Cultural Attaché’s Icons 2025 next features Kate Chisholm. She is not a household name. Nor is her late husband, Peter Foley. This year Chisholm released Out of Myself: The Songs of Peter Foley as a way of introducing the world to his work.
One of the great joys of publishing Cultural Attaché is the exposure I get to artists and their work I hadn’t known before. When I listened to Out of Myself, I knew I had to speak to Kate Chisholm.
Foley did not achieve the level of success that many in his circle expected. His music (and often his lyrics when he didn’t have collaborators) reflect a sophistication, intelligence and a musical quality that most composers dream of achieving. I was instantly drawn to his music and have listened to the album countless times. I strongly encourage you to listen to the album.
Chisholm wasn’t just Foley’s wife. She appeared in one of his earliest musicals (along with Melissa Errico), became a collaborator and now serves as his most ardent support as the head of the Peter Foley Music Project.
Kate Chisholm and I spoke on August 14th and this interview was posted on September 4th. Chisholm reflects on Foley’s brilliance, his resilience in the face of setbacks, and the deep love that bound their lives and work together. What emerges is a portrait of an artist whose music still feels urgent, timeless, and profoundly human—and of a partner determined to make sure his voice continues to be heard.
To read the print version of my interview with Kate Chisholm, which includes links to multiple videos of his songs, please go HERE.
Photo: Kate Chisholm in the Cultural Attaché Interview