Norfolk Bands

It's taken a move of more than 5,000 miles and leaving family and friends behind in her native America, but Catherine Feeny's decision to swap California's constant sun for a slice of Norfolk tranquility has paid off with a record deal with a major label.

The singer-songwriter's album Hurricane Glass has just been released on EMI imprint Charisma after impressing record label bosses with a show at Norwich's Playhouse.

The LP was originally recorded at The Mill Studio at Winfarthing, near Diss, in 2005 and was brought out by indie label Tallgrass Records last year.

Hollywood calling

Catherine's reputation was given a huge boost after one of the album's songs, Mr Blue, was picked for the soundtrack of Hollywood movie, Running With Scissors, and featured on TV show The OC.

With the touchpaper was lit, the record industry's major players were on the trail.

After sealing a deal with EMI in March, the melancholic-sounding album has been remastered and repackaged and was released on 18 June, 2007.

The first single, Touch Back Down, from the LP was brought out on 11 June and it's been another shot in the arm for the 29-year-old's profile.

"It's got a few plays on Radio 2 on Dermot O'Leary's show and the video has been on T4, so it's cool," she said. "It's not going to be a number one song, but it's got the feel of the album."

Radio 2 appearance

In fact, pin-up presenter O'Leary has turned out to be quite a fan and invited Catherine into his radio studio on Saturday, 30 June.

As well as helping her to secure slots on national radio, joining the EMI stable also means Catherine is enjoying off-loading some of the work she's had to oversee as an unsigned artist.

"Since being in England I've had a lot of help, but it's amazing, I'll show up at a gig and there will be a huge flyer that EMI have printed out, and I'm like, 'Wow, that just happened - I didn't have to think about it!'"

Leaving LA for Norfolk

Catherine moved to Norfolk from Los Angeles after meeting local producer and songwriter Sebastian Rogers.

However, her new deal with the London-based label means there is now a lot of travelling between her Norwich home and the capital to attend meetings and play shows.

Although upping from California to Norfolk might have been an unconventional move, the Philadelphia-born singer was encouraged to come to England after being inspired by Sebastian's faith in her music.

After seeing her perform in Los Angeles, he persuaded her to sing backing vocals on a record he was working on at The Mill with ex-Lighthouse Family singer Tunde Baiyewu. Catherine then decided to work on her second album at The Mill.

Both Sebastian and the studio's owner and engineer Jonny Cole are now sharing in Catherine's delight that the album has been picked up.

"I think they're both really excited," she said. "It's similar to me - it's a mixture of on the one hand it's a natural next step and on the other wondering if it's ever going to happen."

Teaming up again

Despite the fact that Hurricane Glass has just been re-released, Catherine has already returned to The Mill to start work on her next album, with Sebastian sharing the controls again.

"It's different and in some ways it's not that different," she said. "Sebastian has a better grasp of where I'm coming from and I have a better grasp of where he's coming from.

"We still have friction from time to time but there's a lot of trust. At first I was bit anxious and not necessarily that trusting, but I'm really pleased with Hurricane Glass and let him do his magic."

Trip to Great Yarmouth

With a new album comes the need to pen new songs and Catherine recently holed herself up at a Great Yarmouth hotel for a week to find inspiration and get to work.

"I was talking to other artists in Norwich and I needed to do some writing and didn't have the headspace at home," she said. "They said I go to Cley or the seaside to write but that's too quiet for me as I like to sleep.

"Having spent a lot of time on New Jersey's east coast, I do like that tacky beachfront nature.

"In Yarmouth there's a lot to keep you interested. It's a very strange place - it reminds me a bit of being a kid and it's not so idyllic juxtaposed with the sea which is always beautiful wherever you go."

Homecoming gig

Catherine will play Norwich Arts Centre on 4 September, 2007 as part of her national tour and although she says it will be a homecoming she admits she still hankers for her home across the Atlantic.

"I definitely went through some hard times here at first, but I already lived 2,000 miles away from my family, but I came from LA where I had a network of musicians and people to support me," she said.

"When I came to England, Sebastian really had to help me make friends with musicians. I still don't have that network in England that I had in LA but I feel more comfortable than I did."

You can listen again to Catherine Feeny on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show for a week following 30 June, 2007 - use the link at the top right of this page.