Kate B

Greetings and welcome!  I'm so very glad you're here!

I’ll be putting together a video in the coming weeks, meanwhile, welcome early birds!  It means the world to me that you’re here!  It’s time! 

Oh finally, it’s here!  I have been trying to get this album kicked off for for the last couple of years, but just like human babies, the musical babies have a way of arriving in their time and not when we think it’s their time!  I’m excited to be taking a different approach with this album and absolutely honoured and privileged to be working alongside Darren Percival to co-produce something different! With Paulie B at the helm in the engineering seat at Yama-Nui Recording Studio on the sunshine coast and an exquisite line-up of top shelf musicians, magic is bound to ensue!

The approach...

For my previous albums I have worked with award winning producer Andy Downer in his home studio in Lismore, layering, one instrument and one voice at a time to build a lush bed of music and sound. I’ve absolutely loved the process of working with Andy and I’m still proud of what we created. This approach, however, is something different, and something I’ve never done before which is both scary and very exciting. We have recruited the band, the songs are polished, I’m 95% polished! And we will spend eight days in the studio, recording, live instruments, a live choir, and guest musicians to sprinkle their magic on the album.

Like my other albums, this is a mix of songs and chants. But of course, my songs are a bit chanty and my chants are a bit songy!   Sometimes there is a clear delineation and sometimes the edges are a little less defined, but like all my songs, there is the intention of meaningful lyrics where people can sing along!  So they have been curated with this in mind. 

Some top shelf musicians will be gathering around the country to contribute to the creation of the rich tapestry of this album.  All the instrumentation will be played live, no programming of digital instruments. Not that we don’t love that choice also! This is just a different approach, an analogue offering in a digital world.

Like Peas & Carrots

After many years of collaboration and singing with Darren Percival, my amazingly talented (and considerably taller than me!) friend, we are both stoked to beyond measure to finally have the opportunity to create something together. We have been working in the last six months or so in pre-production. That is, tweaking the songs.  Maybe a different chord here, or changing a line there, those magic little recipe adjustments that make the song pop just like adding the magic spice to a delicious meal. This has been not only a great privilege, but also lots of fun and deeply valuable! I can’t wait to share the songs with you and I can’t wait to see them come alive in the studio!

Funding the Dream

This album will cost more than the previous albums, as is often the way, but it will take less time. Crowdfunding is always a bit of a double edged sword.  As we as musicians don’t wanna put our hand out and ask for money and sometimes crowdfunding can feel like that. But it’s more important than ever in this day and age when people buying music is less common, that we invite in a tribe around us of like-minded souls, who are also excited for the creation of something unique and special.   Streaming has changed the industry immensely and one of the unfortunate circumstances is that lots of music is not getting the time, energy or money it deserves to come to it's full fruition, to actualise the inherent potential.  It's edgy to take such a financial risk as this, but I've never been one to sit on my laurels!  (um, what is a laurel?!)

Crowd funding is a great way to repair the damage done to the industry via the streaming platforms.  Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE using my streaming account, I get the convenience.  But it has its drawbacks.  Very very little cash finds its way to the musicians pocket.  $.032 per stream the last time I looked!  I know right!

Bandcamp is a great compromise, they let you stream but only after you purchase the album from the artist.  After a few listens free of charge, it pops up a little message and says ‘time to open thy wallet’!   We'll be using Bandcamp to distribute digital copies of the album and you can use it for streaming too!

The album will cost more, but rather than crowd funding for the whole lot, I’d love to go you halves!  I’m happy to reach into my pocket for a bunch of cash, but if you’re happy to go halves that will help me to pay the amazing musicians that have given their time for this project, the studio, photography, the graphic designers, the engineers, the producer. I certainly couldn’t do it myself and know that I wouldn't want to, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun, or as colorful in the outcome!

Some people say ‘people don’t buy albums anymore’.  I don't agree, because I do!  I do because I know it supports the musician to get it done.  It’s a big job, time consuming and a labour of love.  Generally speaking, the musician is often the last to get paid.  So absolutely, I buy albums!

You're invited!

My invitation to you is to join the tribe gathering around me to contribute to bringing this unique creation to fruition. Your support would mean the world to me!   I have made provisions for small donations, the cost of a CD or an LP, and also large donations, such as booking me for a house concert or music at a retreat or workshop.  Or maybe some singing coaching for yourself!  I’m also providing bundles for people who would like purchase an album and also attend an album launch concert live somewhere near you. I have a loose schedule of those dates in the coming weeks so that you can see whether you’ll be able to join or not.

This is an opportunity to co-create something which is deeply therapeutic and relaxing for everyone, an album that you will reach to at certain times in your life, which can form the soundtrack for life‘s special moments.

Where am I at with my artistry?

This album feels like a step in a new direction.  A direction yet to reveal itself from the arms of the great mystery.  Something has shifted recenty, but it’s been hard to put into words… the closest I can find is that I’ve experienced a massive identity shift.  It’s been a slow burn, happening over many months.  Beneath the surface for a while now, I’ve been unable to put my finger on it. 

I was with a musician friend a few weeks ago and I got it.  I REALLY GOT IT.  The transmission, of the next thing….  Right there in the mirror.  So what has changed?   I LOVE chanting and I LOVE mantra and I LOVE songs!  I’m no longer identifying as a ‘chanting / mantra’ artist.  I’m coming up off the floor! 

Both of my albums have chants on them, but less chants than songs, in both cases.   Will I still be offering chanting?  Absolutely, from time to time.  Will I be sharing mantra in my concerts?  Absolutely!  Depending on what the occasion calls for. Will I be inviting people to sing along?  You betcha!  As I always have, in the folk tradition and the chanting tradition.

I used to only do ‘songs’ for many years… then the chanting came in, and I changed tracks entirely.  I launched my solo album as a ‘chanting artist’.   I felt safe in that genre and in those parameters.   But I no longer SEE myself as a chanting or mantra artist that does a few songs on the side.  

This provides immense liberation for me, it feels like like I’ve been hiding under the cloak of one flavour of music.  I’m choosing not to be defined by only one of the things I love.  I love all of it and I will be solely defined by none of it. All word’s become the mantra, infused by deep presence and intention! 

Hi!  I’m Kate B, I’m a singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist who loves to share heartfelt songs, chanting, mantra and harmony. 

I’m Kate B, I am a Song Carrier. I am ready for what is next!  

I warmly invite you to step into the circle and come on the journey with me.  To walk by side, to take your place in the cheerleader team and contribute to the creation of weave of the fabric what is to come. 

I’m excited, and so very grateful! 

Go you halves?

As you can see below, producing a quality album is not cheap.  It's not my first rodeo!  You get what you pay for, always!  And I'm so blessed to have an incredible crew of talented producers, engineers, musicians, graphic designers and photographers.  Everyone's job is important and everyone deserves to get paid.  Your contribution will help immensely!  

In typical aussie style, how about we go halves?!  Around $28, to produce the album and print the wares.  I'd be so stoked to receive half of this!  

If it turns out to be beautifully abundant, I'll look towards creating my first film proper film clip! 

For the finance minded folk, some details below: