Kara Hesse, an independent singer/songwriter, has learned that the best path forward is to stay true to herself. Sometimes, the stories behind the music begin long before an album reaches a listener. Kara Hesse was playing music long before I met her at a Nashville bar, formerly known as Winner’s. Hesse was visiting Nashville from Seattle. She stopped me in my tracks while playing an open mic hosted by Whiskey Jam. Her voice had something distinctive — a powerful, naturally raspy quality that made her stand out from everyone playing that night. Since then, Hesse has continued her musical journey and, to my delight, eventually made Nashville home. She is learning firsthand what it takes to build a career in a city overflowing with talented songwriters and performers.
On February 27, 2026, Kara Hesse released her latest album, “Devil and the Dove.” Kara Hesse spent years making the project and recorded it between Seattle and Nashville. Co-produced by Kara Hesse herself, the record reflects years of personal evolution. It shows hard-earned lessons and a determination to make music on her own terms. The road to its release was anything but straightforward. Bringing the album to life required patience and experimentation. It demanded a willingness to trust her instincts, even when the process took longer than expected. She was determined to trust her instincts and release an album that was true to her artistry and the songs themselves.
Kara Hesse, even though she moved to the Nashville area, does not fit the mold of the typical Nashville artist. I think that is a good thing because it helps her stand out from everyone else. While her path isn’t typical, Hesse has come to understand something about herself as an artist: she would rather take the long road than compromise the music she believes in. Please keep reading to learn more about Kara Hesse and her music.
A Musical Upbringing
Kara Hesse’s relationship with music began long before she began recording albums. Like many who chase a music career, she grew up around the industry. Hesse explained, “My dad was a musician, and he was in and out of bands. I sometimes had to tag along to his rehearsals. At eight years old, watching my dad’s rehearsals, I knew I wanted to play music too. While growing up, my whole family sang Barbershop. Every holiday, I listened to them sing. My dad had instruments lying around everywhere, including a B3 organ. I wish I had sat down and played, but my ADD brain just wondered what all of it was.“
Interestingly, she considered a career on Broadway before settling on music. The singer/songwriter reflected, “I was always the lead in plays. I wanted to be a thespian; actually, I almost went to Broadway. But I realized I would rather do contemporary music. I think Alicia Keys and Norah Jones coming was part of that decision, as I began playing piano at fifteen. Instead of going to school for theatre, I went to Berklee in Boston with a vocal scholarship. However, I attended for only about eight months before dropping out. It just wasn’t for me.
Hesse continued, “Berklee gave me a choice between classical training, like opera, or contemporary. I chose classical because I had already been studying Whitney, Mariah, Shaka, and Celine Dion. One of my opera teachers said, “You sing and breathe opposite of how you should be.” After many classes with her, I said, “So did Janice,” and walked out. So, I moved back to Colorado and began playing music full-time. My dad would sneak me into bars when I was too young. I played and improvised with all the blues cats in Denver.”
Kara Hesse Has a Sound of Her Own
Music City is built around songwriting. Writer’s rounds, showcases, recording studios, and live music venues offer many opportunities for singer/songwriters to connect, collaborate, and develop their careers. With so much happening, standing out can be a challenge. Hesse has seen the possibilities and frustrations of trying to build a career in that environment. It would be easy to fall into the Nashville mold. Kara would eventually resist that temptation.
Hesse remarked, “Well, I got tricked for a second. Only because, in hindsight, it was me challenging myself to write like that. Remember when I wrote, “Cuter by the Drink.” You told me that was the most Nashville song I’ve ever written. Now, I realize it was cool; it’s cute, but I will never release it under my brand because it doesn’t represent the artist I am now. I realize that I could try to fit into this box that seems to be churning out of this machine. Or I could take the long, steady road and keep being me. At the end of the day, the only way for me to be happy is to be true to who I am as an artist.”
Hesse’s voice is another characteristic that sets her apart from many other singers. I personally love her vocal tone. Her voice was distinctive from the start. When asked about her voice, Kara joked, “A lot of that is blood, sweat, tears, and whiskey. I’m only kidding, but my mom used to say I sounded like this when I came out of the womb. She would say I sounded like I smoked a pack a day. But I have never smoked a cigarette in my life.”
The Making of an Album
When Kara Hesse began making “Devil and the Dove,” she had a vision. It was about more than writing songs and recording them. Hesse recorded part of the album in Seattle before moving to Nashville and continued the work after the move. Releasing an album as an independent artist presents a unique set of challenges; the main obstacle, of course, is financing. While the wait for Devil and the Dove was long, it was well worth it. Kara released her previous album “Sojourner” in 2018. She learned a lot during the recording process.
“When I look back, I began releasing tracks from this album in 2023, with the first single being ‘Suitcase Full of Dreams,” the singer/songwriter reflected. The first single is also one of my favorite tracks on the album. Hesse continued, “I have been working hard promoting the album for over a year now. But one reason it took so long was raising the money, so I did a Kickstarter campaign.
I also learned that I can’t hire just anybody. There has to be good chemistry. It took longer because I initially hired people who weren’t the right fit. I have learned that I am very particular about my vision. Until I find the right producer, I am going to do it myself. I hired a horn section from Belmont, and they were great, but they weren’t the right fit. It took longer because I wouldn’t release a record until I was happy with the finished product. These songs mean too much to me.”
Kara Hesse Releases “Devil & The Dove”
For Kara Hesse, this album is personal. As a fan of her music, I appreciate the authenticity and the stories behind the music. Since releasing her first album, Hesse has learned more about promotion. Hesse said, “When I released my last record in 2018, I hadn’t quite learned how to promote it properly, so it did its thing. But as I’ve grown and understood what it takes to really get a record out, I have lived so much.
“Since I have co-written a lot, many of those songs have stuck with me. When I got to the point where I said the record was done, I wanted to press vinyl. But I didn’t realize thirteen songs wouldn’t fit on one vinyl record. So, I had to decide to cut songs or keep them. And I said, “What the hell, let’s do a double vinyl. So, we kept all the tracks and added some remastered songs from the last album too, she said.
I wondered if Kara had a favorite song on the album. The singer/songwriter said, “I’m not always sure of that; sometimes I am influenced by what songs others like.” I like Suitcase Full of Dreams because it tells her story. However, Kara explained, “Yeah, that song tells every natural artist’s story. That’s a dreamer’s story. When I dropped that song, I thought the album would drop shortly after, but here we are three years later. I think my favorite changes depending on the mood I am in.”
This record encapsulates this turning of the page for me. It represents five years of my life, not just five years of making the record. The album represents 20 years of being a mother and being in pain without my daughter. So many things in my life were a total mess and affected me. I spent all those years trying, like a therapist, to go through this process. So, the song that is the nail in the coffin for me to move into a better quality of life and let go is “Goodbye, Past Life.” That song is the heaviest, but it represents me accepting that you’re my past, and it’s time for me to step into a new light. It’s a song that everyone can relate to. We all have held onto something too long.
Bringing the Music to the Stage
This year, Kara Hesse spent much of the year on the road playing songs from “Devil & The Dove.” She kicked off a series of shows in April with a full album release show. Hesse proudly recalled, “I hired a horn section and an elaborate big-screen show behind the band. It was an expensive undertaking, but we had a sell-out crowd. Since then, I’ve been out on the road touring to promote the album. We did really well out West, where most of my fans are. We decided to cap the tour with a hometown show in Nashville at The Underdog.”
Kara Hesse worked tirelessly to promote the Nashville show, and it paid off. A great crowd attended. She brought the full production, complete with a horn section. You could tell Hesse had a great time on stage as she and the band brought the album to life. Although I have seen Kara Hesse sing many times since 2019, I had not seen her with a band since she played Whiskey Jam a few years ago. I can confidently say Hesse’s show at The Underdog was one of the best shows I have seen this year.
For Those New to Kara Hesse
When I asked Hesse what she hopes new listeners take away from her music, she didn’t talk about a particular genre, commercial milestone, or even a specific career achievement. She wants people to feel something.
The singer/songwriter earnestly said, “Seeing my music as a breath of fresh air would be cool. Because otherwise, I’m not in a box or anything like that. I’m on the fringes of Americana, Soul, and Rock & Roll. I want them to walk away having felt something. Just feel something. We are living in a time of so much saturation, so much information, that we are all numb. I hope my songs speak to people and make them stop for a second to self-reflect, as music has always done. I also hope they want to be my friend.”
My Thoughts
Music has always helped people recognize feelings they might not otherwise know how to express. A song can bring back a memory, help you make sense of a difficult experience, or make you feel less alone. If you ask me if Kara’s music makes you feel something, I say it absolutely does. Kara Hesse has spent years learning how to navigate a business that often encourages musicians to think in terms of reach, numbers, and visibility. For Hesse, it is really just about the music and the relationship that can develop between a song and the person listening to it.
Since meeting her at that open mic seven years ago, I have had the opportunity to see her journey up close and from a distance. The voice that caught my attention then remains unmistakable, but the story behind it has grown more layered with time. Hesse’s latest album reflects that growth. Her determined creative vision is impressive. Kara’s willingness to accept that building a career may take longer when you are unwilling to compromise your artistic integrity is also impressive. For Hesse, the long road isn’t a detour from the destination; it is the path she’s chosen. The songs on this album prove she’s still finding new reasons to keep walking it.
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