Cat Martino

Dance video on NPR!

cat — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:08:52 +0000

On the tour-go so much, I hardly had a chance to announce here that NPR was nice enough to premier my new dance video, & 1st video ever, co-directed by the very talented Deborah Johnson & Lily Baldwin! The 3 of us were obsessed with how to tell a deeper story through bodies and camera, so check it out!

NPR STORY & VIDEO LINK – click here

THE MAKING OF – “Yr Not Alone” music video is a dance with the camera, combining light, color, design and movement. It begins with backlit images, alluding to Martino’s inner world. Through dance, the video re-imagines a provocative yet compelling interaction, played out by Cat and co-director Lily Baldwin (Director, David Byrne dancer). A journey from light to color to pattern, co-director Deborah Johnson’s climactic animations create a layered, graphic dimension in which Martino and her dancers rejoice – Yr Not Alone!

Cat explains: “”Yr Not Alone” is about an encounter I had with an eccentric Chaplin-esque character in Prague. Dressed like Chaplin, with the hat, cane, mustache and everything, there was something tragic and mysteriously wonderful about him, although in the end his behavoir approached stalker. I would never see him again, but I wrote the song right away, imagining his adness as he disappeared from a great fun party. Deborah suggested we tell my story more abstractly, by having Lily play the peculiar party character. It became far less literal and more about narrative movement.”

What resulted is a music video that is equal parts ethereal, strange, silly and victorious. Luz & Victoria Pavone (stylists, PavonNYC) play the role of Cat’s background singers in her subconscious mind. Bright, lively prints from their original dress designs were given to Deborah to animate, complementing the song’s triumphant climax with the Pavon’s unique spark of party energy.

Like the video, the meaning of the song is multilayered. It’s a rally for camaraderie and self-expression, a release of anxiety in the midst of social media where so much is over-exposed and over-shared, and existential aloneness in a world where some of our most honest, intimate moments are shared with a passing stranger.

Makin’ yet another record – RPM’in it with Sven!

cat — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:45:04 +0000

Hey Ya’ll,

I’ve been holed up in the woods of Grass Valley, California this winter working on a new record, cat sitting in a little cottage. At night the stars are literally jaw dropping and the trees stretch to the sky. it’s quite the woodsy womb of the world.

My bandmate Sven came to visit for 10 days and we wrote and recorded 7 songs so far!! Alone I have recorded several more. This material feels vastly different than any recordings I’ve put out, and that excites me. All of it is rawer, more immediate, feels like a deeper authentic voice, a darker exploration, etc…

Fast & furious is igniting. We are inspired by the RPM Challenge where people all over the world are making a record the month of February. But we are off by a bit. Tour starts Feb. 21st, so we had to begin our work in January to have month.

Cat’s a plenty are everywhere, including Zipper & Sadie who I am housesitting. Although Sadie has gone now to Mexico to visit her mommy (of course she has:). STRANGERCAT is a kitty who came daily to peer in our window and see what kind of music Sven & I were making. We let him in one day, and he ate all the kitty food and then ran away. As a result of meeting this mysterious being, we are seriously considering calling this project “Stranger Cat” after this feline. What do you think?

Funny – people always ask me if I am a “cat person” because of my name (which is short for Catherine), and I have had to say, “not really”, because I never had one. But these little guys have converted me into a 100% bonafide kitten freak – purrrrrr, meow!!!!

Stay tuned, more soon!!!! Sven & I hope you enjoy our teaser start R.E.D. (Red Electric Dragon). And an additional teaser below, about which you’ll get no more information right now…

US Tour 2013!

cat — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:14:30 +0000

Excited to announce I will be touring in support of my forth-coming E.P. with 4ADs new addition Indians this coming February & March. I caught Soren at a recent Bowery Ballroom show & loved the music. Also, on the tour will be Night Beds, who I look forward to checking out.

Check the dates HERE – Coming to a city near you USA

This January I will release (FINALLY) my EP that’s been hangin around! As it is, I am already in the midst fo recording a whole new record… ah, so much music to make;) Keep yr eyes & ears peeled, sign up here on the ole mailer list if you want to know about it:).

Also, comin at you real soon, my 1st official dance video & a spooky live video from the woods of the Sierra Foothills.

2013, I can’t wait for you, later 2012! Happy Holidays & New Year y’all! xoxo Cat

Upcoming shows in the Bay Area! (SF Jan 5th & Santa Cruz Jan 3rd)

cat — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:03:05 +0000

Looking forward to playing in the Bay Area so soon! Please come check out the show – I’ve been writing and making many new songs of a very different feel. Exciting:).

Not to be missed of course, the lovely Marissa Nadler, and Guy Blakeslee of The Entrance Band, on both nites!

The Chapel January 5th, San Francisco, CA & Don Quixotes Music Hall, January 3rd, Santa Cruz – Whisper a good word to a friend in the area;)!

TICKETS/INFO

Upcoming NYC, Mid-West, & West Coast tour dates!

cat — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:27:26 +0000

Hey NYC – I’ll see you this Saturday 5/19 where I’ll accompany Rooftop Films with live music for a film. Info HERE!

I am really looking forward to my tour supporting Patrick Watson band on tour, tell a friend!

06/01 – Chicago IL @ Lincoln Hall
06/02 – Minneapolis MN @ Cedar Cultural Centre
06/04 – Denver CO @ Hi Dive
06/07 – San Diego CA @ UCSD The Loft
06/08 – Los Angeles CA @ The Bootleg Theatre
06/09 – Felton CA @ Don Quixote’s
06/10 – San Francisco CA @ Great American Music Hall
06/12 – Portland OR @ Mission Theatre
06/13 – Seattle WA @ Columbia City Theatre06/14 - Vancouver

FULL Shaking Through Episode!

cat — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:55:45 +0000

Thnx to NPR’S ALL SONGS CONSIDERED FEATURE, Pitchfork, and other for posting my full Shaking Through Episode for Weathervane Music,

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE & and get a FREE download of my new electro-soul tune made with help from Sufjan Stevens & Christopher Powell (of Man Man) HERE

Also,do do check out the full on Weathervane Music & Shaking Through Project.

So many wonderful artists have had this chance, and the work they do is very special, so explore their site for gems!

Shaking Through Preview!

cat — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:04:36 +0000

Preview here, Full Episode coming next week!

Shaking Through: Cat Martino Preview from Weathervane Music on Vimeo.

As can be seen from my previous post, I had a blast on this project. Please check out the Shaking Through Website, I love their work & creative mission! Previous episodes feature some artists I really dig like Faces on Film / Marissa Nadler, & Port St. Willow / Peter Silberman (of the Antlers), and the episode I recorded with Sharon Van Etten for “Love More” in 2010!

Shaking Through // Weathervane

cat — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:54:26 +0000

Still buzzing from my session this weekend in Philly at Weathervane Music with Brian McTear, Jon Low, & all the incredible people involved! I think I finally created & let a song dance as much as I do (this one is slow jam)! Bon voyage singer/songwriter Cat for a while perhaps… Can’t wait to share this new tune with you soon! Sexy gear, smooth soulful grooves, totally ready for Spring!

SNL with The Shins

cat — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:03:49 +0000

I had fun singing on SNL with The Shins, what a super blast! Go grab their new record Port of Morrow!

The Shins – Simple Song (Live on SNL) from Justaway on Vimeo.

Howdy, & welcome!

cat — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:59:21 +0000

Welcome to my website! Feel free to poke around, buy music, listen & look at stuff…

YR NOT ALONE, my forth-coming record will be released early Fall 2012! Appeareances by Sufjan Stevens, Jack Petruzzelli, Brian McTear, Casey Foubert & C.J. Camerieri, with cover art by Alexandra Marvar, (the ever talented lady who also helps me keeps this website up to date:).

THANX FOR STOPPING BY! xo Cat

Songs For My Love

cat — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:46:26 +0000

Hey Loves, I did not know what teams were playing in the Superbowl. Nor that Madonna was performing the half-time set when I took this dance favorite of mine from the 80s out of my back pocket and gave it my own balladry spin.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Im starting a set of cover songs based around the subject of guess what?… Love! Songs For My Love, will be released later this winter via my BANDCAMP PAGE. Sneak preview into what’s to expect later week from the E.P. of songs.

Cat Martino covers Into The Groove from Kevin de Wilde on Vimeo.

I also found my Mom’s special pink dress from the 70s to give me extra help in channeling Karen Carpenter here ->

Cat Martino covers Superstar from Kevin de Wilde on Vimeo.

(Superstar) http://vimeo.com/36530594

Sent from my heart,

Cat

Comin to the East Coast

cat — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:59:01 +0000

See you on the East Coast my friends in November, come on by! Tour w/ THE LOOM and others! TIX & INFO HERE

Nov 11 Chicago, IL @ Panchos
Nov 12 Madison, WI @ Univ of Wisconsin – Der Rathskeller w/ Memoryhouse
Nov 13 Cincinnati, OH @ Motr Pub
Nov 14 Indianapolis, IN @ The Melody Inn o
Nov 15 Columbus, OH @ Kafe Kerouac w/ The Black Swans
Nov 16 Charlottesville, VA @ Pink Warehouse (100 W. Jefferson St)
Nov 17 Durham, NC @ The Pinhook
Nov 18 Washington, DC @ Velvet Lounge
Nov 19 College Park, MD @ University of Maryland – WMUC
Nov 20 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

Dec 4th Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel – opening for War on Drugs

FALL TOUR DATES (so far…)

cat — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:14:28 +0000

Hey all, super excited to head over seas. Please do spread the word!! Hope to see you & / or yr friends at a show! xCat

* Opening for Megafaun (& Doug Paisley) (ah, Megafaun, new album out, git it!) TICKETS
9/25 – Mercury Lounge, NYC

* Opening for Marissa Nadler (Marissa is gorgeousness, check her out) TICKETS

4-10-11 Bush Hall – London (UK) -
5-10-11 Cat Solo Show – at Betsy Trotwood – London (UK) TICKETS
6-10-11 Comet – Berlin (D)
7-10-11 Uebel & Gefährlich – Hamburg (D)
8-10-11 Pumpehuset – Copenhagen (DK)
9-10-11 Debaser – Stockholm (S)
10-10-11 Hendriksberg – Gothenburg (S)
11-10-11 Revolver – Oslo (N)
12-10-11 Perfect Sounds Forever – Bergen (N)
14-10-11 Klubi – Tampere (FI)
15-10-11 Dynamo – Turku (FI)
16-10-11 Kuudes Linja – Helsinki (FI)

* Opening for Gardens and Villa (git with this band! you can’t understand how gooood they are, saw them kill it at Glasslands in Brooklyn recently!)

30-10-11 Groningen, Holland- Vera
31-10-11 Brussels, Belgium- AB Club
1-11-11 Nijmegen, Holland- Merleijn

cat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:23:29 +0000

back in the womb that i love best recording a new demo today

Summer Single & Video Premiere!

cat — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:19:15 +0000

my first single, Yr Not Alone, from my new record has been posted, and you can hear it at NYLON.

Also thanx to CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND who premiered my rooftop video cover of the Cure’s Lovesong

cat — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:02:34 +0000

Visited WNYC Soundcheck with Sufjan, Nedelle Torrisi,DM Stith & guest Bryce Dessner. We made some nice soul harmonies for end of “Impossible Soul”;)

New REcord!!!

cat — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:29:14 +0000

It’s all done and coming sooooon! Recorded at the Poconos studios with co-production from Jack Petruzzelli, and additional musical play from Sufjan Stevens, Casey Foubert, CJ Camereri, & Brian McTear… Mixed by Brian McTear at Minor Street in Philly. So excited to share it with you. Above is the album artwork by the lovely and talented Alexandra Marvar!

Down Under

cat — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:04:12 +0000

hey y’all ~ just a quick note from down under. super grateful to be on the Sufjan Stevens Space Tour Down Under in AU / NZ. We got to rock the Sydney Opera House, and hit 7 other cities. People are slightly confused at the beginning of our show, maxed out with an 11 piece band, and the gorgeous visuals of Deborah Johnson – but then they seem to turn and wish for us never to get back on our spaceship and fly away! Everyone is so chill here, and there are clearly “no worries”, something for my NYC Annie Hall mind easily forgets – hopefully it will have rubbed off on me and i will take their sense of ease and fullness home!

Sharon Van Etten + NPR Tiny Desk Concert + et moi

cat — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 02:44:01 +0000

First stop on SVE tour down South was a visit to NPR studios to do a Tiny Desk Concert. All the peoples there were so nice and sweet, and we did our best to sing sweet harmonies in the corner office in front of a bookcase;). Thankfully I stayed away from some of the more enticing children’s percussive toys! Later, Ben, Doug, Sharon and I played a great show with Marissa Nadler @ DC9 before heading South for more trouble!

KCRW Featured tune…

cat — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:40:51 +0000

hey peops, an electro collabo i did with “Dive Index” had featured tune “Burn Their Bodies” on KCRW today. cool. also did a duet with Mark Gardener, from Ride, and Joseph Arthur on the record.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/tu/tu101101dive_index_burn_thei?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kc…rw%2Ftu+%28Today%27s+Top+Tune%29

Takeaway Show for “Jennie’s Gone Down”

cat — Sat, 15 May 2010 15:41:06 +0000

As if Truck America wasn’t enough, I also got to do a Takeaway show with the amazingly talented guys from Foglight Films amongst the trees of the Catskills. Thanx Daniel, Adam, Ron, & Paul from Foglight!

Cat Martino: Jenni’s Gone Down from Foglight Films on Vimeo.

Looping in an Upstate Barn / Soundcheck

cat — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:03:53 +0000

Jae Song posted this little spontaneous Barn video. I would be happy staying a long time in that barn. I heart Truck America!

A – Cappella with SVE + Vincent Moon

cat — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:32:52 +0000

Vincent Moon came over my house with Sharon Van Etten and this is what happened when got to stripping down her lovely song, “For You”. By the way, if yr hiding under a rock and are not on board with the gorgeous SVE, jump on before the ship goes people!

Take Away Show _ SHARON VAN ETTEN (beta preview) from vincent moon / temporary areas on Vimeo.

Weathervane Music Recording of “Love More”, w/ Sharon Van Etten

cat — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:26:41 +0000

Hello Sunday Folks ~ Just gettin round to posting this video of a recording I did with my friend Sharon Van Etten. She and her music are pure beauty. What fun she, me & Kish had at Weathervane! Thanx to Brian and Greg in Philly. xo

Shaking Through: Sharon Van Etten from Weathervane Music on Vimeo.

en route to berlin baby

cat — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:06:10 +0000

en route to berlin baby! best thing i heard anyone say in UK: (insert accent & image of sweet ole medieval bookseller lady from countryside)… “i tried to paint the walls lily white but they still look bloody green. ah, it’s all still jolly good”.

Show with Dusty at the Rusty in Oxfordshire

cat — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:36:31 +0000

For those of you who aren’t dead yet from Truck, looks like I’m sticking around a few more days in Oxfordshire since I’ve got the plague too much to go to Paris. I’ll honker down with the other plagued:) Music with Dusty & the Dreaming Spires, myself, and other special guests, tomorrow nite at the Rusty!!

TRUCKfest 2009

cat — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:10:20 +0000

Amazing music festival i played past weekend, run by the Bennett Family on a beautiful farm in Oxfordshire, UK. With a crowd of 6,000, it is a favorite for it’s vibe, all about the music and the people, not a sign of corporate sponsorship in sight. Discovered so much new music, favs being Wild Beasts, 6 Day Riot, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Yacht, Pulled Apart By Horses, KTB, Jason Sebastion Russo, The Joy Formidable…kudos to the Truck bookers for concentrating on a lot of up and coming music!!

Check out Bethan Elfan’s amazing Radio 1 Live Coverage of TRUCK. So floored that radio here is playing such exciting groundbreaking music! Live stream music & interviews from Stornoway, Dusty & the Dreaming Spires, Fredrick Stanley Star, Them Squirrels and Sweet Baboo, some of my other festival favs.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bethanelfyn/

playing Truck music fest tomorrow!

cat — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:35:40 +0000

what a shocking transformation, from rolling fields to hundreds of tents, stages, folks dancing, some in costumes, rad adorable people, rock n’ roll dj, pre-show festivities, white lights, good vibrations… feel like a kid on christmas, can’t go to sleep, can’t wait to wake up and play TRUCK!

Show in Reading…

cat — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:30:06 +0000

played a really rad gig in Reading tonite at the Oakford Social Club! Nick Horton promoted, such a sweet guy… why is everyone so nice in these parts? opened for a great coming up English band called Stornaway, check em out, gggreat stuff!!! now a bit of the brown and a bath off to bed, long weekend, and trying to avoid the plague:)

Almost Truckin’…

cat — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:26:38 +0000

In further news today I delivered village mail on bicycle for TRUCK< avoided the swine flu quarantine house, interviewed a cow about it’s excitement to see Supergrass at the Festival, frolicked in the heathers, wrote tunes, painted signs, and ate at another nicely enforced big family/friend dinner by Mamma Bennett.