Los Angeles singer-songwriter Catherine Feeny has signed on the dotted line of an international publishing deal, joining Dido, Moby and Led Zeppelin on the firm's roster. The contract is set to help propel the singer to stardom and is a further boost after one of her tunes, Mr Blue, was recently rubber-stamped to appear on the soundtrack of a Hollywood movie featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, due out next year. The 27-year-old was offered the publishing contract, described by Warner/Chappell Music as one of their biggest signings for years, after talent scouts visited Wensum Lodge in Norwich to catch one of her three showcases earlier this year. "I'm really thrilled," said Catherine. "It's wonderful to know that people have faith in your music and it's also good to know that I've now got the money to pay my bills and the rent next month." Lighthouse Family While lots of singer-songwriters pack up their guitars to head for the glamour and glitz of Los Angeles, Catherine was lured to the county after meeting ex-Lighthouse Family front man Tunde Baiyewu and his Norfolk-based co-writer Sebastian Rogers at one of her Californian gigs. They persuaded her to appear on Tunde's debut solo album, which was being recorded at The Mill Studio in Winfarthing, near Diss, and she ended up staying for five months. Enthused by Sebastian's reaction to her music, she decided to keep on working in Norfolk, laying down the tracks to her second album, Hurricane Glass, which she finished at the start of the summer. Catherine - who describes her music as folk with pop influences and lists Joni Mitchell, Sinead O'Connor as well as The Cure as influences - will carry on playing with her Norfolk backing band, which she put together for her Norwich gigs. Local connections After jetting to Los Angeles for the summer, the Philadelphia-born musician now hopes to split her time between America and Norwich having laid down roots in the area. "It will depend on business whether I stay here," said Catherine. "But I'll always have ties here as I have friends here and the studio where I work is here and Sebastian, my producer, is based here." Record deal hopes Although the ink is drying on the song-writing deal, she still has to put her name to a record contract. Representatives from labels which are bidding for her signature are expected to be in the audience at her next gig at the Norwich Arts Centre on Wednesday 28 September 2005. The concert will be a chance to impress the labels and it will also act as a warm-up gig before her showcase slot for record bosses at Manchester's In The City music industry conference on 2 October. | 
