Meet Kat Robichaud | musical artist and co-founded of Kat Robichaud’s Misfit Cabaret

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Robichaud and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had just moved to San Francisco after competing on The Voice and was playing a few band gigs here and there. I payed at a friend’s speakeasy show where I met my partner Jordan Nathan, who had the idea to produce a show together. We came up with Misfit Cabaret, inspired by my band’s name “Kat Robichaud and The Darling Misfits”. We started small in the same speakeasy that held 100 people and now we’re in a 500 seat theater in SF as well as touring to LA and Seattle.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in the 80s in a small town with limited resources and only the musical influences of my dad and brothers to guide me. My dad loved musicals, classical music, and Motown. My brothers loved hair metal and horror films. Misfit Cabaret is a love letter to my childhood- a marriage of theatric and rock and roll. They’re one in the same anyway, so they lend perfectly to each other. I’m inspired by drag queens who tell a complete story in a 5 minute performance and shamelessly take your money while doing it. I’ve been called a queer artist by Peaches Christ, even though I’m married to a man. My bio on Spotify says:
“Kat Robichaud writes songs about famous fictional characters, serial killers, and emotional hangups. She resides in Oakland, California where she writes, co-produces, and stars in Kat Robichaud’s Misfit Cabaret, a musical variety show featuring live music, drag, burlesque, puppets, and other darling misfits. She was on The Voice once, but she much prefers to be nestled in her weird world of artists and cabaret performers. Misfit Cabaret also tours to Seattle and LA. Most of her time is spent at home with her husband and cat Havana, watching horror movies and drinking whiskey. If you would like her to release more music, become a Patreon member at patreon.com/katrobichaud. Kat wrote this bio and she’s not sure why she’s speaking in the 3rd person, other than to make you think she has a manager, which she does not.”
I think it sums me up perfectly.

Sometimes I’m really happy with where I am and other days I’m not. Ask any artist and they’ll tell you the same. I think I overcame my obstacles by not overcoming them. I just got comfortable with who I am and I deeply appreciate where I am. I love the little community I have surrounded myself with. I’m happy to be on a journey in which I don’t know the destination. Just happy to be here, sharing a stage with truly talented humans and singing my heart out every night.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I’m from the Bay Area but I have spent a lot of time in LA. My first introduction to the city was The Voice, when I lived in a hotel in Burbank for several months and my biggest foray was the nearest Trader Joe’s. Being from North Carolina, In and Out was both a thrill and a disappointment to eat for the first time.

Whenever I’m in the city, I love to go shopping on Melrose. I’m a thrifter, and the Crossroads there is amazing. Wasteland is also a favorite. Gallery 1988 is also there, and I love collecting signed prints from up and coming artists, including Scott C.
I enjoy discovering new places with my friend David, who actually does live in LA and is super into pop culture. He always has a fun restaurant to take me to or a cool local show. I discovered Misfit Cabaret’s first LA venue, The Hayworth, through going to see a Dynasty Typewriter show with David.

I just love the vibe in LA. It’s been a good city to me so far. Everyone is excited for the next new thing but cherishes local haunts and time-tested legends. There’s a mysticism around the city that I haven’t felt in SF, but it might just be my rose-colored glasses that I haven’t taken off since I was on The Voice.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout is for Jordan Nathan, my business partner, without which Misfit Cabaret would not exist. She and I created the show together. She gets far less stage time and does the same amount of work. Our diehard fans see her and know and appreciate everything she does, but she doesn’t get the accolades because she isn’t the one singing.

Website: krmisfitcabaret.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katrowbeeshow

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katrowbeeshow

Facebook: http://www.twitter.com/katrowbeeshow

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kat-robichauds-misfit-cabaret-san-francisco

Youtube: https://youtube.com/katrobichaud

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@misfitcabaret https://www.tiktok.com/@katrowbeeshow

Image Credits
Zoart Photography Patric Carver Photography Niki Pretti Photography