Catherine Anne Davies
| Catherine Anne Davies | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Anchoress |
| Origin | Glynneath, Wales |
| Musician information | |
| Genre(s) | Indie rock, pop, |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Label(s) | Kscope (Link), Too Pure (Link) |
| Associated acts | Simple Minds, Paul Draper (Mansun), Bernard Butler (Suede) |
Biography
Davies formed The Anchoress in 2013. Paul Draper has co-produced The Anchoress's debut album, Confessions of a Romance Novelist, which is set for release on January 15 2016 via Kscope.[1] [2] A second album will be produced by Bernard Butler.[3][4]
From March to Dec 2015, Davies performed in Simple Minds' live band, contributing additional guitar and keyboards.[5][6] She met Jim Kerr through The Dark Flowers collective.[7] She has also performed live with Ed Harcourt at Glastonbury Festival,[8] as well as Martha Wainwright.[9]
Musical style
Davies has been described by NPR's Ann Powers as "Wales's (much more explicitly feminist) answer to Lana Del Rey."[10] Davies cites Laura Nyro, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Prince, Kate Bush, Harry Nilsson, and The Carpenters as influences.[11]
Solo and Side projects
Previous to The Anchoress project, Davies self-released music under her own name and as Catherine A.D.
In 2009, Davies performed with London Philharmonic Orchestra as an artist-in-residence at London's South Bank Centre.[12][13] Through this role, she wrote with Riz MC and collaborated with Nitin Sawhney.[9][14][15]
Under the abbreviated A.D. guise, Davies released the single Carry Your Heart,[12] and a mini-album entitled Communion.[16] NME described Communion as an "understated but beautiful mini-album" when naming it one of the 20 best "cult/experimental" albums of 2011.[17] She also released a collection covers entitled Reprise.[18] The release featured re-interpretations of songs by Friendly Fires, Sleigh Bells, Nick Drake, Tracy Chapman, Bon Iver, Hurts, My Brightest Diamond, The Crystals, Nina Simone and The Magnetic Fields.[19]
Davies is also a member of The Dark Flowers "super-group".[20] The project was started by songwriter and producer Paul Statham in 2009.[21] She appears alongside vocalist's Jim Kerr, Kate Havnevik, Dot Allison, Peter Murphy, Shelly Poole, Helicopter Girl and Remi Roughe. In an interview with Clash, Davies said "It’s basically a project put together by a guy called Paul Statham who’s a songwriter/producer and he had this idea to make a dark country record, kind like ‘Paris/Texas’ soundtrack."[22]
Davies also appeared as a backing vocalist on Emmy The Great's debut single Secret Circus.{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{#invoke:Category handler|main}}{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}[citation needed] }}
Writing
Davies has a PhD in literature and queer theory from University College London, and has published a book entitled Whitman's Queer Children about epic poetry through Bloomsbury Publishing.[7][23]
Davies has written about film-maker David Lynch for the NME,[24] and has interviewed Tori Amos[25] and Manic Street Preachers[26][27][28] for Drowned in Sound.- ↑ The Anchoress debut album details. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Listen to 'Popular' By The Anchoress plus debut album details. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Anchoress working with Bernard Butler. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Bernard Butler reveals he's working with The Anchoress. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Simple Minds: Big Music – behind the scenes. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Blurred sidelines: meet the musicians who are doctors, gardeners and authors. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Interview for SimpleMinds dot org. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Ed Harcourt & Catherine AD Collaboration. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Emerging Artist in Residence. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Musicians You'll Tell Your Friends About In 2015. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Anchoress biography. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Catherine A.D. talks about the brooding darkness in her Valentine's Day EP. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Escape Velocity in-depth interview with Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ AllMusic page for 'Sour Times' by Riz MC. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Guardian's New Band of The Week. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ 30 Seconds with... Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The 20 Best Cult/Experimental Albums 2011. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ This Week's Top 5 Music Links. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ CATHERINE AD - REPRISE: THE COVERS COLLECTION. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Radioland by Dark Flowers album review. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Jim Kerr, Catherine AD, Dot Allison and Paul Statham tell The Quietus about their Sam Shephard-inspired collaborative LP. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Ones To Watch: Catherine AD. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Whitman's Queer Children: America's Homosexual Epics. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ The Music Of Twin Peaks Dissected: What Does 'Lynchian' Actually Mean. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Catherine AD meets Tori Amos. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part One. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part Two. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
- ↑ Nicky Wire on the Manic Street Preachers' return: Part Three. Retrieved from Missing a domain reference here.
