
Hi Leah! It’s so nice to meet you. First, I want to check in on how you’ve been. In just five words, how would you describe what 2023 has been like for you so far?
Mmm, wow! I’ll say emotional roller coaster… and very exciting! A lot of highs and also a lot of lows. Lots of highs and challenges, and it’s flown by! It feels like it should still be January, but I’m like, “Oh my God, it’s July?” Like, what is going on? I would say it’s just been a mindfuck. Every day is something new, like a hurdle [laughs], but super fun! I’m really grateful, and I’ve been having a great year, but yeah. Every day is something else. It’s like every hour, I’m like, “Oh, alright, gotta tackle this,” but good year so far. It’s a fun year, I’m grateful, and I’m excited!
Your new single, “Super Over,” releases on June 30! How would you describe the song and what it personally means to you?
I wrote “Super Over” because I needed to be super over someone. It’s obviously a breakup song, but I was like, “I just need to cut this person out of my life so bad!” I was so upset. I couldn’t get the thought of this one person out of my mind for a really disturbing amount of time, and I just got to this point where I was like, “I need this anthem to myself that I’m just gonna blast anytime I need to remember that it’s done, I’m good, and I’m fine,” and it’s supposed to be this anthem to make you happy and okay with the situation regardless of what may have happened. But yeah, it was an anthem I wrote to myself as my official “I’m cutting you off” anthem forever. So, that’s how it started, and now here we are! I’m so excited for it to come out.
Along with the release of the song, there’s also a music video for “Super Over”! The house you filmed it in looks absolutely fabulous. What inspired the overall visuals and concept of the music video?
I really wanted a very extra, striking, intriguing video, and I started with my choreographer. I was like, “If the guy that the song is about watched this, what would make him regret everything he ever did?” I wanted the moves to be really crazy, so we spent days working on the moves. We actually had a whole dance for the whole song, but you can’t really see it in the way that it’s edited and cut, but there’s just a lot of very extra movements. The steps, the hip rolls, the legs opening, and just everything about it. I wanted it to be very extreme and like, “What would torture him the most?” So, that’s kind of where we started. “How can I break the internet so bad with this video that it’ll land on his For You Page?” We started with choreography and kind of just built it out from there [laughs].
What’s your favorite memory you have from shooting a music video, whether it be from this one or a prior one?
Oh my God, this video was so fun! I got to work with a lot of amazing brands this time. It was sponsored by Steve Madden, DC, and Victoria’s Secret Pink. Being able to collaborate with three different brands, they sent me all the options of what to wear, and I styled a lot of the looks myself. Especially the pink look, that was all Victoria’s Secret Pink! I got to incorporate a lot of brand stuff in this, and it was really fun because I co-styled the video. That was super cool! Those are some of my favorite brands, so it was really fun doing that.
You are amazing at tapping into an alt-pop/pop-rock sound. Who would you say were some inspirations growing up that have inspired your current sound and love of music?
I would say growing up – yeah, [“Super Over”] is a little bit rock heavy for sure – with especially the rock sounds, Blink-182, Avril, and now a little of The 1975. Those are some of the main ones. But yeah, this one’s definitely more rock leaning. Not all of them are, but this one definitely is.
You’ve recently toured with superstars like Madison Beer, Hayley Kiyoko, and Chase Atlantic. All of those sound like such a fun time! Every time you get an invite to join someone massive on tour, what is that initial feeling like?
It’s crazy because I spend every day thinking to myself, “Oh my God, how am I gonna get on the next tour?” Because it’s so fun to be on tour! I always want to open for people that I love, and so it’s so exciting! I got a huge one recently that I can’t say yet, but there’s more coming that I’m so excited about and that I’m freaking out about! Yeah, so probably shouldn’t have said that, but whatever! It’s the most exciting thing ever!
What’s the most valuable thing you’d say you’ve learned about yourself from touring this past year?
Oh God, what have I learned about myself? That you just have to be really strong and not care what anyone thinks. Just go out there and have fun because the crowd wants to have fun and be entertained, and no one hears you hit that wrong note or forgetting a lyric no one knows. You just can’t stress about those things. You just gotta go have so much fun! Remember that you’re doing this because it’s fun… So yeah, just always reminding myself about that, never caring what anyone thinks, and just going out and having a good time!
Summerfest is happening pretty soon on July 6! How excited are you to perform there, and what can fans anticipate from the set?
I’m so excited! It’s my first U.S. festival this year. There’s a new song that I’ve never played live in the U.S. I’m playing “Super Over” live for the first time with it being out, so yeah, Summerfest is gonna be so fun. I’m so excited!
Is there a song you enjoy playing live the most?
Yeah, I’d say “Super Over,” and “10 Things I Hate About You” is just always so fun because everyone knows it, screams it, and it’s just a vibe live. It’s so fun! I don’t even sing it because everyone sings it so loud. I’m just handing the mic to the crowd, and they take it over [laughs].
You’re no stranger to going viral on TikTok! Your music, its virality, and your amazing talent have all landed you over 300 million global streams and 200 million TikTok views. What would you say are the biggest pros and cons of being a music artist during the age of social media and TikTok?
There’s a lot of cons. I mean, you’re definitely not just a singer-songwriter anymore. Like, you’re a content creator. I spend more time making TikTok videos than anything. It’s like a full-time job. I will take trips to go be somewhere else and take funny TikTok videos. Obviously, it adds a lot more to your plate, but in a way I kind of like that. Years ago, I always wanted to be a singer-songwriter, but I didn’t know how to put my music out. Now, you don’t need a label. Now, you can just do it from your bedroom, and your whole life can change. The power is with the people, which is amazing. I had a huge hit song because of the internet, and 10 years ago, that never would have been possible. I was just in my room making songs. My parents were like, “You’re never gonna pursue this as a career.” Like, “What are you doing?” So yeah, I mean, you don’t need anyone. You can literally change your life yourself, and you don’t need to rely on one other person, which is definitely the beauty of TikTok and social media. But yeah, it’s definitely a lot more work. I spend 99% of my time just making TikToks and videos.
Do you think that now more than in the past, being a music artist is a package deal with your personality and who you are as a person?
For sure! For so long, I had no idea what kind of music I wanted to make or put out, or what I wanted to say, and now I feel very connected and in tune with who I am and what I want to sing about and write about. It’s definitely to help other people heal, because it’s like, “What’s helped me heal?” And that’s how I know if a song is good to me or not and worth putting out, if I listen to it and it makes me feel better about whatever I’m going through.
I think a lot of my songs are terrible. I’m not the type who writes a song like, “This is the best thing I’ve ever heard!” Like, I think one out of every 10 songs I write, I consider. If I listen to a song and I’m like, “I feel something, I feel better, and this helps to heal me,” then I know it’ll do the same to other people. “10 Things I Hate About You,” when I wrote that song, I was so miserable. That just made me feel so much better. I was like, “Okay, screaming this is therapeutic!” Always when I listen to my songs, that’s kind of what I look for. If I don’t feel anything, then I’m like, “What’s it gonna do? Nothing.” Okay, it’s a good song, but it’s not going to do anything for anyone. So, I’m not gonna put it out.
Is there anything you can share with fans about what to anticipate from Leah Kate for the rest of 2023?
It’s literally Leah Kate 5.0! I don’t even know how to say it. Literally, if you liked me before, then great! There’s so many good songs coming. Just, like, my favorite songs ever. I’ve been working on these for years, and it’s just like Leah Kate on crack. Leah Kate 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0. I don’t know. It’s like something happened in the last year, and I feel like I really honed in on everything, and the songs are crazy. The visuals are crazy. Everything is crazy! So much is coming! You have no idea! It’s gonna be the year of Leah Kate. There’s something Leah Kate every day coming out, so get ready! Next level Leah Kate!
Leah Kate’s new song, “Super Over,” is out now.
