At a time when so much of the world feels divided and loud, Kat Lee Rivers offers something different—a song that leans into empathy rather than noise. Her new single, “American Heartbreak (Acoustic Version),” is stripped down to its essence, guided by Rivers’ warm, unguarded voice and the understated guitar of Grammy-winning producer Bob Lanzetti (Snarky Puppy).

The result is a piece that feels less like a performance and more like a conversation. There’s no studio gloss, no embellishment—just space, phrasing, and presence. Rivers sings as if she’s sharing her truth across a kitchen table, recasting “American Heartbreak” not as a headline or slogan, but as something human and lived-in. The pauses and harmonics carry as much weight as the lyrics themselves, quietly suggesting that listening—real listening—might be the common ground we’ve been missing.

For those discovering her for the first time, Rivers’ story stretches across continents and genres. A 2014 finalist in the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Competition and multiple DownBeat award recipient, she first made her mark in jazz before branching into Americana and Brazilian music. Her debut album, Anything but Ordinary, showcased that evolution, pairing raw storytelling with Brazilian rhythm and jazz sophistication.

After a period of vocal recovery, Rivers’ voice now carries even more depth and character. She’s lived and performed everywhere from Spain and Texas to Los Angeles and New York, singing in both English and Portuguese. Her performance history spans intimate house concerts to celebrated stages like Cornelia Street Café, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Chapel Restoration in Cold Spring, where she’ll return in fall 2025. She’s also appeared with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra backing Ben Folds, and toured Europe with Barcelona trio Árid, including a rooftop set at La Pedrera.

Now collaborating again with Lanzetti, Rivers is shaping a new album due in Spring 2026, one that deepens her “old soul” approach—bridging jazz sophistication with the honesty of Americana storytelling.

Until then, “American Heartbreak (Acoustic Version)” stands as a perfect bridge: deeply felt, beautifully unadorned, and quietly defiant in its belief that music still has the power to heal and connect.