Kansas City duo KG & The Drive aren’t chasing trends—they’re chasing truth.

Fresh off a West Coast run supporting guitar legend Robin Trower, frontwoman and guitarist Katie Guillen sat down with Mundane to unpack their new chapter, their creative chemistry, and the evolution that led to their second LP, Make That Sound.

A blend of songwriter-forward rock and raw emotion, the record captures everything that defines the duo — intimacy, precision, and a spirit of fearless reinvention.

“Songwriter-forward with a lot of guitar sprinkled in.”

MUNDANE: You’ve just returned from three weeks on the West Coast supporting Robin Trower. That’s a dream pairing. How was that experience?

KATIE GUILLEN: It was awesome! We did twelve dates, mostly along the California coast, then Vegas and Arizona. It was a total whirlwind, but such a fun one. Robin’s incredible — it was a really guitar-forward crowd, obviously, but we met all kinds of people who just love live music.

MUNDANE: Your sound feels rooted in rock and blues, but it’s not nostalgic. How do you define what you’re doing sonically?

KATIE: I think of it as songwriter-forward with a lot of guitar sprinkled in. I love guitar and people come to see that, but the songs come first. We record things to sound the best they possibly can, then figure out how to bring that to the stage. It’s not about throwing in a solo because people expect it—it’s about serving the song.

The Spark That Started It All

MUNDANE: You’ve mentioned your chemistry with Steph a few times. How did you two first meet?

KATIE: We met just playing music in Kansas City. She was in a couple of bands, I was in a couple, and one night I saw her play drums and was completely mesmerized. She’s an amazing performer, and from that moment, I knew I wanted to play with her.

I asked her and our old bass player to join me for a show at a venue I’d been trying to get into for a while. That show went incredibly well. From there, I just said, “Do you want to be in my band?” and we kept going.

MUNDANE: And that turned into KG & The Drive?

KATIE: Not right away. We had another project called Katie and the Girls that lasted until 2018. When that ended, it just felt like time for a change. There wasn’t any drama—it was just a natural evolution. Steph and I wanted to keep playing and writing together, so we pivoted. We started from scratch with a new name, new sound, new music.

The Evolution of a Sound

MUNDANE: Your debut Another One Gained came out in 2022 and had a lot of pandemic-era energy. What changed going into Make That Sound?

KATIE: We’ve definitely evolved. We’re not in the same place anymore. This record was about expanding—working with new people, recording in a new place, trying new things. We wanted to push ourselves, but in a way that felt organic.

Working with producer Megan was a big part of that. She’s calm, centered, and an amazing listener. Steph and I are pretty introverted, so her energy helped us slow down and explore softer, more vulnerable spaces. She brought out things in my songs that I didn’t even realize were there.

Q&A: Inside the Making of Make That Sound

MUNDANE: What was your main goal with this record?

KATIE: I wanted it to feel empowering—like love, self-care, and growth all wrapped together. There are songs for my sister, my partner, myself. I want people to feel like the album is holding them and pushing them forward.

MUNDANE: Any particular tracks that stand out for you?

KATIE: It’s hard to pick favorites—they all feel like your children. But Make That Sound, the title track, is special. It’s primal, very human, very grounded. There’s no guitar solo, which is funny for me, but it just didn’t need one. And Love You For All Time—that one’s pure positivity.

MUNDANE: The record feels both bold and intimate. How did that dynamic with Megan take shape in the studio?

KATIE: We knew we wanted to work with a woman for this album, which we’d never done before. A friend gave us a few names and Megan’s work really connected with us. We went to Nashville for a two-day test session and it clicked immediately.

She’s peaceful, incredibly smart, and helped us slow down. Her presence made space for vulnerability. That trial turned into the full album—it was one of the best experiences we’ve had recording.

Roots and Reflections

MUNDANE: Speaking of Nashville—you recorded there. What did that city bring to the record?

KATIE: We love Nashville. Everyone thinks of country, but it’s so much more—rock, punk, hip-hop, soul. That creative energy definitely seeps into what you do when you’re there.

MUNDANE: Take me back to your musical beginnings. What was that moment when you knew music was your path?

KATIE: My dad used to take me to blues jams when I was 14. I was shy, but those nights changed my life. Playing with older musicians, learning from them—it fed my soul. That’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do forever.

MUNDANE: And what about a career-defining moment? Something that made you realize you were doing what you were meant to do?

KATIE: Honestly, when I started playing with Steph. That was the moment. She’s my creative counterpart, and everything since has flowed from that connection. It’s been this never-ending creative partnership—and that’s what keeps me going.

Final Thoughts

Make That Sound is an album about courage, connection, and the kind of chemistry you can’t fake. It’s proof that rock isn’t dated—it’s just evolving, in the hands of artists brave enough to reshape it.

“I want people to feel like the songs are holding them,” Katie says, “and pushing them forward.”

Mission accomplished.