Catherine Anne Davies
| Catherine Anne Davies | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Anchoress |
| Origin | Glynneath, Wales |
| Musician information | |
| Genre(s) | Indie rock, Pop music |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Label(s) | Kscope (Link), Too Pure (Link) |
| Associated acts | Simple Minds, Paul Draper, Bernard Butler (Suede) |
| Website(s) | |
| http://www.iamtheanchoress.com | |
some of this page was taken from the wikipedia article on Catherine here.
Contents
Biography
Davies formed The Anchoress in 2013. Paul Draper has co-produced The Anchoress's debut album, Confessions of a Romance Novelist, which was releasef on January 15 2016 via Kscope.[1] [2] A second album will be produced by Bernard Butler.[3][4]
From March to Dec 2015, Davies performed in Simple Minds' live band, contributing additional guitar and keyboards.[5][6] She met Jim Kerr through The Dark Flowers collective.[7] She has also performed live with Ed Harcourt at Glastonbury Festival,[8] as well as Martha Wainwright.[9]
Musical style
Davies has been described by NPR's Ann Powers as "Wales's (much more explicitly feminist) answer to Lana Del Rey."[10] Davies cites Laura Nyro, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Prince, Kate Bush, Harry Nilsson, and The Carpenters as influences.[11]
Solo and Side projects
Association with Paul Draper
Catherine had been approached by Paul Draper after hearing some of her work whilst Catherine was at University, she decided not to go into a career in music until she had at least completed her studies. The two had stayed in touch throughout her studies and then after Catherine completed her Phd she decided to work with Paul on her own works.
She later explained in an interview that Paul understood her desire to retain full creative control and that Paul with his experience as a songwriter/musician/studio engineer in Mansun, and in the studio as a Producer would be perfect for her as Paul would ensure Catherine was in full control delivering her new music. This creative process evolved in to requiring other musicians that both Catherine and Paul would want to work with, both with Catherine's project The Anchoress and Paul's own solo works Spooky Action at a Distance.
Catherine was interviewed by Paul Lester at one of the discussion panels at Mansun Convention 2014 hosted at The Live Rooms in Chester. Here is a video discussing working with Paul.
| Mansun Convention video | ||
|---|---|---|
Pre The Anchoress
Catherine self-released music under her own name and as Catherine A.D.
In 2009, Davies performed with London Philharmonic Orchestra as an artist-in-residence at London's South Bank Centre.[12][13] Through this role, she wrote with Riz MC and collaborated with Nitin Sawhney.[9][14][15]
Under the abbreviated A.D. guise, Davies released the single Carry Your Heart,[12] and a mini-album entitled Communion.[16] NME described Communion as an "understated but beautiful mini-album" when naming it one of the 20 best "cult/experimental" albums of 2011.[17] She also released a collection covers entitled Reprise.[18] The release featured re-interpretations of songs by Friendly Fires, Sleigh Bells, Nick Drake, Tracy Chapman, Bon Ive], Hurts, My Brightest Diamond, The Crystals, Nina Simone and The Magnetic Fields.[19]
Davies is also a member of The Dark Flowers "super-group".[20] The project was started by songwriter and producer Paul Statham in 2009.[21] She appears alongside vocalist's Jim Kerr, Kate Havnevik, Dot Allison, Peter Murphy, Shelly Poole, Helicopter Girl and Remi Roughe. In an interview with Clash, Davies said "It’s basically a project put together by a guy called Paul Statham who’s a songwriter/producer and he had this idea to make a dark country record, kind like ‘Paris/Texas’ soundtrack."[22]
Davies also appeared as a backing vocalist on Emmy The Great's debut single Secret Circus.
Writing
Davies has a PhD in literature and queer theory from University College London, and has published a book entitled Whitman's Queer Children about epic poetry through Bloomsbury Publishing.[7][23]
Davies has written about film-maker David Lynch for the NME,[24] and has interviewed Tori Amos[25] and Manic Street Preachers[26][27][28] for Drowned in Sound.
External Links
References
- ↑ The Anchoress debut album details. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Listen to 'Popular' By The Anchoress plus debut album details. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Anchoress working with Bernard Butler. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Bernard Butler reveals he's working with The Anchoress. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Simple Minds: Big Music – behind the scenes. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Blurred sidelines: meet the musicians who are doctors, gardeners and authors. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Interview for SimpleMinds dot org. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Ed Harcourt & Catherine AD Collaboration. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Emerging Artist in Residence. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Musicians You'll Tell Your Friends About In 2015. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Anchoress biography. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Catherine A.D. talks about the brooding darkness in her Valentine's Day EP. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Escape Velocity in-depth interview with Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ AllMusic page for 'Sour Times' by Riz MC. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Guardian's New Band of The Week. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 30 Seconds with... Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The 20 Best Cult/Experimental Albums 2011. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ This Week's Top 5 Music Links. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ CATHERINE AD - REPRISE: THE COVERS COLLECTION. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Radioland by Dark Flowers album review. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Jim Kerr, Catherine AD, Dot Allison and Paul Statham tell The Quietus about their Sam Shephard-inspired collaborative LP. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Ones To Watch: Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Whitman's Queer Children: America's Homosexual Epics. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Music Of Twin Peaks Dissected: What Does 'Lynchian' Actually Mean. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Catherine AD meets Tori Amos. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part One. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part Two. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part Three. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
