When CMT’s favorite on-air personality Katie Cook and Music City in-demand guitarist Adam Shoenfeld got married last December, the union was much more than the beginning of a new life together, it was also the start of an inevitable magical musical collaboration known as SunKat. After months of writing together and beginning to play a few gigs around town, SunKat is releasing their latest single, Hey Jo Jo. The song, a tribute to Cook’s sister, Joanne, who passed away earlier this year following a lifetime of heath issues, is also a way for SunKat to give back, as they’ve designated all first-year sales from digital downloads of the single to benefit The Arc, to help fund their programs to aide individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs).
Having known Cook, as well as her joy-filled sister, Joanne, when I heard about the project, I knew I had to chat with SunKat for the latest installment in my recurring interview feature, Rapid Fire 20 Q, but before I share that conversation, a bit about Cook and Shoenfeld.
Cook isn’t simply a TV host for Country Music Television, she’s got music in her blood as she’s also the daughter of prolific singer/songwriter Roger Cook. Among her father’s many successful songs, he co-wrote the iconic I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing that quickly not only became a peace anthem for a generation, but also one of the world’s most recognizable songs when it appeared in the now-famous Hilltop commercial spot for Coca Cola. Parental pedigree aside, before Cook landed her gig at CMT, she fronted 90s pop trio, Reno. In the years since, when not chatting it up with legends ranging from Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson to George Clooney, Cook has always dabbled in singing and songwriting.
As for Shoenfeld, while Katie was establishing herself as Music City’s go-to Red Carpet interviewer, he was busy making a name for himself as a much sought-after guitarist connecting early on with Kenny Alphin and John Rich, better known as Big and Rich, becoming a longtime member of the duo’s iconic music collaborative MuzikMafia. Over the years, Shoenfeld has played on more than 30 Billboard #1 hits. As a songwriter, he’s also had his share of successes, including SESAC’s Song of the Year as co-writer on Faith Hill’s Mississippi Girl alongside Rich. A quick look as a list of his credits reveals a who’s who of music’s most popular artists, including Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, The cast of TV’s Nashville, Kid Rock, Martina McBride, Florida Georgia Line, Amy Grant and Tim McGraw, with whom he has toured the last several years.
Not long after their storybook December wedding last year—appropriately taking place in the heart of Downtown Nashville’s Honky Tonk district—Cook and Shoenfeld debuted their duo project, SunKat and their first single, That Was the Night. Now, as their one-year wedding anniversary approaches, their second single, Hey Jo Jo drops. What follows is my conversation with Cook and Shoenfeld about their collaboration, the single and what’s next for SunKat.
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RAPID FIRE 20 Q WITH SUNKAT’s KATIE COOK and ADAM SHOENFELD
JONATHAN H PINKERTON: How did you guys come up with the name SunKat?
KATIE COOK: It was Adam’s idea, it is a mash up of our nicknames. I have always called him Sunny and Kat is short for Katie of course!
ADAM SHOENFELD: I really just came to me out of nowhere.
JHP: When you played me an early edit of your new single, Hey Jo Jo, I picked up on a bit of a Beatles vibe. Was that intentional or simply organic?
KATIE: We used to call Joanne, “Jo Jo,” and when we sat down to write the song, the title Hey Jo Jo just popped out immediately. The title itself sounded very Beatles-y. It just kind of led us down that road automatically and we didn’t fight it. Joanne was very jolly and in her own world at times, and the whimsical St.Peppers vibe just seem to fit the lyric.
ADAM: The way I remember it was Katie actually said to me (in our morning slumber), we need to write a Beatles-esque song for Jo Jo!
JHP: What are some of your other musical influences?
KATIE: It’s all over the place really. Collectively we both love Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac. I grew up on 70’s country and it influences everything I do. I am also an unabashed Olivia Newton John fan; I don’t care who knows it! In the 80’s I was obsessed with Blondie, X and The Clash, but would also listen to Dolly Parton and Don Williams at the same time.
ADAM: Sooo many. My main influences are Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, U2, and the Foo Fighters.
JHP: The single Hey Jo Jo is a tribute to Katie’s sister Joanne who passed away earlier this year. For those who weren’t lucky enough to know her, what do you hope to convey about Joanne by way of the song?
KATIE: The message we want to get across is that just because someone is different doesn’t mean they aren’t living the way they should. We have a habit of trying to force people with IDDs to be like us, but we can learn a lot from them and the way they see the world. Everyone is unique, and “special” isn’t bad. I was often envious of my sister’s ability to stay positive and always be in the moment. It’s like she had the real secret to life, and we need to spread that secret around the world.
ADAM: How she loved, loved everybody, without thinking there could ever be a reason not to love them.
JHP: What’s your favorite lyric in the song?
KATIE: “Don’t believe what you’ve heard, special ain’t a bad word, you see the world through magic eyes.”
ADAM: Definitely the “you see the world through magic eyes” line.
JHP: There’s also a special music video for the single, right?
KATIE: Yes, the video was directed by Sam Boyette, and we used pictures of Joanne throughout. We wanted to make it really fun and capture her spirit; it turned out great. You can find the Hey Jo Jo video on YouTube at the SunKat channel or watch below.
JHP: With Katie’s CMT gig and Adam in constant demand in the studio and on the road, how are you two finding time to form the musical duo SunKat?
KATIE: Well it isn’t easy with our schedules, but it makes us so happy that we just find the time. Sometimes the house is a mess and we haven’t seen our friends in weeks, but we have a new batch of songs to show for it. Date nights are often us in the studio working.
ADAM: We work it in when we can…..FYI, the house is always a mess.
JHP: What brought about the idea to record and perform as SunKat?
KATIE: It just naturally evolved. When two writers start dating, the writing is almost unavoidable. Initially we assumed we were just writing songs to pitch to other artists, but as when started to demo the songs, we realized that we really loved the way they sounded with us on them. Singing together felt so good, and we just decided to go for it.
ADAM: When we started dating, I was pumped to have someone I could share my music with and support her’s, it was always in the back of my mind that maybe one day we’d do it together, or that we’d at least help each other with our respective projects. That being said, the SunKat songs were not planned, they were delivered to us from some unknown entity.
JHP: What’s the most challenging aspect of creating music with your spouse?
KATIE: Maybe the fact that we hardly ever talk about anything else!
ADAM: I typically don’t worry about offending people with my opinions about music I’m working on…..I don’t ever want to upset Katie, so that’s different for me.
JHP: What’s the most rewarding facet?
KATIE: The feeling of satisfaction I get when we finish a song and I know it’s ten times better than it would have been if we wrote it solo. We bring something to each other’s ideas that we can’t get on our own. Looking into Adam’s eyes when we are singing is pretty magical…if I can stop giggling. It’s a real bonding experience, and every song is like one of our babies. I was worried that mixing love and work would strain our relationship, but it has been a strengthening.
ADAM: Getting lucky right after writing a song is pretty cool.
JHP: Where can folks purchase Hey Jo Jo?
KATIE: It can be purchased through iTunes, Amazon Music and also through our website at www.SunKatMusic.com.
JHP: What do you think Joanne’s reaction to the song would be?
KATIE: It’s funny, but I often picture her listening to it and smiling. I can see her tapping her finger on the side of the chair and grinning from ear to ear. I think she would say “Awwww, thank you, I love it!!” Joanne was so sweet, she would probably say that even if she didn’t like it, but i truly think she would love it. I also think the fact that my father sang background vocals on it and my brother played drums, would make her very happy. She brought us together that day.
ADAM: She’d smile bigger than you’ve ever seen anyone smile.
JHP: I understand you’ve decided to release Hey Jo Jo as a benefit single?
KATIE: Yes, all sales from downloads will go directly to The Arc for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. They have so many wonderful programs that support people with IDDs from birth to the end of their life. We want to help people like Joanne reach their full potential.
JHP: For those not familiar, tell me more about The Arc?
KATIE: The Arc has around 700 state and local chapters and their services range from advocacy, protection, and criminal justice (people with IDDs are more likely to be sexually assaulted) to life skills training, behavioral support and inclusion. The Arc also offers support to family members and siblings caring for an individual with an IDD.
JHP: How excited as you guys to make the official announcement about the charity aspect of the single at The Arc Conference this weekend?
KATIE: We can’t wait to tell everyone how we are using this song to help others. I think it’s what Joanne would have wanted and we want to make her proud and honor her memory. Everything about this project has felt good, and now we hope to inspire others with it.
ADAM: I’ve made a lot of music that has never seen the light of day. To put something out and know that it could possibly help a lot of people is an amazing feeling.
JHP: For those not attending the conference, when and where will SunKat be performing next?
KATIE: We have a couple upcoming shows in Nashville! On December 8th we’ll be at The High Watt opening for Gracie’s Walk of Shame. It is a free show but we are taking donations for Agape Animal Rescue. Doors open at 7 pm and music starts at 7:30pm.
Then, on January 12th at The Basement, we’re doing a show with Lost Hollow, who are absolutely incredible! Music starting at 7pm.
JHP: Are you guys currently writing more material or recording?
KATIE: We are always writing and recording. We actually have a studio in our house, so there is no escaping it!
ADAM: We are “all in”
JHP: When can we expect a full album from SunKat?
KATIE: We have a full album’s worth of material now, but we are trying to decide if we should release one song at a time. Maybe we should take a poll and see what people would want!
ADAM: What’s an album? LOL It’s like we’re back in the 50’s. It’s a singles world. Target and Walmart don’t even pay labels upfront for CD’s anymore. Seriously though, I think we both hope to bundle a bunch of our releases together real soon and make one of those ancient things.
JHP: If SunKat could achieve everything you hope for as a collaboration between the two of you, what would be just one of those goals?
KATIE: To be able to support ourselves just being creative is probably what every artists wants. That is the dream. Of course, we both happen to LOVE our day jobs, so honestly, life is pretty perfect already.
ADAM: When we did our first show, the club was packed. If we can do that here and there, at the very least, that would be awesome, but we’ll take arenas if anyone will have us.
JHP: How can folks keep up with what’s next for SunKat?
ADAM:They can go to our website or our Facebook page and sign up for our mailing list!
KATIE: We’re also on Twitter and Instagram.
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