It was around 7 p.m. in a little diner called Uncommon Ground on the upper north side of Chicago. Early arrivers to the upcoming concert were directed to the cozy back room nicknamed “The Music Room.”

There was a small stage in front of a panoramic window looking out on Devon Avenue and a scattering of tables throughout the room.

In a few hours, Katie Kuffel was set to perform on the stage. But for now, Kuffel and her roadie Evan Price sat down for dinner.

Kuffel is a freelance queer musician based out of Seattle. Her love for music started at a very young age.

“I was 6 years old and in Ms. Romsey’s music class,” Kuffel said, laughter in her voice, “I remember this! We had a show and tell every week and a friend of mine brought in a cello to class. I was like- I gotta do that.”

The passion only grew from there. Her first time writing music was when she was 11 years old, even if it was the angsty tween poetry of middle school, Kuffel kept on. She learned to play piano at the age of 12 when her aunt wanted a fireplace instead of a piano.

Soon her monthly listeners on Spotify raised from about 14 people to 2,432 people. One of her more popular songs called “Table Song” off her third album “Pearls” was featured on the 81st episode of the niche podcast “Welcome to Nightvale.”

Kuffel feels very lucky on how far she has gotten as a queer musician.

“I pass as a cis, straight woman but for some of my more quote unquote queer looking friends it can be hard to get certain gigs at any place in the United States,” said Kuffel,

“Seattle is booming with places for queer artists which is kinda cool, and since there are so many of us isn’t really an issue, but when I am traveling, especially in some parts of the United States it can be kind of scary.”

Luckily, there are exponentially more good parts of making music for Kuffel. Things like traveling and meeting people, especially other artists. In fact, Kuffel has a very inspiring message to aspiring artists of all kinds.

“If you are taking a path into the creative field there is not a right or wrong way to do it,” said Kuffel. “Put as much work in supporting artists as you would like to be supported because we are a big music family … just go for it.”

Kuffel laughs and realizes how cheesy the big family metaphor sounds, along with some gentle teasing from her roadie about Kuffel being a hippie.

“In a non-lovey way to say it, the gig economy is half about the people you know,” said Kuffel. “Just be kind and a good a person and you will be more successful if you aren’t (expletive) in general,”

Success in itself, however, is a skewed concept to begin with, especially in art fields.

“Don’t let anyone else define success for you,” said Kuffel. “For some people, success is playing to ten thousand people in a sold out arena. But for others, like me, success is just paying the bills with music. There is no one way to succeed.”

For those interested in Kuffel’s unique mix of folk and jazz, there is good news.

Kuffel is set to release a new album this year, with a lot of the songs being composed just on stage.

For more information, feel free to visit Kuffel’s website: www.katiekuffel.com