Katharine McPhee is working on a brand new record with famed producer and jazz musician, Don Was… And she’s going back-to-basics, covering the standards for her fifth studio effort.
In a recent interview, Katharine shared, “They are songs I am inspired by. I’ve been inspired by them for a long time, these old standards I’ve been singing since I was a little kid.”
Fans will recall some of Katharine’s greatest moments on the fifth season of American Idol involving the standards, with stunning renditions of songs such as “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and, of course, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” During the season, Rod Sterwart even gushed that Katharine was, “born to sing the standards.”
So, how did the inspiration for an album of standards come for Katharine over ten years after her Idol debut? We can thank the one-and-only Frank Sinatra.
Last December, Katharine took part in a CBS special to celebrate Sinatra’s 100th birthday. Don Was acted as the music director for the special. After being impressed by Kat’s renditions of Sinatra’s hits “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “You and Me (We Wanted It All),” the pair joined forced for a few concerts at intimate bars in California to gather inspiration before heading into the studio together.
The Sinatra connection doesn’t stop there. Katharine is currently recording this new album in a studio that houses equipment that was used by Frank himself when he was recording his iconic music. It’s also safe to bet that a Sinatra cover or two will grace the record.
While Katharine has just begun recording this new album, you don’t have to wait to get a first listen to the material. Kat took to Instagram to share two teasers from the studio as she laid down vocals for her rendition of “It Never Entered My Mind.” Take a listen below:
Stay tuned for more information on Katharine’s new album right here at KatharineMcPhee.net. Also be sure to follow Kat on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes action – @KatharineMcPhee.