I've been meaning to do this photo column (which will be a sibling to "Soda Citizen") for several years and I am pleased to present the first episode of Dear Traveler, a portrait and interview series featuring those who spend their time on the road. Meet Nashville's Rachel Kate, you can listen to her songs here from her 2013 release, Rachel Kate With Love and Hate.    Rachel will be playing tonight in Greenville, SC at the Independent Public Alehouse.

Are you a transient?

“I don't consider myself a bummy musician but I do accept help from time to time. Like a couch or a snack. Or a bourbon drink. Or for a couple of dollars for playing tunes. But transient in the travel way – by default – yes.”

Rachel Kate Photo - Columbia SCRachel Kate in Columbia, SC. 8/26/14<br/><br/>Photos by South Carolina photographer Sean Rayford

How much time do you spend on the road?

Since February, I've been gone three or four weeks [at a time] and then I'll come home for a week or two.

Who wins in a fight -- Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake on PCP?

Probably Rainbow Brite. Yea – I'm going to have to go with that for sure. But I also have a special connection to her. One of my favorite Halloween costumes I've ever made was a cross between Rambo and Rainbow Brite. So I was Rambo Brite. I made a bullet belt of crayons and had that across me. Basically, my version of Rainbow Brite with a bandanna and black stripes under my eyes. Rambo Brite would definitely win. Just think about it.

If you were a famous criminal – who would you be?

Does it have to be someone who is known as a criminal or just someone I think is a criminal but is famous?

I think that works. Heck, if you can think of a question in general – you can respond with, “Can it just be this question instead?” And I'll be like yea.

Can it just be this question? This is actually the question: If you were stranded on a desert island, in between two islands – one had fruits and one had vegetables, which one would you swim to? ...[pause]... I would swim to the fruits one. I like vegetables a lot but fruit is like nature's desert.

What's you favorite fruit?

Probably either watermelon or mango. Or a really good tomato because that's a fruit too. I don't want to be a criminal Sean.

Ok I guess you are a hero then. What hero are you?

Me. I want to be a hero – does it have to be a famous person?

Not if you redo the question.

I want to be the hero.

Do you collect anything when you travel?

I do enjoy buying clothes from thrift stores and altering them like this vest... and then I put this piggy on it.

Rachel Kate PhotosRachel Kate in Columbia, SC by Columbia SC Portrait Photographer Sean Rayford