Kaia Fowler

Kaia Fowler, MS, LPC, artist-healer, Reiki master, advocate, counselor, educator, and author has a mission of promoting wellbeing and flourishing for all. She creates music that speaks to the soul. Her passion, warmth, and genuineness invite listeners to open their hearts and transcend the everyday through song. A versatile guitarist and singer known for her soothing, vibrant, and beautifully resonant voice, Kaia Fowler’s music displays a rare depth of emotional expressiveness. For Kaia, who is also a Reiki master therapist and teacher, and a licensed professional counselor in Wisconsin, USA, music creation is part of her practice of creating experiences of comfort, courage, and connection.

Her latest album, One Breath, placed on the Folk Alliance International “Top Albums of the Month” chart for July 2022, and received radio play from coast to coast in the U.S. and in Canada. One Breath features songs of hope and healing. Special guest tracks include “Take Shelter in Love” with harmony vocals and bouzouki arranged and performed by Joe Jencks; “Obon, Dance of Light” with bamboo flute and bass parts arranged and performed by Peter Phippen; and “Ridin’ Along” with Tricia Alexander on blues harmonica.

Kaia creates programs and concerts to be shared in a variety of venues and community spaces, including folk clubs, libraries, churches, and spiritual and wellness centers.

Media Quotes:

“Fabulous voice and song…”

— Lilli Kuzma, host of Folk Festival on WDCB Public Radio, Chicago, Ill., referring to “Ridin’ Along” from One Breath (2022)

"Kaia Fowler is a tremendous lyricist. Her lyrics paint pictures and her musical notes add the color.”

— The Americana Gazette (2010)

“It was a pleasure to host Kaia as a guest on Another Green World at WORT in Madison. It’s apparent — from her impressive guitar work, beautiful voice, and intentional, evocative lyrics — that she is the real deal when it comes to both singing and songwriting. Our conversation was lively, and she speaks about her music with authenticity and grace. Plus, she’s so da*n sweet! We’d have her back anytime.”

— Katie Hutchinson & Farmer Shaun, WORT FM 89.9, Madison, Wis. (2019)

Albums

Kaia’s first studio album, Seams of My Heart was released in 2010.

Kaia released a four-song EP album titled All The Way in Oct. 2015. All the Way is dedicated to her husband, Scott R. Jaeger, who died of pancreatic cancer. Proceeds from sales benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

One Breath , released June 24, 2022.

History and Venues

Kaia Fowler's songwriting and performance blends genres sometimes called singer-songwriter, Americana, contemporary folk, folk rock, acoustic blues, and roots music, including hints of the old time hymn singing Kaia learned as a child. Her sound integrates beautifully resonant vocals with guitar work that ranges from delicate finger style to percussive strumming. Kaia took up guitar playing and songwriting at a young age, and, throughout her life, she has poured her observations on life's struggles, longings, joys, and sorrows into songs. In concert, Kaia’s energy and authenticity invite listeners to transcend the day-to-day, getting at the heart of the human experience in the way only music can.

"Sharing songs helps me connect with others," says Kaia. "When I sing about my loves and losses, concerns and inspirations, fears and hopes, I know we all share these experiences, each in our own way. There, in that moment, because of the mysterious power of music and words, we understand one another better. We sense that we're all in this together. I love that aspect of what I do most of all."

With over 20 years as a performing singer-songwriter, Kaia draws from a large repertoire of original material and well-loved cover songs. Based in Wisconsin, Kaia shares music at folk clubs, coffee houses, wineries, and house concerts. Venues include the Cafe’ Carpe in Fort Atkinson, Wis., the Brink Lounge in Madison, The Coffee House in Milwaukee, and The Rockford Listening Room in Illinois. Kaia covers songs by artists as diverse as John Prine, Patty Griffin, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Dolly Parton, and Susan Tedeschi. She has had the honor of being an opening artist for Bill Staines (2019), Anne Hills (2018), and Joe Jencks (2017).

Since 2015, Kaia has also pursued a ministry of wellbeing, including becoming a Reiki master practitioner and a professional counselor and psychotherapist.

Community Service through Song

Some examples of Kaia’s Community Service through Song:

Veterans for Peace, Madison, Wis. Chapter invited Kaia to perform her song "Home With You" at a State Capitol peace rally in 2012.

Rainbow Hospice Memorial Quilt Dedication services and Memorial services in Jefferson County, Wisconsins from 2016 to 2019.

PurpleStride Madison 2016 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network fundraiser walk.

Healing Artist Credentials

Reiki Master attuned and mentored by Reiki MasterTricia Alexander, fifth generation in the Usui System of Natural Healing or Usui Shiki Rhoyo tradition of Reiki energy therapy.

Master of Counselor Education - Clinical Mental Health Emphasis (2023) with education and experience in therapeutic listening, counseling principles and theories, professional ethics & consultation, group therapy and facilitating group activities, couples and family therapy, lifespan human development, substance use disorders, career and life planning, crisis and trauma response, and assessment for the purpose of developing effective therapeutic interventions.

Official Beat the Odds® Facilitator, trauma-informed social and emotional skill building program delivered in a framework of drumming, UCLA Center for Arts & Healing, 2021

Grief and Loss Support

Completed 6 hours of Grief Specialist trianing through PESI, an approved provider of continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education in 2020.

Completed 5 hours of volunteer grief support group facilitator training through Healing Hearts of Waukesha County in 2021.

Trauma-Informed Care

Resilient Wisconsin: Trauma-Informed Practices training, 2021

Dementia Friendly Training completed in 2020