Kat Perkins first auditioned for NBC's reality singing competition The Voice with "Gold Dust Woman" during season six. Her gritty, rock-driven voice instantly caught the attention of coach Adam Levine. It didn't take long for Perkins to become a staple of Team Adam. She advanced to the semi-finals and gained a group of devoted fans that tuned in week after week. Despite not winning the show, Perkins made a lasting impression.
She was unique on The Voice and had an over-the-top, yet lovable, personality and a vocal range that could cross genres. One week she could sing, "Let It Go" and the next a rock 'n' roll classic. Perkins became a musical chameleon on the show and showed off her talents not only as an incredible performer but as a true musician.
Now, following her time on The Voice, she is out to prove that she can have a successful music career with her self-titled debut album. This album moves away from a pop sound and fully embraces Perkins gritty and powerful rock 'n' roll vocal range. The album opens with "Drive." the song is a musical adrenaline rush and announces that Perkins has arrived on the scene. This isn't an average pop/rock song. It's hard hitting sound echoes that of the great Joan Jett or Liz Phair.
"Drive" moves into "Takes This Heart and Leave," which is an emotional power rock ballad that allows Perkins to showcase her ability to tell a story through her lyrics. Much like her time on The Voice, Perkins shows with this album that she can really bring the audience in through her lyrics and delivery. This debut felt like a personal expression from the singer. She wasn't afraid to push the boundaries with her lyrics, vocals or instrumental choices. This album has a hard hitting rock 'n' roll thread throughout it but that compliments Perkins' vocal range which can embrace that type of melody. With this album she was able to fully be herself and record the tunes that she connected with.
This album isn't perfect, at times it feels like the songs are blending together and sounding alike, but the passion, energy and musical talent from Perkins help to outshine those problems. Perkins is out to prove that despite getting her start on a singing competition, her rock 'n' roll driven music is the real deal and this album does just that.
Other stand out songs on the album include, "Let's Get on The Road," "The Hardest Part" and "Dancing in the Stars."