Trapper Schoepp Taps Into Wisconsin Ghost Folklore On Eerie Yet Upbeat Single ‘Kate Blood’

With a stab to the heart of bittersweet, well-crafted folk storytelling, Trapper Schoepp delivers the feels in his near-latest single, “Kate Blood.”

Following the release of his 2023 album, Siren Songs, a triumph of American and Irish folk music, this latest track holds up to Schoepp’s standards of folkloric imagery, vocal control, and powerful, sweeping melodies.

The track begins on a bit of a melancholy note with a gentle, trickling acoustic guitar which soon gives way to Schoepp’s commanding yet comforting voice, which beautifully plays with the emphasis of his words and syllables. “One dawn in December / She asked for my dreams / I gave them up gladly / By the glow of kerosene / Mine were taken from me / When I was 23 / I never should’ve took that trip to Kansas City,” he croons, with the sweeping percussive shuffle kicking in thereafter.

Inspired by a notorious Wisconsin ghost of the same name, the song’s subtle but ghoulish undertones can be felt. “She asked for my name / I know you know mine / They call me Kate Blood / The girl by the riverside / I was the first daughter / A mother and a friend / And I’m buried along the banks / Of that city Appleton,” Schoepp sings, contrasting the sound of the track with lyrics that reveal their sorrow in a heartfelt yet eerie manner. 

Triumphant and bittersweet, “Kate Blood” is a great example of modern folk storytelling. The Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter delivers vivid and chilling imagery, as he introduces a bittersweet world full of full moons, rivers, and kerosene fires.

Despite its mostly upbeat tempo, the Cash Cabin-produced track ends on a decidedly dark note, keeping with the story of the title ‘Kate Blood’. It keeps the listener engaged in both sound and story, and leaves you wanting just a little bit more.

With six albums under his belt and a unique connection to history’s greatest folk singers (including being the youngest musician to share a co-writing credit with Bob Dylan), Schoepp is a seasoned folk songwriter with no shortage of stories to tell. His latest single, “Meet Me At The End of the World,” offers a more indie pop-rock vibe, showcasing his sonic versatility.