SHARING THE STRUGGLE OF BODY IMAGE ISSUES THROUGH MUSIC
Written by Kate Cosentino
Back in the 2000s when middle schoolers wore Hot Topic graphic tees and/or Abercrombie jeans, I was a kid who wanted to embody my dream of becoming a famous musician in every bold outfit I wore. Pursuing my passion for performance, I was constantly adapting my wardrobe and skills out of a love for my art, mostly, but partially because I felt that how I looked would hold me back. If I was more talented, more fashionable, more anything - I could combat the image of myself as “not pretty enough” to be a mainstream artist.
At its best, this narrative I continued to drive into my own head pushed me to develop my on-stage personality and skills, but at its worst, it kept me in a cycle of self-hatred, of telling myself I was not good enough to be the lead woman - not because I lacked skill but because I wasn’t thin enough.
For anyone pursuing entertainment, it’s an act of bravery to put your art out there for people to judge. If people don’t like it, it can be hurtful and heartbreaking. If you’re like me, it’s much easier for me to shoo away the haters who don’t like my art because I know my art isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. That same mentality has been much more difficult for me to embody when it comes to my physical appearance.
As a songwriter, writing about body image is one of the ways I cope with my struggles. The first song I wrote about body image and eating disorders was called “Starving for Love.” After my younger cousin in high school was diagnosed with an eating disorder, my world was rocked. The news brought up a lot of emotions - including worry and compassion - for my cousin and also opened my eyes to my own struggles a bit more. That night I sat down and wrote Starving for Love.
I wrote the song from a third-person perspective because I felt detaching myself from the narrative gave me the space I was comfortable with to express my emotions at the time and also invited the listener in as an observer. I kept the song fairly private until I met Jesse Brady & Becca Eckman, who wanted to produce my music for their Audio Engineering class while we were all at Belmont. Recording that song as an ode to my cousin, and to anyone who has struggled with eating disorder/body image issues, was an extremely therapeutic experience that gave me the courage to perform that song live.
Now, performing it is one of my favorite things to bring to a new audience. It has brought me closer to people who are struggling with the same things. By singing my body image songs, I hope to open up the conversation and make them feel like they’re not alone in their struggle. Those moments of connection are the whole reason I make music.
Since then, I’ve written a handful of songs about body image. Prettiest Girl in the Room is my ode to the girls who want to be seen beyond their physical appearance while also giving them permission to see themselves as beautiful. One of the upcoming songs on my EP Note to Self called “Did I?” tells the story of wishing I didn’t spend so much time concerned with my body image. If any of that is relatable, please scream it out at a show with me! And if you are a fellow songwriter or performer - channeling the body image struggle into my art was a game changer in growing towards overcoming that struggle.
If you want it - the blank page is all yours!
Well-versed in the art of puns and guitar-shredding, Kate Cosentino’s music is something of jazzy sleekness atop the lyrical precision of witty slam poetry. Garnering acclaim from Rolling Stone India as well as the Johnny Mercer Foundation’s Songwriters Project, Cosentino’s soulful songstress abilities are anything but commonplace.
The Nashville-based singer’s discography is aflush with lyrical quippings that indulge in clever wordplay and poignance in the same breath. Songs like “Prettiest Girl in the Room,” & “Starving For Love” and “Just Remember” deal with more serious topics like body image struggles while songs like "Emergency Contact" are humorous and witty. Donning her personal sound with the fitting description of “Regina Spektor and Norah Jones meeting a Charlie Puth bassline,” Cosentino’s genre-bending style coupled with her authentic storytelling talent make for consistently compelling works of art. In her post-grad life, Cosentino has been working on an upcoming EP set to release in May of 2022 as well as playing shows around Nashville and the US, including opening for Katy Perry in Colorado Springs. Her newest single, Emergency Contact is set for release on March 4th, 2022.