Debut Album

Kat Ellis’s debut album Talking to Myself is a quiet, emotionally grounded exploration of maturity, restraint, and connection, inspired by jazz greats like Blossom Dearie and Monica Zetterlund. Across twelve tracks—from a playful New Orleans twist on “Trust in Me” to a feminist reinterpretation of “You Don’t Own Me” and a tender “Annie’s Song”—Ellis balances clarity with depth, weaving personal stories of childhood fear, creative discovery, and hard-won compassion. Each arrangement, shaped in collaboration with mentors and peers, reflects her belief that every note should serve the lyric, the ensemble, and the truth at the heart of the song.

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Singer, Artist & Educator Kat Ellis. We take a deep dive into her new 2025 CD Talking to Myself, her late-in-life singing career, her artistry, her decades in education, and the creative journey that led her to today.