Calming and pure one moment, exciting and vivid the next, this album lights up the imagination and relieves the mind of the mundane.  Catherine evokes a fabulous array of emotions typically reserved for emotions that ebb and flow only under the moonlight.

~Wendy Oakley~

The many loves of Catherine Duc…

I play piano, keyboard and some Irish instruments such as the low whistle, tin whistle and bodhran.  My first instrument was the keyboard, which I started learning when I was 8.  I started learning classical piano when I was about 12 and have only taken up the Irish instruments recently after a trip to Ireland.  I also have some Asian instruments such as a dizi flute from China and a bamboo flute from Cambodia.  During high school, I was in the choir and at primary school, I was offered a place in the Australian Girls Choir (which I didn’t take up).  I’ve only been doing some vocal recording in the last 5 or so years.  I recorded all of ‘Visions and Dreams’ including the vocals in my home studio.  I really like the flexibility of having a studio at home and being able to compose and record music whenever I like it.  My album ‘Visions and Dreams’ is a blend of my favorite styles of music.  I enjoy listening to World, ambient and chillout music like the Cafe del Mar, along with atmospheric electronica such as Chicane and BT. In the last few years, I’ve really been interested in film soundtracks and my favorite composers are James Horner (Titanic), Harry Gregson-Williams (Chronicles of Narnia) and Howard Shore (Lord of The Rings).  My main influences when I started composing music were Enigma, Deep Forest and Delerium as I found the way they blended world music, electronic beats and ambient textures had a very fresh and interesting sound.  I like the modern classical composers like Debussy, Satie, Dvorak and Holst.  I’m also a big fan of Celtic music – from traditional Celtic folk songs to Celtic crossover like Celtic Woman, Enya and Riverdance to pop and rock artists like The Corrs and Mary Black. 

 ‘Visions and Dreams’ was recorded using a lot of different ethnic instruments from Asia, The Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America combined with ambient backgrounds, electronica rhythms and ethereal vocalises.  If you like Enigma or Enya, my music is similar to their styles.  The mastering was done at the Sony Mastering studios near Sydney.  I didn’t actually go there (it would have been really nice to visit the studios though) and sent the CD by post to them.  A couple of phone calls later to the engineer and it was all done.

 I’m now working on my next studio album, which will have more Celtic music influences.  I hope to go to the Billboard film music conference in LA later this year.  I’ve been to California once when I was at school and most of my relatives live in California.   I’d really like to see more of California, especially the coast and would love to visit San Francisco again as it reminds me of my hometown, Melbourne.

Catherine’s Words of Wisdom for Women Musicians…

Try to enjoy the musical journey rather than the destination!  I’d like to share one of my favorite inspirational quotes written by the author Mark Twain:  ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did.   So throw off the bowlines.   Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore. Dream. Discover.’ 

I’d just like to encourage musicians who are reading this to have a try at things (or as we say down in Australian – ‘have a go’).  You won’t know what you can do unless you have actually tried it.  And if you fail once, just get up and try again and do things a little differently.  After all, Edison failed about 10,000 times before he got the light bulb right!  When I first started recording music, I received some critical reviews from some listeners.  I didn’t stop there and give up – I used it as fuel to improve my musicianship and a couple of year later ended up receiving the Best Instrumental Artist Award at the Los Angeles Music Awards.

 Please feel free to say to hi and introduce yourself at: www.myspace.com/CatherineDuc

My main website for more information on my music including free MP3 samples is:     www.CatherineDuc.com

In Her Own Words…..

This album was 100% recorded/produced/ and engineered by me. I started the project in early 2009 and had it finished by late summer. I decided that I wanted to take on the challenge of taking complete control of “Denver or Bust”. I would have never guessed that the project would have been as challenging as it was, but when everything was said and done, it sure was a great learning experience!

I used a pro tools program, a book about recording, a keyboard, a guitar, a mic, and a bass. I created a makeshift studio in my bedroom of the house I was renting at the time. Merry Roberts was kind enough to lend her bass skills and vocals to the project. She is one of my oldest friends and I had a great time playing with her again. Once the recording and mixing was all done I contacted Ramsey Beyer another old friend and sat down with her to discuss artwork for the album. She is extremely talented and you can view some of her stuff at www.everydaypants.com. After all the parts of the project were complete I decided on a manufacturer and the rest is history.  “To Denver or Bust” is a collaborative project made up of honest songs that are both relatable and heartfelt.

~The story behind the music of Kathryn Tapper ~

I grew up with parents who loved the Beatles and Motown classics. From a very young age I showed interest in music and loved to sing along with the “oldies” as my parents called them. When I was thirteen I got my first guitar from a second hand store in Kalamazoo. During my teenage years I learned how to play the drums and recently started teaching myself the keyboard. I have never had any technical training in music, I just kind of teach myself along the way. I have been writing songs since I first got my guitar and have been performing since I was fifteen. During my high school years I fronted an all girl band called Forever In Secret. Forever In Secret was made up of three of my best friends growing up. You can here some of our songs here… www.myspace.com/foreverinsecret. I wrote all of the songs we played and actually taught our drummer how to play so we could have drums   

I’m influenced by all types of music. Right now in my car I’m listening to a classical music radio station actually, I find it quite relaxing. Some of my favorite artists are … Alicia Keys, the Beatles, Steel Train, Tegan and Sara, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, Tom Petty, The XX, The Good News, Elton John… the list could go on! Honestly I could find something I like in almost anyone’s musical catalog.

Words of Wisdom for Women Musicians….

Take control. Play as much as you can for anyone who will listen. Teach yourself what you want to know and don’t hesitate to ask someone for a chance.

In the upcoming months I am going to be booking and playing as many shows as I can while working and finishing the last year of my undergrad. I hope to start work on a new project this fall that will hopefully be done by the spring of 2011.

Show dates and info for Kathryn Tapper can be found at www.myspace.com/KathrynTapper

CD’s are available for purchase at  www.amazon.com  and  www.digistation.com/KathrynTapper

Upcoming Shows: 

August 4th at the Corner Bar in Kalamazoo, Mi

September 10th at the Wine and Harvest Festival in Paw Paw, Mi

At 1pm, Every Woman will debut live on the frequency 95.7fm.  Mellow Dee will be live at the WVQC studio hosting a fun filled edition of Every Woman.

For those who cannot listen on 95.7fm, you can continue to stream live at www.wvqc.org.

New York Times best selling author Ted Dekker has teamed up with Erin Healy to create non-stop action and suspense in “Burn”.  This female narrated novel is thick in twists and turns that’ll fire up the imagination as Janeal dodges explosions in the air and the fire that burns deep down in her heart.

~Wendy Oakley~

www.erinhealy.com

www.teddekker.com

Sheri Fuqua is the owner and creator of Girly Grub Aromatherapy which is located in Covington, Kentucky. 

Soap, perfume, bath salts, pet care, baby products, moisturizer, and candles are among the fabulous products made at Girly Grub.

Take a moment and support a woman owned company and buy a handmade product now.

www.girlygrub.com