Cate Armstrong is here to feel. She pours her heart and mind into songwriting and community building, welcoming folks into her dreamy-folk sonic world and sensitive lyrics. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, Maggie Rogers, Carole King, Lizzy McAlpine and Adrianne Lenker, Cate utilizes simple acoustic melodies to carry her folk and jazz inspired vocal lines. After winning the New Times Music Award for San Luis Obispo County’s “Best Songwriter,” in November 2024, Cate has been inspired to work on her debut album, collaborate with local bands and artists, and infuse her offerings with mental health advocacy and resource sharing. To reminisce on the “summer of love” era, she will be releasing a number of singles to promote her upcoming album, “Love Always,” set to release in September 2025. The record aims to sonically capture the magic of loving, losing, learning, and letting go through Cate’s perspective as a Gen-Z old soul and encourages the community to tangibly participate in the art of social connection through letter writing and local activism. In her new collaborative trio project “Cateylady” with guitar player and audio engineer Griffin Breshears and keys player and producer Edmond McGinley, the three take Cate’s songwriting to the next level, melding elements of soul, r&b, and gospel with her naturally sensitive lyrics.