tag:catnyp.com,2005:/blogs/xxx?p=5xxx2022-06-20T14:26:38-06:00Catnyp | eccentric modern classicfalsetag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/69980072022-06-20T14:26:38-06:002023-10-16T08:52:44-06:00Reflections on touring
<p>Missoula, Seattle, Portland, Olympia, Portland, Bellingham, Eugene, Missoula. Ten dates over 12 days.</p>
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<p>A 4Runner so overloaded – including both a roof rack and a hitch rack, thankfully with very good waterproof bags – with 4 bodies, 4 guitars, two amplifiers, a drum kit, gig bags, merchandise, and personal effects that I literally had to leave my <em>Birkenstocks</em> behind. Two hours to figure the <strong>optimum load configuration</strong>. Loading into the hotel/airbnb — then the venue — then load out — then back to the hotel/airbnb again. By the end of the tour we could have it all in and out in about 10 minutes flat. </p>
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<p><strong>Storming, norming and forming</strong>; getting to know my band, musicians who met on a Monday and had their first gig on Wednesday then got in a car together for <strong>2,307 miles</strong>, late nights and early rises to get to the next show. 10 pounds dropped in a matter of days since we’d underestimated the need to find time to actually <strong>EAT</strong>, believe it or not. By day three or four, we literally did not know what day it was or where we were (cue the importance of having a <strong>tour manager</strong>). </p>
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<p>The wonderful joy of playing and <strong>meeting new people</strong> who run the venues, and the other bands who were beyond generous in their support. The blessed two days in a friend’s home and the normalization of a Memorial Day barbecue (and the fun of a night spend doing Karaoke in their designated room). </p>
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<p>The wonder of <strong>muscle memory</strong> after such an intense gig-a-day experience is such that I took a week off, then ran through the set and it was note-perfect—when normally I’d notice some skill drop off when I don’t play for a few days.</p>
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<p><strong>A touring band</strong>. Officially. And yes, it’s a banner that not all bands ever carry.</p>
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Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/69269852022-03-19T12:55:27-06:002022-05-28T01:22:29-06:00Catnyp 2022 Pacific Northwest Tour
<p>Ari on drums. </p>
<p>Ian on guitar. </p>
<p>HKS on bass.</p>
<p>Just having <a href="https://catnyp.com/live-shows-tour" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a menu item on the w</a><a href="https://catnyp.com/live-shows-tour">ebsite </a>that says “LIVE DATES” is something we thought might never actually happen. Let alone a tour.</p>
<p>But it’s happening. Running through our set in Missoula at the Zootown Arts Community Center live room May 25 – to Seattle and The Blue Moon Tavern on May 26 then on to Portland 5/31, Bellingham 6/1, Eugene 6/2, Spokane in there we hope and then finish in Missoula with a few gigs on 6/3 and 6/4 it looks like — then a pause before we reunite for a powerhouse gig at Monk’s in Missoula on 6/10. </p>
<p>Suspect that is the one not to miss in many ways. Just back from tour with a week of rest and I suspect we’ll be fierce. </p>
<p>We have such cool <a href="https://catnyp.com/shop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">merch – here</a> :</p>
<p>Lucky the Cat Tour Mascot – T shirt</p>
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<p>Stickers galore </p>
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<p>Black Catnyp IIII logo tee </p>
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<p>Racerback tank top with Zen Cat for the ladies …</p>
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<p>And of course the Black Cat Trilogy CDs and Catnyp IIII – the new album…</p>
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<p>Basses and guitars are getting cleaned, prepped and re-strung … pedals and setting dialed in … amps checked over … hotels booked … food planning …. </p>
<p>Check it out. </p>
<p>ALSO </p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/Wbrf4SHWsyM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Secret link to our another secret single called NO HOPE. Because you scrolled this far. </a></p>
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Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/69043862022-02-22T15:18:45-07:002022-02-22T16:15:19-07:00New single dropping. Artist of the week. And Pacific Northwest Tour announced.
<p>The final official single off <em><strong>Catnyp I</strong>III </em> drops on Friday, February 25–it’s called “Sharp White Teeth” and will be premiered on <a href="http://bigtakeover.com/">The Big Takeover</a>.</p>
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<p>We’ve also announced a 10 day PNW Tour kicking off at the Blue Moon tavern in Seattle on Thursday, May 25th. Other dates are being finalized. </p>
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<p>The Catnyp IIII <strong>Pacific Northwest Tour kicks off in Seattle on Thursday, May 26 </strong>at the legendary <a href="https://www.thebluemoonseattle.com/">Blue Moon Tavern</a> in Seattle</p>
<cite><a href="https://www.songkick.com/concerts/40244753-catnyp-at-blue-moon-tavern">CHECK OUT SONGKICK FOR DATES</a></cite>
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<p>Catnyp are also this week’s Artist of the Week at “<a href="https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1MnxnkXOAmyKO">You Haven’t Heard This Music Podcast</a>” – HKS spills the beans on it all.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://catnyp.com/">Catnyp website</a> also got a refresh and looks quite stunning too. </p>
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Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/68846792022-01-31T11:38:48-07:002022-01-31T12:45:11-07:00They say that life imitates art
<p>Walter Price is a wonderful music critic and runs “Global Texan Chronicle.”</p>
<p>He gave our recent single (well, all of them) really nice write-ups; <a href="https://globaltexanchronicles.com/the-architecture-of-berlin/">the latest one here </a></p>
<p>While it’s lovely to see the words …</p>
<p><em>CATNYP’s Henderson K Shatner isn’t one to be easily pigeonholed. Delivering fiery single after single with strong comparisons to Bowie, Andy Partridge, Daniel Ash, and heavy on metaphoric brilliance that more often than not conjures up plenty of fantastic imagery. And the Missoula songwriter’s recent single “The Architecture of Berlin” is no exception.</em></p>
<p><em>Wordsmithery at its finest, drawing scenes that only the likes of Henderson could imagine. This single further cements Henderson as one of the more intriguing and certainly entertaining song crafters going these days. And you can stream the new single and see its Noir meets psychedelia, self-produced, music video, here at the GTC.</em></p>
<p>… Walter also shared this review from Trip Advisor about the cafe. Which is, absolutely, the song itself…</p>
<p><strong><em>Imagine an old fashion European Coffee shop. Imagine two rooms filled with wooden tables and an eclectic mix of chairs. The shop is a smoky place with yellowed windows from decades of cigarette smoke and coal spewed out from the heater in corner of the room. Looking out the window one sees wet streets with barb wire and shadows of the guards in trench coats holding riffles. The cloak and dagger days are over, the Cold War atmosphere is long gone. I came hoping to see secret agents taking shots of vodka looking out the window. Sadly, there exists a modern day expensive busy coffee shop. The character is very different form years ago, it is however safer and probably family friendly. I came for nostalgia. </em></strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187323-d1009785-r394156832-Einstein_Kaffee-Berlin.html#" rel="nofollow">https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187323-d1009785-r394156832-Einstein_Kaffee-Berlin.html#</a> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/68761562022-01-21T11:05:47-07:002022-01-21T13:15:05-07:00The Architecture of Berlin
<p>Our new single off the upcoming album Catnyp IIII is out today.</p>
<p>You can check out the song and video > <a href="https://youtu.be/CBCEaaZrhTE">https://youtu.be/CBCEaaZrhTE</a></p>
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<p><em>The evocative “The Architecture Of Berlin” exudes a moody elegance, conjuring the height of 1970s bohemian Berlin as something of a sequel to Bowie’s “Heroes.” It also serves up sharp social commentary on how similar art communities have been commodified and become a caricature of themselves in modern times, and he toes the line between romantic Bowie and cynical modernist. </em></p>
<p><em>Lyrically, Shatner manages some sensually poetic moments such as: She said, “I’d like it if we never went to bed.”/I said I’d like to, she said she’d try to if she could fit it in her head/Unter den Linden, not quite joyridden, they’re selling pieces of the wall/I kind of liked it, she said she’d spiked it, I woke up naked on the floor.</em></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/68584582022-01-03T18:33:26-07:002022-01-03T19:00:10-07:00Wrote and recorded an EP over the holiday break
<p>Three tracks as a “solo” project from HKS will drop after “The Architecture of Berlin” but before “Sharpe White Teeth” and the album “Catnyp IIII.”</p>
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<p>Here’s the cover:</p>
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Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/68204482021-11-24T10:01:00-07:002021-11-24T13:30:05-07:00Game the System
<p>New single dropped 11/19 with a Berlin Noir video where twin sister Natalie Shatner (Nat Shat) steals the show on bass. </p>
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<p><a href="https://linktr.ee/catnyp.the.band" rel="nofollow">https://linktr.ee/catnyp.the.band</a></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/67807862021-10-19T14:51:39-06:002021-10-19T15:00:03-06:00First single out
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<p>“Big Sky” has escaped and received some positive press and playlist adds:</p>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="8Vww6JQGE2"><a href="https://v13.net/2021/09/catnyp-drops-the-addictive-and-airy-new-single-big-sky-premiere/">CATNYP Drops the Addictive and Airy New Single, “Big Sky” [Premiere]</a></blockquote>
<iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“CATNYP Drops the Addictive and Airy New Single, “Big Sky” [Premiere]” — V13.net" src="https://v13.net/2021/09/catnyp-drops-the-addictive-and-airy-new-single-big-sky-premiere/embed/#?secret=8Vww6JQGE2" data-secret="8Vww6JQGE2" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="GPryhew1rR"><a href="https://alt77.com/t-truman-and-catnyp-reviewed/">Big time retro: T Truman and Catnyp reviewed</a></blockquote>
<iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“Big time retro: T Truman and Catnyp reviewed” — Alt77" src="https://alt77.com/t-truman-and-catnyp-reviewed/embed/#?secret=GPryhew1rR" data-secret="GPryhew1rR" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="ew0JyBo0a5"><a href="https://globaltexanchronicles.com/catnyp/">…I’ll put a fence up, CATNYP – Big Sky</a></blockquote>
<iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“…I’ll put a fence up, CATNYP – Big Sky” — Global Texan Chronicles" src="https://globaltexanchronicles.com/catnyp/embed/#?secret=ew0JyBo0a5" data-secret="ew0JyBo0a5" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="5weburDEfE"><a href="https://amplifymusicmag.com/catnyp-just-released-their-new-single-big-sky/">CATNYP just released their new single ‘Big Sky’</a></blockquote>
<iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“CATNYP just released their new single ‘Big Sky’” — Amplify Music Mag" src="https://amplifymusicmag.com/catnyp-just-released-their-new-single-big-sky/embed/#?secret=5weburDEfE" data-secret="5weburDEfE" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
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<a href="https://tinnitist.com/2021/10/04/monday-mixtape-side-1-65-songs-to-light-up-your-world/" rel="nofollow">https://tinnitist.com/2021/10/04/monday-mixtape-side-1-65-songs-to-light-up-your-world/</a>
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<div class="embed-spotify"><iframe title="Spotify Embed: Life is Like a Box of Chocolates (Eclectic Blends)" width="100%" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/7LD0JnZzsud13UvKsruWmS?utm_source=oembed"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://indiecriollo.com/2021/10/06/10-recomendaciones-diarias-del-under-mundial-para-el-oido-exigente-645/" rel="nofollow">https://indiecriollo.com/2021/10/06/10-recomendaciones-diarias-del-under-mundial-para-el-oido-exigente-645/</a>
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<a href="https://thewholekameese.com/2021/10/14/catnyp-big-sky/" rel="nofollow">https://thewholekameese.com/2021/10/14/catnyp-big-sky/</a>
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Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/67489882021-09-16T13:22:08-06:002021-09-16T18:00:12-06:00BE A WINNER
<p>We are running a competition where one lucky winner will receive a limited edition “Game The System” T-shirts as well as all three CDs from “The Black Cat Trilogy.” </p>
<p>Enter here>>> <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://t.co/qxuGPLLLfQ?amp=1" target="_blank">https://app.viralsweep.com/sweeps/full/2dce05-95826?framed=1…</a> </p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnterToWin?src=hashtag_click">#EnterToWin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Music?src=hashtag_click">#Music</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indie?src=hashtag_click">#Indie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rock?src=hashtag_click">#Rock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheBeatles?src=hashtag_click">#</a></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/67153422021-08-13T07:51:07-06:002021-08-13T08:15:19-06:00Catnyp III is finished. Now the wait.
<p>So mixing and mastering is all done. </p>
<p>Promo shots are done by Bob O’Boyle Photography – pretty darn cool – </p>
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<pre class="wp-block-verse">Spurred on by a quip from an ex-girlfriend, and Paul McCartney’s McCartney III (2020), Henderson K. Shatner—Catnyp songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist—created his most fearless platter to date, Catnyp IIII, out April 22, 2022. On this 14-song collection of intoxicating indie-rock treats, the Missoula, Montana-based artist explores the outer stratosphere of his eccentric modern classic sensibility.
“My ex provided some unsolicited advice that set the tone for this album,” Shatner shares with a good-natured laugh. “She said ‘get back to your quirk-pop rock roots.’” He complied by peeling back the layers of production and instrumentation he explored on previous releases. For the most part, Catnyp IIII is viscerally lean—just one guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. It has the rawness and energy of a demo, but with the high-fidelity and clarity of a polished studio production. It’s a best-of-both worlds approach guided by the golden touch of multiplatinum mixer engineer Brian Reeves (U2, Miley Cyrus, Elton John).
The Macca influence came from the self-contained vibe of his recent album in which the former Beatle played all the instruments. Taking a cue from this McCartney feat, Shatner—already an accomplished bassist and guitarist—learned drums in a couple of months, and then recorded 14 instrumentals. Next, he set aside 4 sequential days to write lyrics and melodies, before tracking vocals, often tearing through 4-5 songs in a day.
“It was scary staring at a blank screen with a cup of coffee, trying to write lyrics to so many instrumentals in such a short amount of time. It definitely gave the album a certain cohesiveness that might not be there if everything had been written and recorded in a more typically organic manner,” Shatner says. “It also allowed for some fearless experimentation in vocal styles.”
Shatner is a dynamic and melody-centric songwriter who carefully crafts each vocal line, and, like McCartney, pens lyrical basslines. He also impactfully uses loud-and-soft contrasts, recalling the explosive musicality of the Pixies and Nirvana. This penchant for juxtaposition plays out throughout his musicality as his lyrics, and his instrumentation, are rife with layers of meaning and oomph. Shatner’s songwriting is informed by 1990s alt-rock, Brit-pop, new wave and dark wave, and the timeless rock n’ roll of the Beatles and the Stones. To date, Catnyp has released The Black Cat Trilogy of records issued yearly from 2018 until 2020.
Shatner cut his teeth in the Denver music scene in the late 1990s before working and living internationally with bands in Australia, Sweden, and the UK. While across the pond, he formed the seminal surf-goth band, Brand Violet, as bass player and songwriter. The band were signed to iconic Some Bizarre Records (Depeche Mode, The The, Soft Cell).
Catnyp was formed when Shatner returned stateside in 2015. The group features Shatner as primary songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, but it also boasts a fluid membership of trusted studio and onstage musicians. Along for the ride on Catnyp IIII—on tracks “Big Sky” and “No Hope”—is Emily Dolan Davies on drums (Bryan Ferry, The Darkness, Tricky, The Hours), and on “Sharp White Teeth,” “Houdini” and “Mainstreaming” is often-featured Catnyp collaborator Ian Weckler on guitar.
Catnyp IIII tears open with the jagged alt-rock of “Big Sky,” and then rockets us into a series of thrilling adventures, including checking out grisly murder scenes; jetting to Berlin; reveling in the joys of dysfunctional high school get-togethers; intriguing encounters with a transgendered character; and vibing deep at old-school hip-hop parties. By the end of exhilarating ride, we find ourselves back where we started: perhaps in a Montana bar with a narrator quietly observing the birds out the window. Through it all, Shatner is a shapeshifting narrator, and his vocal stylings channel Paul McCartney, Debbie Harry, David Bowie, Jack White, Nick Cave, Chris Isaak, Damon Albarn, and Robert Plant in his quest to find the right voice for each song.
Album standouts include “The Architecture Of Berlin,” “13.13,” “Sharp White Teeth,” and “The Nature Of Birds.” The evocative “The Architecture Of Berlin” exudes a moody elegance, conjuring the height of 1970s bohemian Berlin as something of a sequel to Bowie’s “Heroes.” It also serves up sharp social commentary on how similar art communities have been commodified and become a caricature of themselves in modern times, and he toes the line between romantic Bowie and cynical modernist. Lyrically, Shatner manages some sensually poetic moments such as: She said, “I’d like it if we never went to bed.”/I said I’d like to, she said she’d try to if she could fit it in her head/Unter den Linden, not quite joyridden, they’re selling pieces of the wall/I kind of liked it, she said she’d spiked it, I woke up naked on the floor. The darkly brooding, “13.13,” is a voyeuristic peek into a crime scene, and listening to the tremolo-guitars and haunting Nick Cave-esque vocals feels like musical rubbernecking. The tuneful pop-rocker, “Sharp White Teeth,” is Pixies-style arty and playful. The 14-track album concludes with the ethereal “The Nature Of Birds” which is every bit as trippy as its title suggests.
###
</pre>
<p>Single art for the first few escapees have been done by the imaginative Kayla McCormick – </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/high-on-catnyp.gif?w=126" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="368" width="368" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/big-sky-3d-movie-white-font2x-mccormick-1.png?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/houdini-cover-2k.png?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/08/gts-2.png?w=1022" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p>Houdini escapes as a teaser / stealth single August 27. </p>
<p>Big Sky drops October 1, 2020.</p>
<p>Game The System flees on November 19, 2021.</p>
<p>Third single TBD in January.</p>
<p>Full album April 22, 2022.</p>
<p>And, the bio is pretty cools as well:</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/66997802021-07-27T17:45:00-06:002021-07-27T18:15:15-06:00How could I forget the 50′ women who put their fascination into my Science Fiction Twin?
<p>Completed a beautiful film noir video shoot for our upcoming single “Game The System” (which will drop in October) after “Big Sky” comes out in August. </p>
<p>Hell of a thing to edit next.Some awesome shots of Natalie. Looking like “Attack of the 50-Foot Woman” with the depth of field, tiny amps and drum kit! It worked. </p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/img_2867.png?w=576" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/7a8991db-93af-4715-883f-dd81445eea3b-1.jpg?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/img_5621.png?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/66855342021-07-12T10:22:59-06:002021-07-12T10:45:03-06:00Mixing, mastering, culling & killing
<p></p>
<p>xxx</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/60a6d9ca-87a6-472c-9270-1ee7d97a4df7.jpg?w=576" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p>Recording is all wrapped up and fourteen tracks are in the hopper for Catnyp IIII.</p>
<p>One track may be cut or just added as an instrumental — not sure yet. “The Nature of Birds” was a tricky one, a holdover from our debut that never made it over the line. I think it works as an instrumental though and it might, or might not, close out the album.</p>
<p>The other tracks, I am very happy with. The amazing Brian Reeves is mixing six and I am doing the rest, and hopefully we can make sure in mastering that they all knit together well and feel like items in a set. </p>
<p>It’s very cohesive as an album. It’s early days but I am at least as happy with the songs as my favorite album, Henderson, and maybe even more so.</p>
<p>Still planning the release and trying to nail down artwork, release plan and promo, etc but it’s looking like September-October. Maybe Halloween?</p>
<p>Thanks for checking in. Be sure to sign up for the mailing list at <a href="https://catnyp.com">Catnyp.com</a> and follow on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cjB7DKyORECTth0leJaRq">Spotify</a>. </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/66265772021-05-10T09:44:52-06:002021-05-10T11:45:14-06:00Starting vocals and words
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/05/img_1978.png?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p>OK, so I’m still working on lyrics but have most of the top lines and melodies done for the songs, and some words.</p>
<p>So, two killer mics set up. Rode NTK will run clean as it already has a nice warm tube in it. The AKG C414 will go through the US-610 preamp. Between the two we should get some good warm, crisp recordings. The rest is up to my vocal chords. </p>
<p>You can check out how I’ve been keeping them in share on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catnyp.the.band/">Instagram</a></p>
<p></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/65947992021-04-05T08:25:53-06:002021-04-05T12:30:04-06:00Two more in the can, instrumentally. Catnyp IIII worming its way forward.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/0d057ac1-51a7-4d92-b63d-9363e91a79ee.jpg?w=819" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p>Easter Weekend saw two “problem child” tracks worked through. These two tracks, working titles “Jack” and “Pop Em” were intended for an EP in 2019-2020 but got put on the back burner. UK drummer Emily Dolan Davies (The Darkness, BBC) played some great arrangements but I was struggling to make them song-shaped in the Catnyp style. After a lot of slicing and dicing and abandoning my quest for safe verse-verse-chorus-solo-verse-chorus territory, they opened up a bit. Jack begged for some sloppy, raunchy distorted slide and chunky chords and lots of dynamic ducks and dives; Pop Em went all surfy with the Jaguar tracing two different surf guitar lines and lots of Pixies-type jagged edges. </p>
<p>They both move well and sound like they’ll explore the edges of the harder sound for Catnyp IIII.</p>
<p>Bombay & Butterfly is a sweet acoustic fingerpicking composition (my first, really) that was above my pay grade and skill level so has taken a few months to nail. I’ve got a usable take on my Epiphone Texan, but when my new Eastman E10D gets back from George, my trusty luthier, I’m pretty sure it’ll replace the existing track. The Eastman is an unexpectedly stunning copy of a Martin D18, the top end Chinese guitar you can buy and it shows.</p>
<p>Melodies are actually pretty well formed for about half of the tracks as well as nascent lyrical ideas, but that’s the next hill I need to take.</p>
<p><a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#Music">#Music</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#NewMusic">#NewMusic</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#SingerSongwriter">#SingerSongwriter</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#EccentricModernClassic">#EccentricModernClassic</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#TheBeatles">#TheBeatles</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#PaulMcCartney">#PaulMcCartney</a> <a href="https://ello.co/search?terms=#StudioLife">#StudioLife</a></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/65467022021-02-12T07:31:36-07:002021-02-12T09:15:11-07:00Excited & apprehensive.
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/mixer.jpg?w=231" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="291" width="326" /></figure></div>
<p>I took a couple of days off from the studio to rest my ears and restore some creative energy.</p>
<p>I went back in and took stock.</p>
<p>Of 16 tracks currently in production, <strong>in terms of sound and production</strong>, 6-10 are easily among the best pieces I have ever produced. Another 2-3 need some TLC. And 2-3 are not too bad. That’s a startlingly solid foundation for a 12 track record; I’ve never had this level of confidence in “how things are sounding” this early in the process. Given the fact the survival ratio of demos : tracks in production has only been about 3:1.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>
<p>Limiting one’s options can open up expansive creative vistas.</p>
<cite>A Wise Guy</cite>
</blockquote></figure>
<p>The surprise one that has me most excited is an old demo from about 1989 or so. It had a pretty tricky drum part and unfortunately the MIDI drums were struggling to land the notes where they need to be. And in the moment I didn’t have the patience to go in and move 200 notes around.</p>
<p>I decided to make it sound more like a drum machine and started experimenting with cheesy drum sets. Then popped an obnoxious funky (for me) bass part on it. That released the bats; the song is going to be out of control good IMHO. And I was right on the edge of binning it.</p>
<p>I was talking to my friend as we ran through falling snow the other day. We were talking about dissecting one’s successes. We agreed that the biggest breakthroughs—and even the most educational failures—come from being fearlessly creative. It’s so easy to be safe as an artist; I see it around me all the time across all expressive media. Pretty much everything interesting and remarkable I’ve created has its genesis in a “what if…” moment or the fruit of a happy accident manifested by going off the edge of the map.</p>
<p>So it’s a strange paradox. I started this project wanting to do something “new and different” while at the same time setting a vision for something closer to where I started, quirky pop-rock with simpler arrangements and purer tones. Interestingly, “less is more” is also true in a creative sense on this occasion. Limiting one’s options can open up expansive creative vistas.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/65242622021-01-18T10:29:41-07:002021-01-18T14:45:11-07:00Progress report: Catnyp IIII
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2021/01/img_0297.png?w=768" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p><strong>We’ve actually had a fair few new signups to the mailing list, so thanks to you who have joined up recently!</strong> Free album download on signup at <a href="http://www.catnyp.com">Catnyp.com</a> </p>
<p>Working titles only at this stage, I’m afraid. No real melodies or lyrics completely formed as yet, but core drums-bass-guitars down on the following:</p>
<p>Harvey</p>
<p>Me Caravan</p>
<p>Always Hope</p>
<p>Sharp White Teeth</p>
<p>Saccharine</p>
<p>Zepp</p>
<p>EZ</p>
<p>Neil</p>
<p>Cat & Blackbird</p>
<p>Bombay & Butterfly – my first fingerpicking composition. Certainly not masterful, but easily could be used as an Etude… Inspired by McCartney III.</p>
<ul>
<li>Epic (collaboration with The Dixie Narcos, Emily Dolan Davies on drums) – WIP</li>
<li>Jack/ Pop Song (Collaboration with Emily Dolan Davies)</li>
<li>Roberta (collaboration with Amaya Levels) </li>
<li>Old demos yet to be tracked: Check It Out, The Quacking Dog, Go Away)</li>
<li>Snippets to develop: AS4, AS8</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Boring studio news</strong> – managed to upgrade to a tube preamp (UA 610) from the already quite good solid state one (UA 110) and that has helped move the whole thing ahead in terms of the overall sound I wanted. I also finally wired the Avantone monitors to the Radio Shack MPA-250 amp so if I can make these sound good on that, it’ll sound good on anything. That combo is as harsh and unforgiving as I ave ever heard. </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/65119712021-01-01T17:59:55-07:002022-05-18T02:20:45-06:00Catnyp IIII update.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/img_3833.jpg?w=764" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure>
<p>The tracking continues to a rather loose plan of taking rough demos, making them vaguely song-shaped, playing an acoustic guide then laying down drums. Some interesting things emerging—by and large sonically purer than previous releases if somewhat more pop-y, ballad-y and predicable.</p>
<p>There are some solid songs starting to take shape as we chip the stone away from the musical statue trapped inside. </p>
<p>My tinnitus is raging and I don’t know what to do. It’s very strange to have relatively good hearing with some normal damage and age-related loss, but a constant high pitched whistle 24/7. </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/64901692020-12-02T10:46:39-07:002020-12-02T12:15:10-07:00Catnyp IIII.
<p>With The Black Cat Trilogy now firmly in the rear view mirror, it feels like time for a fresh start.</p>
<p>I had a few projects on the back burners — Ainsworth Strange, intended to be a collaboration with another artist that fizzled (well, I let it fizzle). Enthusiasm matters. We’ll leave it at that. I also have a promising collaboration with <a href="https://emilydrums.com">Emily Dolan Davis </a>(intended to be a short Catnyp EP) that consisted of drums and some bass ideas smacked down that was derailed by the move out to Portland and back to Montana. I’d also written about 20 loose little chord progression-ditties on Music Maker that had some legs. Then there were the 30 demos from the late 80s-early 90s I’d dumped into the computer with an eye on revisiting the “germs” (ahem) of my past. Some were surprisingly good. Others … less so.</p>
<p>So the choice was, rack up two or three projects and either work on them in parallel, or smash one at a time. Or was it? Frankly, time is limited and focus is everything.</p>
<p>So: all of the above are in the hopper for <strong>Catnyp IIII</strong>. It will be a full length album, 10-16 tracks. It’ll be more pop-rock, it will be less layered, it will have a bit more of the old quirky-joy-tongue-in-cheek of those 80s-90s demos. Tones will be simpler but carefully crafted. I’m taking a course just on using EQ to help my mixes.</p>
<p>Oh yeah — I’m playing drums on the tracks Emily isn’t. I started in late September. Good news: My timing is not bad and I play to a click with ease (that’s the bass player in me). Bad news: I am very slow and grind the gears when I change things up. But, that’s just practicing and time. Keep it 2/3 or 4/4 and I can just about do it (with a little quantizing, of course). There’s something pretty cool about playing bass and guitar to your own drumming – talk about knowing how to lock in to the minutiae. </p>
<div class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage has-small-gutter has-lightbox is-style-layered"><ul>
<li class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__item item-1"><figure class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__figure shadow-md"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/img_1702.jpg?w=840" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure></li>
<li class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__item item-2"><figure class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__figure shadow-md"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/img_1645-1.jpg?w=714" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure></li>
<li class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__item item-3"><figure class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__figure shadow-md"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/img_1349-2.png?w=1024" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure></li>
<li class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__item item-4"><figure class="wp-block-coblocks-gallery-collage__figure shadow-md"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/525f2255-91e4-44c3-9cb9-e4fa750af70f-1.jpg?w=576" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" /></figure></li>
</ul></div>
<p>Other changes: Rickenbackers are going into their cases. This’ll be jazz bass, Jaguar, Telecaster and maybe Gretsch territory unless circumstances demand otherwise. </p>
<p>Three songs are well on their way and there is a confidence and comfort to be gleaned when a little snippet of an idea on Music Memo just turns effortlessly into a pure pop song with all the right parts in all the right places.</p>
<p>Principles at play here – work fast. Keep it simple. Make every tone work. Write from the heart, write fast, don’t second guess. Act like studio time is the most precious resource on the planet. Because, really, it is. <strong>This is what it is about.</strong></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/64124602020-08-18T15:21:31-06:002020-08-18T19:30:36-06:00Henderson & The Black Cat<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/screen-shot-2020-07-28-at-2.19.11-pm.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2020-07-28 at 2.19.11 PM" /></p>
<p>This is our third album, released August 21, 2020 online. We’ll be making it available on CD in a few weeks’ time too. If you download it or buy the CD, we’ll send you the fantastic insert booklet (20 pages, 6″ x 6″ in glorious color) illustrated by the amazing graphic novelist, David Jesus Vignolli.</p>
<p>You’ll be able to buy the booklet for $5 too, separately.</p>
<p>The album features seven singles, all accessible at <a href="https://www.catnyp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Catnyp</a>.com and on various platforms.</p>
<p>It’s the third and finally installment of The Black Cat Trilogy, freeing up headspace for a few projects already clogging the pipeline.</p>
<p>We also have a new studio also dropping into my yard on August 20 — it’ll provide a great creative space with mixing desk, 4 track reel-to-reel, mics etc. And it has a bunk bed above the closet – vocal booth section. I’ll post some photos soon.</p>
<p>Finally, we welcome Ian Weckler to the band on guitar. He’s an immensely talented player wielding a slab of a Telecaster when he’s not on his SG or Danelectro. Big things ahead … we might even have found a drummer, too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/59648732019-11-18T16:07:39-07:002019-11-18T17:15:23-07:00Seven singles.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/2ad61bd5-1adf-4fa1-b126-bc1932d4735a.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="2AD61BD5-1ADF-4FA1-B126-BC1932D4735A" /></p>
<p>“Henderson & The Black Cat” was originally recorded at Elstree Hill Studios (London) with some additional recording at <a href="https://www.onecatstudio.com/">OneCat Studio</a> (Brixton) (drums, cello) under the title “Anhedonia.”</p>
<p>It’s currently slated to escape in all of its glory later in 2019 – still waiting on getting the artwork all completed. There’s only ten tracks so most of the album is already out there on the online platforms.</p>
<p>Still, it means that the third and final installment of <strong>The Black Cat Trilogy</strong> – our first three albums – completes a more or less decade long musical journey down some well-trod paths.</p>
<p>What’s next? Completing the still work in progress EP with Emily Dolan… getting the live act together … and then doing an all new album of all new music, ideally with all new musicians.</p>
<p>Catnyp marches on, to a ditty of the soul.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/59079672019-09-27T10:49:10-06:002019-09-27T15:15:37-06:00Falling.<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/sets" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/img_0018.jpeg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_0018" /></a></p>
<p>First single from “Henderson & The Black Cat” drops October 4th. On all major platforms.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/59013502019-09-22T10:47:54-06:002019-09-22T11:45:18-06:00The Black Cat Trilogy.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/img_1584.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_1584" /></p>
<p>“Henderson & The Black Cat” is our third album and completes a journey I like to think of as “The Black Cat Trilogy” — songs with broadly similar inspiration and genesis recorded over a span of time in my life.</p>
<p>But it’s time to clear the pipes.<span class="font_large"> “<strong>Henderson & The Black Cat</strong>” will be out in </span><span class="font_xl"><strong>NOVEMBER 2019</strong></span><span class="font_large">!</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Single release schedule:</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">1. <strong>Falling</strong> – Friday, October 4th</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">2. <strong>Sweet Petunia</strong> – Friday, October 11th</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">3. <strong>Mystery Muse</strong> – Friday, October 18th </span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">4. <strong>Anhedonia</strong> – AND VIDEO! – Friday, October 25th</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">5. <strong>The Wood </strong>– Thursday, October 31st for Hallowe’en!</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">6.<strong> A Perfect Man</strong> – Friday, November 8th</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">7. <strong>Sex With Susan</strong> – Friday, November 15th</span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">The <strong>album</strong> itself then drops on – Friday, November 22nd or 29th tbc</span></p>
<p>Artwork is by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidjesusvignolli/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Jesus Vignolli </a>and we hope to release the album as a digipack but also make the lyrics booklet by this amazing graphic novelist available as a standalone product.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>#newmusic #eccentricmodernclassic #arnamiller #davidvignolli #newwave #classicrock</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/58296682019-07-19T08:53:00-06:002019-07-19T09:00:52-06:00Arrival Portland.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/img_1209.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_1209" /></p>
<p>This is the first week we feel actually like we have “settled” in Portland after a horrendously stressful clusterfuck of a move that saw us living in a Motel 6 with our cat for five days and having to simultaneous rent and shuttle three moving trucks to contain our possessions in while we waited. Not fun but a good story. Combined with a new day job, there wasn’t a lot of physical, spiritual or emotional energy to invest in music.</p>
<p>At last, though, the workstation is set up in a more or less usable format and I’ve starting working out my instrumental and vocal chops again. Very rusty. And I played back the <a href="https://www.emilydrums.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emily Dolan</a> collaboration. It’s very much work in progress but the tracks are actually sounding phenomenal. And I’m releasing “Henderson & The Black Cat” shortly.</p>
<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/img_0778.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_0778" /></p>
<p>It will feature a beautifully illustrated printed booklet done by the amazing <a href="http://jesusvignolli.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Jesus Vignolli</a>. You should definitely check out his graphic novels. The album was recorded at Ellstree Hill Studios in London and forms part of what I consider to be a trilogy – these first three albums. They share a lot in common. Probably would have made a good double album.</p>
<p>I’m putting out feelers for musicians here in Portland to work with and get the live show up and sputtering after promising attempts in Missoula. I’ll definitely get out and do a few acoustic gigs and/or open mic in the coming months.</p>
<p>So that, plus pursuing licensing opportunities and getting tracks all metatagged and formatted for that effort, are what is on the horizon.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/57519752019-05-12T13:11:26-06:002019-05-12T14:00:47-06:00Back catalog.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/05/img_0778.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_0778" /></p>
<p>Radio silence does not mean inactivity.</p>
<p>A lot of hard work and a lot of soul searching have been going on.</p>
<p>I get coaching from Rick Barker in his <a href="https://rickbarker.mykajabi.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mastermind</a> program, and am taking a music licensing Mastermind coaching program with <a href="https://www.mastermusiclicensing.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael Elsner on music licensing</a>. That has meant going through my entire published back catalog (not <strong>yet</strong> including unpublished songs of which there are about 100) and then breaking them into ten catalogues across my former acts that I wrote for — <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/TimeBeings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Time Beings</a> (done), Gargoyles (not done), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/aqua-nine/811523759" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aqua-Nine</a> (done), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/babylon-travelogue/813947185" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nick Violet </a>(done), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/brand-violet/5937120" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brand Violet</a> (done), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/telford-mining-disaster/134759039" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telford Mining Disaster </a>(done), <a href="http://www.catnyp.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Catnyp</a> (almost done, just need to do the debut album which will yield a pile of new licensable content).</p>
<p>On top of that, we are moving to Portland – partially for a new day job, but also because I believe I’ll find musicians who are into what I am into, and more places to play compared to where I am now.</p>
<p>So watch this space. A lot more to come, this summer.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/56955412019-03-26T16:12:32-06:002019-03-26T16:30:20-06:00Ooh you.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/img_0121.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_0121" /></p>
<p>Didn’t need, but wanted.</p>
<p>Grew tired of looking for a 4001c64 (the Macca version with reversed headstock) so threw in the towel and ordered a used (MINTY) 4003s, then added a Creamery toaster pickup and a horseshoe pickup, as well as swapping out the pots to the traditional type.</p>
<p>Plays great, looks great, sounds great thorough my Ampeg pre-amp and VR 200 mini stack that has a pari of Ampeg 2x10s loaded on it.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/56524382019-02-20T15:23:40-07:002019-02-20T17:00:59-07:00Taylor. 12-string.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/taylor.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="taylor" /></p>
<p>For those who might have been following my various <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catnyp.the.band/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> rehearsals, you’ll know that the Takamine 12-string acoustic I have owned for years started getting tempermental – adding a nice sitar-like BUZZ on the top E strings. I had the top nut worked on and 1st-2nd frets dressed, truss rod was fine, but it just kept doing it.</p>
<p>So I poked around and read some reviews and settled on a Taylor based on a 6-string I played and recommendation from my Luthier. I found a 2002 355CE (I tend to prefer instruments that have been played in).</p>
<p><strong>HOLY SHIT.</strong></p>
<p>Although it should have been shipped with the strings loosened, technically, to avoid damage it came out of the box IN TUNE after traveling across the country in freezing cold weather. I then played one of the hardest parts I know on it and it was like BUTTER.</p>
<p>Two big thumbs up on this one. I think I am in love.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/56512312019-02-19T16:40:48-07:002019-02-19T22:00:59-07:00Video. Evolving.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/screenshot-2019-02-19-16.37.06.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screenshot 2019-02-19 16.37.06" /></p>
<p>We’ll be premiering our video for “On The Floor” on YouTube, IGTV and Facebook in the coming week. Leland Buck did a great job filming and editing it all together, and the amazing Diane Lindo contributed 60 seconds of stop motion animation that holds it all together.</p>
<p>Watch this space.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/56224512019-01-31T17:28:24-07:002019-01-31T19:45:35-07:00Practice. Practice.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/screenshot2019-01-31at3.49.44pm.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="screenshot2019-01-31at3.49.44pm" /></p>
<p>Video for “On The Floor” should escape shortly.</p>
<p>/</p>
<p>We are rehearsing for a few things:</p>
<p>Feb 22 gig at Montana Distillery</p>
<p>April 26 gig at Freecycles – likely a big event</p>
<p>/ /</p>
<p>Planning a “Live” unplugged kind of session that will yield a live album (March/April tbc)</p>
<p>/ / /</p>
<p>HKS’s bas is getting new toaster pickups and a hipshot bridge</p>
<p>/ / / /</p>
<p>Still building social media profile</p>
<p>/ / / / /</p>
<p>Hired an intern</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/55899322019-01-10T08:54:07-07:002019-01-10T11:45:36-07:00Gear. Stories.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/img_5275.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_5275" /></p>
<p>Every instrument has a story to tell. <a href="https://bit.ly/2LZWenN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Have a look</a>. If you like any of the gear, drop us an email and we’ll send you a track that it was used on. >>> hello@catnyp.com</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/55754042018-12-31T10:34:53-07:002018-12-31T12:45:52-07:002018.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/cropped-kevin_albumcover_v3cd1.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="cropped-kevin_albumcover_v3cd1.jpg" /></p>
<p><strong>What happened in 2018?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Recorded and released <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/sets/more-tales-of-mystery-imagination-from-the-crypt-of-the-black-cat-opus-4-full-album" target="_blank" rel="noopener">More Tales of Mystery & Imagination from The Crypt of The Black Cat (Opus 4) </a>supported by seven (!) singles.</li>
<li>Remastered and released (well, sort of…) <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/sets/henderson/s-Xqi3a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henderson</a> supported by three singles.</li>
<li>Performed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLeSSHFzRTBFk4rc_zNPig?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two live gigs</a> to support album launches.</li>
<li>Filmed a proper video promo clip – to be released in January 2018 for (“<a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/07-on-the-floor-by-catnyp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">On The Floor</a>“)</li>
<li>Worked on three new songs for an EP in early 2018 with drummer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/emilydrums/videos/329796591148783/?fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAUGvafdc-11GH8KtXHtBYPFjbVwHImqIBbdUwTTc-3F4QuE0f-p9YezmeuPGjkS9iQ7VQ3OqJsVK26NmMrDzadg1DyvRY2EmJsIWbdYCNtQKCgS9EX0hKCKLFPb83RvzdM_EbD1nFuze9eCG28vp6cOJ3JV4fPUyZIoccic623e_OY44B-V2cT1qgmTPLwO0v_SdjofPBV5IJpyy_wSMuX9Tjh593Cw4jkUWzRB281MTGYVORp1hT7cG76qBoBnk6OCQItXaI6ja7Kr3_DLTXNFWIRxuB9ddpv3yFHsTnizKRTNpFw8OaicvpNTF1VFYWD47YHVtQVNibFjh-yOIXEDOMQ6_47NM87MdFH2J6jfvBTJrVc2Wn-nMLG9c7vQngTKDhBNHnZH-BjOiDnsMUakD7B4cOTa_5iXUQAnRThRiyPNHv-lpb_Wcnx2-iHoittNC5tuw0CRLz6DfnpQen9JzWf7f2cYNt8nrKt4BhjMTfmLvhkdW5yaIznb3s&__tn__=K-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emily Dolan</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What’s </strong><strong>ahead</strong><strong>?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>EP release (see above) – likely top have 5 songs (3 with Emily, one hangover from Opus 4 and maybe an acoustic track)</li>
<li>Two gigs tbd at The Bicycle Works in Missoula</li>
<li>Gig at Montana Distillery on February 22</li>
<li>Release of “Henderson & The Black Cat” – full length album with artwork by the magnificent <a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.jesusvignolli" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Jesus Vignolli</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/55309022018-11-28T09:12:21-07:002018-11-28T13:30:53-07:00Pond crossing.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/screen-shot-2018-11-28-at-9-09-17-am.png?w=391&h=353" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-11-28 at 9.09.17 AM" height="353" width="391" /></p>
<p>Emily Dolan drummed for The Darkness, Bryan Ferry and many others in addition to touring with world famous acts. I reached out to her to co-write collaborate and bash out three drum tracks rather than work to a specific spec for the drums stems.</p>
<p>I did this once a long time ago with another great drummer (Sid Davis from 40th Day) and it worked a treat.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/emilydrums/videos/321709045093016/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emily Dolan on Facebook</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.emilydrums.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EmilyDrums.com</a>\</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/55171952018-11-16T11:25:23-07:002018-11-16T16:30:40-07:00Sputnik bride.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/ct-sb.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="CT-SB" />First single of three from our second album drops today. Launch gig will be like last time at <a href="http://www.shakespeareandco.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakespeare & Co</a> on the Hip Strip in Missoula December 14 at 6 p.m.</p>
<p>Links here for the interested …</p>
<p>Spotify – <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/3uB5KShMZ3P4pW7YGQZEd7?si=OcRclBs2THaNMxyXIRjIRg">https://open.spotify.com/album/3uB5KShMZ3P4pW7YGQZEd7?si=OcRclBs2THaNMxyXIRjIRg</a></p>
<p>iTunes/Apple Music – <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/1408194980">https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/1408194980</a></p>
<p>SoundCloud – <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/02-sputnik-bride-by-catnyp">https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/02-sputnik-bride-by-catnyp</a></p>
<p>Bandcamp – <a href="https://catnyp.bandcamp.com/track/sputnik-bride-2">https://catnyp.bandcamp.com/track/sputnik-bride-2</a></p>
<p>cdBaby – <a href="http://store.cdbaby.com/cd/catnyp12">http://store.cdbaby.com/cd/catnyp12</a></p>
<p>… or direct from <a href="http://www.Catnyp.com">www.Catnyp.com</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Album was recorded in London at Elstree Hill studios many years ago. Sat in the proverbial can.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/55011052018-11-05T17:20:29-07:002018-11-05T22:00:34-07:00Next singles.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/2ec05606-af80-4cb1-ad86-cd801e7e508d.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="2EC05606-AF80-4CB1-AD86-CD801E7E508D" /></p>
<p>Here come our next three singles. Cheeky eh.</p>
<p>Sputnik Bride – November 16</p>
<p>Cool Tattoo – November 30</p>
<p>On The Floor – December 14 or 21</p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54863822018-10-25T09:50:39-06:002018-10-25T15:45:48-06:00Old. New.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/henderson-cover.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Henderson-cover.png" /></p>
<p>A few years back we recorded “Henderson” in London but never did anything with it for a variety of reasons. At the risk of glutting the market (lol) we’re letting it out into the world and it might even yield a single or two as it makes it way through the Wet Wild Wood.</p>
<p>Ten tracks in all. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54812792018-10-22T17:02:04-06:002018-10-22T18:01:07-06:00No words.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/ba6f01af-20da-496c-b05a-e23f43de31dc.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="BA6F01AF-20DA-496C-B05A-E23F43DE31DC" /></p>
<p>Today we dropped Catnyp Karaoke: Instrumentals from the Crypt of The Black Cat.</p>
<p>It’s the songs from the album without lead vocals, and it’s free on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/sets/catnyp-karaoke-instrumentals-from-the-crypt-of-the-black-cat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SoundCloud</a> and <a href="https://catnyp.bandcamp.com/album/catnyp-karaoke-instrumentals-from-the-crypt-of-the-black-cat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BandCamp</a>.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54621082018-10-09T12:54:53-06:002018-10-09T16:00:26-06:00One down.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/img_5756.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_5756" /></p>
<p>Last Friday’s First Friday album launch event at Shakespeare & Co was a success. Over two hours about 25-30 people came through, listening to tracks, drinking wine and listening to one longer (35 minute) and one shorter and more informal (15 minute) sets.</p>
<p>I had a blast and felt like I sang as well as I ever had and played pretty well too — covering the 2-3 mistakes pretty well, having watched the Instagram live feed before it self-destructed 24 hours later.</p>
<p>The Takamine 12 stayed in tune. And I have to make a huge pitch for the <a href="https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/speakers/portable_pa_speakers/l1-compact-system.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bose L1C system</a>. If you are a singer-songwriter, duo or small club band one (or two) of these is really all you will ever need: Light and portable, 1 minute to set up, more than ample volume, zero feedback and brilliant sound. Totally confidence inspiring.</p>
<p>Next up? A few collaborations in the pipeline so definitely an EP and either two single or one double album re-release from the crypt of the Black Cat. Watch this space…</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54505662018-10-01T09:39:35-06:002018-10-01T09:45:38-06:00Release event.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/img_5275.jpg?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_5275" /></p>
<p>I’ve been practicing more or less once a day in preparation <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/538644949899490/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the release event at Shakepeare & Co on The Hip Strip here in Missoula </a>– part of the community’s First Friday event on October 5th.</p>
<p>Tried a few approaches and settled on playing the whole thing on my Takamine 12 string acoustic. It just throws more sound and adds more texture to songs that are pretty basic when pared down to one guitar and vocals. It’s reasonably forgiving for a 12 string.</p>
<p>For fun I’ve been live streaming my rehearsals on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catnyp.the.band/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> to simulate a live audience (more or less). That’s been good overall, with a few hiccups like the ordinarily well-behaved Takamine going out of tune on one song.</p>
<p>I’ll bring along the J-160E, tuned up, as a backup … just in case.</p>
<p>Hope you can make it.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54482132018-09-28T14:35:44-06:002018-09-28T19:00:48-06:00Release date.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/cropped-screen-shot-2018-08-27-at-7-51-42-pm.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="cropped-screen-shot-2018-08-27-at-7-51-42-pm.png" /></p>
<p>Today is the official release date for “More Tales of Mystery & Imagination from the Crypt of The Black Cat (Opus 4)”.</p>
<p>Apple – <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-tales-mystery-imagination-from-crypt-black-cat/1434817035" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://itunes.apple.com/…/more-tales-mystery-im…/1434817035</a></p>
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<p>Soundcloud – <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band</a></p>
<p>CdBaby – <a href="https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/catnyp" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/catnyp</a></p>
<p>Bandcamp – <a href="https://catnyp.bandcamp.com/album/more-tales-of-mystery-imagination-from-the-crypt-of-the-black-cat-opus-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://catnyp.bandcamp.com/…/more-tales-of-mystery-imagina…</a></p>
<p>Spotify – <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/4pa0YHprFewIPO1tFa3eI1?si=QrZQw1YcTseDjMN5Qrc1yQ%C2%A0https://open.spotify.com/album/4pa0YHprFewIPO1tFa3eI1?si=QrZQw1YcTseDjMN5Qrc1yQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://open.spotify.com/album/4pa0YHprFewIPO1tFa3eI1?si=QrZQw1YcTseDjMN5Qrc1yQ </a></p>
</div>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54341782018-09-18T13:17:08-06:002018-09-18T17:00:41-06:00Stuff arrives.
<a href="https://catnyp.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/stuff-arrives/img_5239-2/"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/img_5239-2.jpg?w=113&h=150" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="113" /></a>
<a href="https://catnyp.wordpress.com/2018/09/18/stuff-arrives/img_5244/"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/img_5244.jpg?w=113&h=150" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="113" /></a>
<p>T-shirts, tote bags, plectrums and test vinyl have all arrived. It’s starting to look like a going concern, even if online promotion is a slog, inch by inch. But, we’re over 500 followers on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catnyp.the.band/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> and 700 plays on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soundcloud</a>.</p>
<p>Launch event will be me on acoustic guitar at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/538644949899490/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shakespeare & Co in Missoula</a> on The Hip Strip on October 5 as part of First Friday.</p>
<p>Singles have all pretty much dropped an album can be previewed in various locations including <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/more-tales-mystery-imagination-from-crypt-black-cat/1434817035" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple</a>.</p>
<p>We’re getting interviewed live on air at <a href="http://trail1033.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Trail 103.3FM</a> by the superb Tommy Evans, and The Missoulian is running a feature the week of the live event.</p>
<p>Signed a licensing agreement for promo by <a href="https://www.thefamilyreviews.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Family Reviews,</a> so we’ll see what happens there. Love what they do, anyway – great concept.</p>
<p>Going to do a co-write with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilydrums/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emily Dolan</a>, a superb touring & studio drummer from the UK so I have an EP to put together in December. She’ll write and record three drum tracks and we’ll do the rest.</p>
<p>And that brings us all up to date.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/54086242018-08-30T17:43:20-06:002018-08-30T22:15:19-06:00Come hither.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/bluest-blue-eyes-do-single.png?w=1000" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Bluest Blue Eyes Do single.png" />A <a href="https://comeherefloyd.com/2018/08/415-indie-for-you-on-this-day-august-29th-of-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nice little plug by Come Here Floyd </a>(an indie music blog).</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53986822018-08-23T09:25:33-06:002018-08-23T13:15:23-06:00Month one.<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLeSSHFzRTBFk4rc_zNPig" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/screen-shot-2018-07-29-at-11-13-20-am.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-29 at 11.13.20 AM" /></a></p>
<p>Singles started dropping about a month ago; a steady cadence of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/2cjB7DKyORECTth0leJaRq?si=b9jZeOWxSjOm-_5tF0U1_A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday releases</a> — four down as of Friday, three to go before the full album escapes into the wild.</p>
<p>We hit 500 listens on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soundcloud</a> and 129 unique website visits. We got one song on the <a href="http://trail1033.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">radio</a>. We build about 450 organic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/catnyp.the.band/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> followers and 238 <a href="https://twitter.com/CatnypBand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">twitter</a> followers. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/catnyp.the.band/videos/283849735531171/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook videos</a> got more than 700 views which is interesting. We’re in conversations with local news organizations and have scheduled and started to promote <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/538644949899490/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The album launch event </a>on Friday, October 5th.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53905492018-08-16T16:02:41-06:002018-08-16T16:30:22-06:00Aretha.<p>While I was writing vocal melodies and preparing to record vocals, I listened to Soul Town 100% of the time in my car. Traditional soul music and old school R&B; I spent a lot of time with Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin in particular. Listening for more than pleasure; it was study. An artifact of that: I was even driven to pay a small homage to Aretha on the track <em><a href="https://soundcloud.com/catnyp_the_band/irredemption-song/s-oRwgB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Irredemption Song</a></em> . It’s not released yet, but that link gives those few who read this a sneak preview in honor of Ms Franklin. Clearly the title reflects and is a reflection of the track’s demand for a gospel sound, or at least an angelic choir. I got both; the Catnypettes sang the song title in 4 part harmony in the verses, and Sofia delivered a blistering Aretha Franklin inspired vocal solo where a guitar otherwise would have been on the bridge. For what it’s worth, this one’s for you.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53767792018-08-06T14:18:16-06:002018-08-06T15:45:22-06:00What’s next?<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/screen-shot-2018-07-04-at-12-27-08-pm.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-04 at 12.27.08 PM" /></p>
<p>We should have another album releasing before the end of the year, recordings made in London and never really did much with them as the timing wasn’t great for anyone. And another album with a similar evolution will come out in January 2019.</p>
<p>That gives us a pipeline of 20 songs which will buy us 5-6 months of air cover to sharpen up our live act and most importantly new material. Definitely a new EP before the end of 2018.</p>
<p>We’re also shooting a video or two.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, sluggish progress on the promotion front. Taking that hill an inch at a time, crawling like snakes on our bellies.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53720942018-08-02T09:03:42-06:002018-08-02T10:15:21-06:00Beats.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/img_4726.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4726.JPG" /> As we’ve embarked on promoting the singles and the album “More Tales of Mystery & Imagination from the Crypt of The Black Cat (Opus 4)” it’s been interesting to participate in this new world of social media marketing.</p>
<p>While it’s cool that so many people now have a channel and a voice, I have to admit I find it bizarre. Of course you have to find your audience, then build your audience and connect with them. I get that.</p>
<p>Instagram, by and large, gives shallow superficial & cliche a bad name. But It’s all reflective of:</p>
<ul>
<li>New generations with unbridled self-confidence often not tempered by actual reality. Yes, go and achieve your dream. But no, you are not a star and there is a 99.9% chance that you never will be. So SHOW ME, don’t TELL ME.</li>
<li>A culture edging ever deeper into narcissism, channeled into ME ME ME self-promotion that’s mechanistic, automated, soulless, broadly meaningless</li>
<li>An environment where 99% of interactions are completely insincere</li>
<li>Brands built on selfies. I understand that sex appeal has always been part of the mix in the entertainment business, but … there are “singers” and “producers” with streams of nothing but selfies. In a bikini. In the bathroom. On the beach. Making faces with friends. OK, I get it, you have a good body and want us to see your active social life and exotic locations. Can I hear your music? (Spoiler alert: it’s usually pretty grim listening if you are looking for anything that isn’t pure more-of-what-everyone-else-is-doing).</li>
<li>Rap and hip hop artists piling on my Instagram feed and following / hoping for a follow back or to buy some beats. I don’t even know what that means (actually I do, but anyways…). That’s why I posted a picture of Borscht I made with organic beets. I have nothings against it, I just don’t listen to it. It doesn’t touch me. It’s not the world I live in. Closest I get … and I mean the CLOSEST I get … is occasionally listening to Backspin in my Jeep on Sirius radio. Old skool.</li>
</ul>
<p>You sort of have to do it, and you do run into some interesting wheat amongst the chaff. But holy cats it’s not a very good system. Bring on better AI, please, and now: I plug in the artists my music sounds like, you go out and find people who like it. Spotify is getting there. Instagram is not.</p>
<p>Signed,</p>
<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/tshirt.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Tshirt" />Cynical old dude</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53652692018-07-27T14:56:18-06:002018-07-27T20:00:24-06:00It’s escaped.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/mar-a-lago-single.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Mar a Lago single" /></p>
<p>Elvis Costello once said (and continues to say) that his albums aren’t so much released as they escape. I couldn’t agree more. There comes that moment where you could keep adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing but like a watercolour painting, that way lies the potential for a murky green-gray mess.</p>
<p>We could tweak and trim and remaster, but I did go back to my original vision for a stripped down sound. While there are embellishments on a few songs — Jess Catron’s awesome cello, the angelic voices of the Catnypettes, a dirty sax on one track — in the round, it’s pretty sparse.</p>
<p>Mar a Lago drops today, and the rest are stood up and clipped on to make their jumps over the coming weeks.</p>
<p>Expectations, too, go back to that original vision. This was for me. Yeah, we’ll push it a bit, because that’s what you’re supposed to do. I hope people like it. I hope it gets listened to.</p>
<p>But I’m already looking forward to the next one. At the moment, plan is for a 3-5 track EP. More electric guitars and modern sounds. I might not even write the lyrics. Watch this space.</p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53618052018-07-25T14:42:02-06:002018-07-25T16:45:26-06:00First interview.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/img_4708-2.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4708 2" /></p>
<p><a href="https://indiebandguru.com/interview-catnyp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First interview for Catnyp</a> with Inde Band Guru.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53569102018-07-21T13:28:55-06:002018-07-21T16:30:39-06:00Reverse engineering.<p><a href="https://youtu.be/OWMoZe6BPFY" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/img_4699.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4699" /></a>Sometimes when you record songs they morph and change and when you come full circle you have to learn to play them all over again if it’s just you and a guitar.</p>
<p>Expecting some upcoming live gigs, I was running through some tracks and started noodling on one of the upcoming singles.</p>
<p>Then I recorded it on my MusicMemo app to listen back to how it sounded.</p>
<p>Then I used the app to add drums and bass.</p>
<p>Then I used InShot to make a music video.</p>
<p>All in less than 30 minutes.</p>
<p>So … a demo recording, reverse engineered, released first as a <strong><a href="https://youtu.be/OWMoZe6BPFY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video. HERE > #Enjoy.</a></strong></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53538762018-07-19T08:51:00-06:002018-07-19T13:30:54-06:00Music is not a drop-down menu.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/cropped-hks.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="cropped-hks.jpg" /></p>
<p>I saw a compelling Instagram post from another artist about “genres” and how they didn’t like being pigeonholed into prefabricated definitions of the differences between alternative, indie pop, indie rock, post punk, post rock, yada yada yada.</p>
<p>Totally.</p>
<p>All the marketers and YouTubers want you (as an artist, but more importantly as a consumer) to fit into an easy to identify and sell niche. Yeah, I know, that’s the world we live in. Monetization of “likes”.</p>
<p>But FUCK OFF. I have no idea what genre I’m creating. Surely that is for the audience to decide?</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53392542018-07-10T10:06:08-06:002018-07-10T12:45:30-06:00Official liner notes.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/screen-shot-2018-07-04-at-12-27-08-pm.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-04 at 12.27.08 PM" /></p>
<p>Making Catnyp.</p>
<p>At the end of 2014 my wife and I relocated from London to Montana with our cat.<br>
I’d pretty much retired from making music and sold off all of my studio gear and all but my most treasured instruments to help fund the transatlantic transition.<br>
Two years later, the dog whistle became audible again.<br>
So I kitted out a pretty simple home studio with a “less is more” philosophy; nothing very fancy. I got it all set up with a DAW and then looked at it for a few months.<br>
I got the distinct impression the whole studio looked back at me with not a little pity.<br>
I’d started stringing together some chord progressions on an acoustic guitar and then recorded a few half hearted tracks, mostly to remember how to use to software again.<br>
I have to admit it had come a long way in a few short years.<br>
I’d been listening a lot to “Ram” by Paul & Linda McCartney, and got a bit obsessed with “Ziggy Stardust.” They were both recorded around the same time.<br>
There is a fearless creativity and production simplicity to both records.<br>
I set out to record today’s equivalent of a 4-track recording.<br>
I knew I wanted it to be pretty organic, stripped right back to essentials and not covering ground I’d covered before.<br>
I wanted it to sound like a 1970s record.<br>
I completed the songs in their entirety first before writing any lyrics or developing any melodic structures. I’d never done that before and it was actually both liberating (I didn’t have to worry about words and singing) and terrifying (until it came time to worry about words and singing). When the backing tracks came into focus it was intimidating to try to think up themes that were equal to the task of what I felt were some really solid backing tracks.<br>
My plan to do it solo went out the window when Michael Woodman (Thumpermonkey) more or less insisted that I re-record the tracks with real drums and real instruments, not the drum machine and MIDI I’d been using.<br>
Shackles off I now had a drummer, brought in a cello player pianist and formed a backing singer group from the local high school chorus.<br>
So much for plans.<br>
Chris Baumann at Black National recorded the drums and bass tracks.<br>
I took them back to my studio and finished off the tracks, then went back to Chris at Black National to record the vocals.<br>
I was still working on some of the vocal parts between takes.<br>
In this day and age of song-orientation rather than albums, some of these tracks probably sound a little odd and lonely in isolation.<br>
But in the context of an album, played in order – hit side A then refill your drink and flip it over to side B, and I think you’ve got a tidy little record to listen to.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53385362018-07-09T17:38:34-06:002018-07-10T00:01:15-06:00Albums in the age of streaming.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/screen-shot-2018-07-09-at-5-34-48-pm.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-09 at 5.34.48 PM" /></p>
<p>The times we live in sort of demand that new songs be released in a drip-feed manner, a single every week or so that then build up to an album. I guess the good news is you get 5-10 bites at the cherry; you don’t have just one big shot (and a single or two) to get it across the line. The bad news … the context of the album gets completely lost.</p>
<p>That makes me a bit sad. I like immersing myself in an album and getting into its nooks and crannies and understanding why the words in song X relate to song Y and why they are in the order they are in.</p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53366012018-07-08T14:11:36-06:002018-07-08T16:01:21-06:00Release dates.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/img_3849.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_3849" /></p>
<p>The album is being mixed and mastered, then getting sequenced. Art is being completed, manufacturing getting done, some promotion kits to be sent out, and an amazing menagerie of merchandise to be imagined … watch this space.</p>
<p>Digital downloads of singles will release as follows:</p>
<p>Mar a Lago – July 27</p>
<p>Everything & Nothing (Slow Motion) – August 10</p>
<p>The Bleak Shore – August 17</p>
<p>Bluest Blue Eyes Do – August 24</p>
<p>Letter to America (Will of God) – August 31</p>
<p>Irredemption Song – September 7</p>
<p>Prothero Road – September 14</p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53314282018-07-04T12:28:29-06:002018-07-04T16:30:42-06:00Liner notes.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/screen-shot-2018-07-04-at-12-27-08-pm.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Screen Shot 2018-07-04 at 12.27.08 PM" /></p>
<p>Just awaiting some album art etc. to finish things off. This is the cover of the free PDF download we’ll offer with purchase of the album. It’s looking quite swell! I might just get some printed, say a limited edition of 10…</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53282122018-07-02T11:40:50-06:002018-07-02T13:01:29-06:00Iconic.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/catnyp_icon2.png?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Catnyp_icon2" /></p>
<p>This may well be the Catnyp identifier.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254102018-06-29T14:07:35-06:002018-06-29T20:40:21-06:00Titles.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/bnsession.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="bnsession" /></p>
<p>Except for the unfinished track that I might just park and issue under another cover, here they are, in alphabetical order:</p>
<ol>
<li>Bluest Blue Eyes Do</li>
<li>Death Mask of Ira Glass</li>
<li>Everything & Nothing (Slow Motion)</li>
<li>Irredemption Song</li>
<li>Letter to America (Will of God)</li>
<li>Mar A Lago</li>
<li>Ojos Marrones Calientes</li>
<li>Prothero Road</li>
<li>Record Shop Lullaby #1</li>
<li>Record Shop Lullaby #2</li>
<li>South Ocean Boulevard</li>
<li>The Bleak Shore</li>
<li>The Missoula Rag</li>
<li>Wild Things Wandering</li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254112018-06-25T20:39:54-06:002018-06-29T20:40:21-06:00Catnypettes<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/img_4171.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4171" /></p>
<p>I have to say this turned out rather lovely. Introducing The Catnypettes, our backing group – Zoe, Morghan and Sophia.</p>
<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');</script><![endif]-->
<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-334-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/mar-a-lago-harmonies-piano.mp3?_=1"></source><a href="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/mar-a-lago-harmonies-piano.mp3">https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/mar-a-lago-harmonies-piano.mp3</a></audio>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254122018-06-25T12:14:07-06:002018-06-29T20:40:21-06:00Finishing touches.<p>Most of the tracks are now mixed and mastered. Chris Baumann at Black National is mixing a few. There is still one track with no words or vocals so I can focus on that next. But it’s all coming into focus. My ears are fatigued from listening to all kinds of sounds a volumes both low and high. They need a rest!</p>
<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/cat5.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="cat5" /></p>
<p>Now … artwork, website, manufacturing, distribution, promo planning … etc</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254132018-06-17T09:11:28-06:002018-06-29T20:40:21-06:00Self help.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/img_4068.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4068" /></p>
<p>This whole thing has been self-indulgent in design and intent from the start, so why stop now. I don’t really know who Josh Ritter is but this is a really nice piece that I stumbled across at the right moment. <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-does-a-singer-songwriter-deal-with-self-doubt-on-stage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PBS NewsHour Essay</a></p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254142018-06-15T14:07:00-06:002018-06-29T20:40:22-06:00Nothing like a deadline.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/img_3815.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_3815" /></p>
<p>I’ve drawn a line in the sand: lyrics and vocals must be completed by June 20, then mixing can begin. Album needs to be in the can by July. Release in Q4 2018.</p>
<p>Lots to do but the back of the project is broken.</p>
<p>As of today, two songs are without complete lyrics, and one of them has no clue in terms of melody or theme. One of them I have melody and choruses written but the verses are still in flux. One version was shit canned on account of it being … shit.</p>
<p>Voice is feeling strong if I can find the right tone for these final tracks. And the Catnypettes backing singers are going to appear at long last.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254152018-06-11T11:49:05-06:002018-06-29T20:40:22-06:00Go in.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/img_4363.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4363" /></p>
<p>Sometimes you need to just go in. In order to get my best possible vocal performances, I headed in to Black National studios with lyrics and 5 throat lozenges so Chris Baumann set up an SM7 and off we went. Three songs done as good as I can sing them. The rest to be completed June 17-18. As long as I can get backing vocalists in I should hit my deadline of having the album complete by the end of June.</p>
<p>And I need to chase my artwork too.</p>
<a href="https://catnyp.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/go-in/img_4357/"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/img_4357.jpg?w=113&h=150" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="113" /></a>
<a href="https://catnyp.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/go-in/img_4364/"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/img_4364.jpg?w=150&h=150" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="150" /></a>
<a href="https://catnyp.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/go-in/img_4372/"><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/img_4372.jpg?w=150&h=150" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="150" width="150" /></a>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254162018-06-04T13:11:09-06:002018-06-29T20:40:22-06:00Forgetting lyrics.<p>Hey when the lyrics are fresh, sometimes they are hard to remember. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bji8Yrdhs8t/?taken-by=catnyp.the.band" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here I am singing </a>in what seems to evolve into Swahili … #oops #homerecording #messeduplyrics</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254172018-06-01T11:15:58-06:002018-06-29T20:40:22-06:00Anxiety captured.<p>The track I was trying to find inspiration for lyrics in itself is reflective of the feeling finding lyrics for it evoked. A Moebius strip of anxiety. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjBguRFheZv/?taken-by=catnyp.the.band" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check it out here</a>.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254182018-05-31T16:41:11-06:002018-06-29T20:40:22-06:00Scratch vocals.<p><img src="https://catnyp.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/img_4269.jpg?w=640" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="IMG_4269" />Eight of the ten tracks now have “one take wonder” scratch vocals down, enough rambling chaos to at least map final lyric and melody revisions against. I also laid down some backing vocals to prepare for how the final mixes might sound since all of those lovely frequencies (especially vocals and cello) are going to rub elbows in a big way so will need some separation and layering to find their place in the mix.</p>
<p>In terms of process, it’s a mix of how I used to work and the new project approach … in other words, rather than finding a more or less complete set of words and adapting them to a song in progress, I’m writing lots of thoughts, ideas, titles, choruses, strings of consciousness ideas and then plucking ideas from there to vamp on on the tracks. An idea usually shakes out pretty quickly, which then requires writing full lyrics around that idea. Once you get into the swing of it it’s intimidating but fun at the same time…</p>
<p>It felt like a productive week, accordingly and for me a pretty big milestone.</p>
<p><strong>My Anecdote.</strong></p>
<p>I had to cut a 150′ electrical trench to re-wire the power to my studio outbuilding. I rented a monster trenching machine. It did about 130 feet in 30 minutes. The remaining 20 feet took the rest of the day by hand. The same proportion lies true with the lyrics: 80-90% of them came quickly, but those final finesse lines and words are agonizingly slow… The final 20% will take 80% of the lyrical effort.</p>
<p>Thank you for listening to my whining.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classictag:catnyp.com,2005:Post/53254192018-05-22T14:32:50-06:002018-06-29T20:40:23-06:0034″ & 21 frets.<p>Let me count the ways I love thee.</p>
Catnyp | eccentric modern classic