A person wearing glasses and headphones in a music studio surrounded by music production equipment, including monitors, a keyboard, a microphone, and a computer screen with audio editing and text documents.

I'm an audio engineer, sound designer, and music maker crafting sound and music for multimedia storytelling projects including podcasts, documentaries, installations, commercials and more.

Through my studio, Pilot Light Audio, I create sonic worlds rooted in reflection, curiosity, and the human experience. I’m always looking to make work that moves people and generates meaningful connections.

Hi, I’m Kate Siefker

A person wearing headphones playing drums in a recording studio with wooden walls, a framed picture, and a guitar hanging on the wall.

While I’ve got a studio full of instruments, I’m primarily a drummer with decades of performance experience. I’ve been fortunate to perform internationally playing notable venues such as a sold-out Terminal 5 in NYC, The Troubadour in LA, and Brussels’ Le Botanique. I’m proudly sponsored by TRX Cymbals.

My solo electronic efforts can be found under the moniker codec.kate, where I release music both independently and via labels such as Medium Sound and Constant Circles.

I’m equally committed to making sound engineering education more publicly accessible, and have partnered with organizations such as Soundial, SoundGirls, and the People’s Media Record in such efforts. My educational practice is grounded in financial accessibility, practical knowledge-sharing, community-building and collaboration. I believe in an age of digital interconnectivity, paywalls shouldn’t hinder access to technical learning.

say hello!

codec.kate

A playground for musical musings without a deadline — what I make when no one’s watching.

codec.kate - Not Right Now

codec.kate - Hurts Donut

the drums

I love to play the drums. I’ve toured internationally with bands as a hired gun for years. I’m sponsored by TRX Cymbals, and have been featured in Tom Tom Mag.