The P.O.P. Issue 015 - Katie Garcia

The P.O.P. (Portraits of POPLIFE) documents inspiring individuals who push artistic boundaries and strive for excellence in order to advance the communities around them. Uniting a wide range of talented creatives from diverse backgrounds, this editorial series invites them to share their passions and the impact they've had on the realms of hospitality, music, fashion, art, and design.

Making it in the music industry isn’t easy, but this Miami-native turned NYC exec is beating the odds. From interning at Captured Tracks to leading A&R at Capitol Records and co-founding her own label, Bayonet Records, Katie Garcia has established herself as a major trailblazer in the indie music scene. POPLIFE caught up with her at the Bayonet Records office in New York to discuss her journey, Cuban heritage, and how she stays true to her roots while shifting the culture through her work.

Katie, for those who don’t know you, please tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.

Katie Garcia: I’m Katie Garcia, born and raised in Miami (Kendall specifically) but living in New York City. I’m a label owner and A&R who has worked at various companies including my own label. I started out as an intern at Captured Tracks and then became the label manager there for about 4 years. Then I started my label, Bayonet Records, and simultaneously started doing A&R at Secretly Group. After 8 years at Secretly I was recruited by Capitol Records. Now, I’m shifting my focus to my own label, Bayonet, and working on growing the company and the artists we nurture.

How did you get your start in the music industry?

KG: I was living in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in what most people would call a closet and I was working for a production designer named Kevin Largent. I had just graduated film school and thought that I wanted to go down the path of production and set design. We mostly worked on sets for musicians and for MTV. While working there we did sets for Mariah Carey, the VMAs and we did the set for the Alexa Chung show. When we did Alexa’s show I got to go to MTV studios. Being on set and seeing the wall of photo booth pictures from former TRL guests really stirred something in me. It made me realize that the music aspect of the job is what I enjoyed about it and not necessarily the carpentry and painting.?

I then sent a bunch of emails to labels asking if they needed intern help and heard back from Captured Tracks. I was hired on the spot and started working that same day. I said yes and never looked back.

You and your husband founded Bayonet Records together in 2014. What’s it like working together? What made you want to start your own label?

KG: Dustin had always wanted to start his own label and because I had label management experience from being at Captured Tracks it just felt like the perfect convergence of place, time and ambition. It’s been really great working together. When we started it was really just the two of us working on everything which was honestly challenging at times. It can cause all kinds of tension in your personal relationship if you don’t figure out a good way of communicating. I think when he started working on the label-side of things with me, it truly made him realize just how much work it is running a label. It was sobering for him as a musician for sure haha. Now that the label has grown, I have more of a handle on the day to day operations of the label alongside our staff and Dustin’s more focused on Beach Fossils.

You’re originally from Miami. Tell us about the transition moving from Miami to New York.

KG: After high school I went to college in Boston and then moved to New York once I graduated. Moving to the northeast was definitely a big change in terms of weather haha. I’ve adapted to the weather now, but those first few winters were brutal. I still have a huge spot in my heart for Miami. My family is still there, my favorite Cuban restaurants, the beaches, and the secret spots only locals know about. It’s a special place that I appreciate so much more now as an adult than I ever did as a kid growing up there.?

Describe your journey in the music industry as a woman and a Latina. Why does representation in the music industry matter?

KG: Representation definitely matters. I’m super proud of my Cuban background. Seeing is believing and I think it’s important to show other Latin folks that you can succeed in any industry.

As the Vice President of A&R at Capitol Records, what was the biggest challenge you faced in your role?

KG: Not the most exciting answer, but I think learning a new system and working with a larger team. The scope of the projects were so much bigger which also left little room for error. I think it brought out the best in me and made me more ambitious when it came to my own label.

What is your biggest goal within the music industry? What do you hope to achieve when working with artists/managers/labels?

KG: My biggest goal is always to help grow the careers of the artists I’m working with. I hope to continue to sign artists who are able to shift culture.

What would your teenage self think of your current self?

KG: My teenage self would be freaking out. I’ve been a music collector since I was about 7 years old. First I started with cassette tapes, then shifted to CDs and then eventually vinyl. Working in music definitely feels like some sort of calling to me. If my teenage self knew that Karen O once gave me a high-five in a meeting she would probably faint.?

What is something you hope people notice about you?

KG: That I’m kind and helpful. I want to try to lift people up and help other musicians whether or not I work with them in a business sense. I know how hard it is to navigate the music industry. I’m busy these days so I don't have as much time for this as I once did, but I try to save space to give help to anyone who needs it. Whether it’s connecting dots to bookers or venues or explaining how publishing works, I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned with people.

What is a significant memory you have with POPLIFE? Has POPLIFE influenced your life in any way?

KG: Wow, this is honestly a tough one to even know where to begin. I started going to POPLIFE’s night at The District when I was growing up in Miami and it completely shifted how I felt about the city. As a young person I felt that my musical interests didn’t line up with a lot of my peers. In one way, I liked that about myself. My singular interests made me feel unique and ~rebellious~ but in another way, I craved a sense of community. POPLIFE gave me that community and I met so many of my closest lifelong friends on the dance floor there.?Forever grateful to have found that in my hometown.