Catherine Feeny Exclusive FemaleFirst Interview

13 August 2007

Twenty nine year old singer/songwriter Catherine Feeny left her home in LA for Norfolk here in the UK in a bid to launch her music career.Now with he album Hurricane Glass Catherine is on the brink of major success after her current single Mr Blue was used in motion picture Running With Scissors starring Gwyneth Paltrow.After spending most of the year as a support act on tour Catherine is about to lauch the first headlining tour of her own.FemaleFirst caught up with her to chat about her new single and performing at Glastonbury.

You are originally from Philadelphia but you are currently based here in the UK why did you move?

Well I was living in Los Angeles and I was playing music I met a producer who was interested in working with me, and he was based in England. So I came over to do some work with him and we ended up doing an album together, his name is Sebastian Rogers, eventually I had a manager here and a publishing deal here. Things were happening here in England that were not happening in America so I moved.

Do you miss home?

I did at first, not as much anymore, I'm just more used to the way things are here, I have made new friends.I do miss the wather sometimes!

Your new single is Mr Blue what does that mean?

Well, I suppose it was just likea funny little name I was calling my boyfriend at the time. He was kind of bummed out, he was a singer songwriter as well, and we were both moody characters and I was kind of saying cheer up.

It was used in the movie Running With Scissors how did that come about?

I had sent Mr Blue, along with a few other songs, out to a radio studio in Los Angeles called KCRW and I knew that they playe dunsigned artists sometimes. A guy there called Nic Harcourt has a morning show called Morning Comes Eclectic, and they have quite a wide listenership in Los Angeles, and he keeps working really hard to discover new artists and champion new music. He started playing Mr Blue and the director heard it and wanted it for his movie.

For those who are new to your music your new album is Hurricane Glass how would you describe it?

I think that it is quite an intimate album and alot of people find it quite relaxing because I have quite and easy going voice. But the songs are about personal struggle and relationships. I don't know it is quite a personal album.

Did you write the album and what influences you to write?

I did write it yes. I think generally writing, for me, is a process of working things out almost like problem solving. You know if you are upset about something or there is something that you don't inderstand going on in your life then writing is a way to work through that.

Did you have freedom when recording the album?

I worked with my producer and we had some different ideas and we had some creative boxing matches at times but always came up with a product that we love and both are very proud of. We wererecording out in the countryside, in Norfolk, and it was lovely to be very removed from any pressure of the record industry but I wasn't signed at the time we made the album then got a record deal. So yeah it was quite lacking pressure environment, which was nice.

Who would you say are your musical influences?

I have lots of musical influences when I was growing up I listened to kind of, top 40 whatever was on the radio and then I used to listen to my parents folk records like Simon and Garfunkel. And when I was a bit older I got into The Cure and The Smiths and the post punk era of England. So I have various influences from indie music and also really mainstream pop music. I used to love Whiteny Housten I used to listen to her debut album like glue but I have got more into country music as I have gotten older, I love Joni Mitchel, she's not country but she is definately on the list.

What have you found to be the benefits of your MySpace page?

I think people being able to hear the music and learn a little bit about you without having to actually buy the album. Because if someone just hears your name or something about you it's not always enough to make them become a fan but if they are alble to listen to four tracks, and read your blogs and watch a video it's just a great, and even write to you, it's just a great contact with more people. People cometo your page in various ways friends might recommend it, they might just see you picture I think that it gives more people a chance to hear your music that wouldn't necessarly come across it if it was just in a magazine.

You recently played at Glastonbury how was that?

It was great I really had a good time. I went for the whole weekend and did the whole camping thing and just really enjoyed it, I had never been before. I was hoping for better weather. But the show was really fun the crew at the festival is amazing they are just really helpful and really nice and we just had a lovely time.

You have done alot of tour supports this year including Martha Wainwright and Suzanne Vega how did they come about and how did you find touring?

They come about in various ways alot of them are my manager and my booking agent getting in touch with various people and seeing if I am right for their tour. It's really good it's the best way to reach new fans because people, generally you are on a tour that their music bears some relation to yours, so it's kind of a very targeted audience that you are playing for and they are obviously people who like music because they are at a show. It can be a bit hard sometimes when people haven't come to see you you have to really convince them, and that can be a struggle. But it's a rollercoaster ride one night will be great and the next will be terrible but it's all an interesting experience.

You have your own headlining tour this autumn

I do yes starting on August 30th I'm hitting the road with my band. I'm really looking forward to that its my first time on a tour so that will be really fun. It's a thirteen date tour here in the UK.