There's a New Costello in Town

When it came to finding a new place to live, 20-year-old singer/songwriter Katie Costello noticed an apartment in Park Slope by way of Craigslist.

“When I got here and saw all the Brownstones, I was like, ‘This is too good to be true,’” she recalled.

 “I love it here so much. It was an accident, but it's the best accident that's probably ever happened.”

But unlike her living arrangements, Costello’s emerging music career is no accident at all. Hailing from Hermosa Beach, California, she recorded her first album, 2008’s Kaleidoscope Machine, when she was just 17 years old. At the young age of 20, her music has already appeared in television shows such as Private Practice and 90210.

Last week Costello released her latest album, Lamplight, a collection of engaging, melodic pop songs produced by Tony Berg and recorded in Los Angeles. Next month, she’ll make her debut performance in Park Slope when she takes the stage at Union Hall on March 22.

Costello explained that many of her songs were inspired by living in New York.

“I feel that all of the songs to some degree or another are about figuring out what you want your life to be...or what you accomplish.” she said. “Ultimately I was happy to say I felt like they fit together in a nice package.”

The songs on Lamplight verge between moody introspection and upbeat numbers. Underneath engaging and poppy melodies are mature and serious themes on some songs such as “After Dark,” about a schism between family members. Costello said it could be about anybody.

“I think it's especially difficult with family members because you have this undying bond, but at the same time it doesn't mean that you can't fight. It's a little bit about the heartbreak of being really close to somebody and having a little bit of a falling out with them," she said.

Besides the reflective tunes, Lamplight also features some buoyant and whimsical songs such as the romantic-sounding “Out of Our Minds” and the buoyant “Cassette Tape.”

Costello first she developed a love for music through a friend in middle school, leading to music lessons in piano and singing. Initially Costello didn’t even think about pursuing music as a career.

“It was more of a release than it was anything else. I certainly put school first. I think that after making the first record was when I realized that I just really wanted to do it all the time at any expense or costs or anything.”

Costello's start as a professional came from her playing music at Shakespeare performances put together by another friend’s dad. It all transpired quickly when she made her first album, which caught the attention of the local Los Angeles radio stationKCRW.  

“That was such an amazing experience because it really happened right away. I think pretty much everything else blossomed from there.”

With two albums and an EP already under her belt at the ripe old age on 20, Costello is well on her way to the big leagues.

“I don't know if I have many years left,” Costello joked about her future.

“I would love to continue to make records and tour and sort of rinse-repeat. I would love to have a long and naturally evolving career. So I hope that happens.”

Katie Costello’s new album Lamplight came out last Tuesday. She will be performing on March 22 at Union Hall, 702 Union St., 7:30 pm, $10.