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Shredding Stereotypes: Katya’s Fearless Climb Through the World of Guitar Rock
Photo credit: Charis-Lydia-Bagioki
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In a world where virtuosity often takes a backseat to spectacle, Katya is a rare exception—a guitarist whose technical precision is matched only by her raw emotional energy. Whether she’s melting faces with a solo or composing riffs that feel cinematic, Katya is quickly becoming a standout voice in the guitar community. We sat down with the genre-bending artist to talk tone, technique, and what it means to carve out space as a female guitarist in today’s music scene.
Katya recently released a song “Spirit of your roots”. "Spirit of Your Roots" is a powerful musical journey that explores the unshakable bond between our identity and the places, people, and stories that shaped us. Built around soulful melodies and emotionally charged guitar work, the song is a tribute to heritage—not just as a lineage, but as a living spirit that walks with us through every chapter of our lives.
The inspiration stems from the idea that no matter how far we travel or evolve, the echoes of our upbringing, culture, and ancestral wisdom remain part of our internal compass. It’s about honoring where you come from while still moving forward. The lyrics and instrumentation reflect a sense of longing, strength, and pride—balancing introspective verses with soaring choruses that feel both grounded and transcendent.
Blending roots rock, folk, and ambient tones, “Spirit of Your Roots” reminds listeners that the past isn’t something we leave behind—it’s something we carry, refine, and pass on.
"Spirit of Your Roots" vs. Nostalgia
“Spirit of Your Roots,” as described, taps into that same emotional terrain—but it tends to go a step further.
Shared Elements with Nostalgia:
Personal and Universal: Like nostalgia, it draws on deeply personal experiences while remaining relatable to a broad audience.
Emotional Connection to the Past: The song evokes memories of childhood, family, heritage, or cultural identity.
Sentiment and Reflection: It encourages looking back on where you come from with warmth, longing, and pride.
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What Sets It Apart:
Yes, the spirit of the song shares the emotional core of nostalgia, but it reframes it—not as something lost, but as something living within you.
ABOUT KATYA
Katya is not just a guitarist—she’s a storyteller with strings. Emerging from a diverse musical background, she has carved her own lane by fusing high-octane rock solos with ambient textures, layered melodies, and orchestral moods. Her playing blurs the lines between virtuosity and vulnerability, delivering performances that are both emotionally resonant and sonically bold.
Drawing inspiration from guitar legends. Katya developed a style that is as cinematic as it is confrontational. Her live shows are immersive experiences, combining raw stage energy with deeply introspective musical narratives.
Katya has performed across a wide range of venues and festivals, building a loyal following drawn to her fearless approach to tone, form, and feeling. In addition to her solo work, she has collaborated with producers, visual artists, and brands who share her boundary-pushing aesthetic.
Currently working on her debut full-length album, Katya continues to challenge assumptions about what guitar-driven music can sound like—infusing every riff with a sense of purpose, heritage, and innovation.
INTERVIEW WITH KATYA AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills Magazine: Katya, thanks for joining us! Let’s start at the beginning—what first drew you to the guitar?
Katya: I started out playing piano aged 4 and then violin, both classically. I became obsessed with the idea of playing the electric guitar when I was 9 or 10 because I just thought it was the coolest instrument. I was lucky enough to be taken to lots of concerts from a very young age including to see Eric Clapton. I always wanted to be able to play a killer solo.
Guitar Thrills: How would you describe your sound or style to someone who's never heard you play?
Katya: My sound blends soulful vocals, layered guitar parts and keys with electronic beats, jazz overtones and atmospheric soundscapes. The guitar sometimes takes the spotlight with bluesy, emotionally expressive solos and at other times plays a more subtle, supportive role, adding depth and rhythm.
Guitar Thrills: You’ve become known for your live performances. What’s your mindset when you step on stage?
Katya: I love being on stage. It’s where I feel the most calm, strangely. I feel very present. My mindset is one of it being a shared experience with the audience – it’s not just me performing for them but more of an exchange of energy and with that, every performance feels different. I like to address the audience and bring them into the stories behind each of the songs. My hope is that the music transports them somewhere and that they simultaneously feel like they know and can relate to the person who wrote it.
Guitar Thrills: What’s your gear setup right now?
Katya: I love the range in tone and versatility of these guitars and as a small person with small hands 😂 they are the most comfortable guitars I’ve ever played. I produce all my music using Ableton Live and use their Push 2 controller on stage to trigger elements from my production and add effects live. I use a Korg microKEY Air for keys and other software instruments and I run everything through my Apollo Twin interface which has some great plugins. Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig also has some really cool effects I like to use to add colour and depth to my guitar parts.
Guitar Thrills: Let’s talk about being a woman in a historically male-dominated field. Has that shaped your experience?
Katya: Yes, it has, particularly in the context of production and mixing. Early on, I wasn’t in environments where I was encouraged to be the producer or mixing engineer — those roles were typically filled by men, and because there were rarely any women in the room, I didn’t see myself in those positions either. At first, it didn’t even occur to me that production was something I could or should do. I often left sessions feeling like the music didn’t fully reflect me. Eventually, I realised that in order to be satisfied with what I was creating I needed to teach myself to produce. It took time, self-belief, and a lot of trial and error, but I’m proud to say that I now write, record, produce, and even mix my own music. The only exception was my first release, which was mixed by multi-Grammy-winning Mark ‘Spike’ Stent. Looking back, the lack of representation definitely delayed my path, but it also taught me to back myself, trust my ideas, and build something that’s entirely my own.
Guitar Thrills: Who are some guitarists—past or present—you admire most?
Katya: Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, H.E.R., Santana, St Vincent
Guitar Thrills: What’s something people don’t realize about the life of a working guitarist?
Katya: It involves a lot more than just playing. You have to constantly switch between creative work and business tasks – it's a real balancing act. Beyond practicing and performing, there’s writing, producing, recording, mixing, creating content for social media, developing your sound and visual identity, networking, and managing the day-to-day admin that keeps everything moving. One of the biggest challenges is juggling all of that without losing sight of the music itself.
Guitar Thrills: Any new releases or projects on the horizon?
Katya: Yes, lots! I recently performed at Glastonbury Festival – 3 sets of my own music and one celebrating the songs of Bob Dylan, ‘Not Completely Unknown’, on the Acoustic Stage (one of the main stages). This set drew a very big crowd in part due to the rumours that Timothée Chalamet might have made a guest appearance. I reimagined two Dylan songs ‘Not Dark Yet’ and ‘One More Cup Of Coffee’ which were really well received by members of the audience and the press. As a result, I’ve decided to release my versions. Those are coming next, followed by an album I’m currently working on which includes a collaboration with Jordan Rakei that we worked on at Abbey Road Studios. I also have a London headline show at The Grace in Islington on 26th September where I’ll be premiering some new material.
Guitar Thrills: What’s your message to the next generation of guitarists?
Katya: Remember why you are doing this – what made you want to be a guitarist and musician in the first place and reconnect to that as often as you can. Go for opportunities that seem out of reach, approach people you admire, be polite, keep playing and learning, and keep going!
