T
O N I C A T L I N
Equal parts rootsy folk-rock with integrity, Americana, and pop, singer-songwriter Toni Catlin weaves tales of heartache, acceptance, and redemption and delivers them in a soulful, mellifluous voice that suggests she's lived more than a few of her lyrics. Her debut album Heartache on the Run released in 2001 featured some of Nashville's top session musicians, but avoided the studio-sterile pitfalls and conjured more of a band vibe. Heartache on the Run received rave reviews here and in the UK, and attracted fans within the industry like award-winning writer Marcus Hummon, producer / engineer Bil Vorndick (Allison Krauss, Valerie Carter, Bela Fleck) and publisher Matt Lindsey who recently started working with Toni representing her song catalogue.
Toni’s music reflects her strong, independent nature, yet also conveys a sense of vulnerability and authenticity that is refreshingly honest. She writes lyrics that reflect her own life experiences, gets to the truth of the emotion behind her songs, and performs them with an understated yet passionate delivery. The song of surrender, Me and My Heartache On The Run, was penned with Academy award nominated songwriter Gwil Owen and won the 2001 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest held at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Toni joined the prestigious alumni category with past winners Gillian Welch and Lost Highway records signee Tift Merritt. With the accolades she’s been receiving, Catlin may soon follow Welch and Merritt into the spotlight.
Inspired by artists such as Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams and others, Toni grew up performing for guests around the campfire at her parent’s rustic Adirondack resort, she then perfected her talent for singing and playing the guitar at St. Lawrence University and the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria. An avid outdoor enthusiast Catlin grew up ski racing, horseback riding and leading wilderness trips. A passion for travel and other cultures led her to Europe, Central America and eventually Boulder,Colorado where she worked for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Here Toni began to embrace her own musical style by performing regularly in the Rockies ski towns. After an intensive vocal studies program at the Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, Catlin took the advice of many noted songwriters appearing at Telluride and moved to Nashville.
As an independent artist paving her own path, Toni has achieved a lot in the last few years, she has opened shows for Shawn Colvin, Steve Earle, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Chicago. She’s been a featured performer at Austin’s South by Southwest, Nashville’s Americana Conference, the Americana stage at Fan Fair, Billy Block’s Western Beat Showcases and at Tin Pan South. She has been on NPR’s the Songwriter Sessions, BBC’s London Live, Ralph McLean’s BBC Ireland broadcast, and is a favorite of London’s Bob Harris of BBC radio. Toni has toured England, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland four times and has opened shows in the UK for Tift Merritt at the Borderline in London, BR549, and Allison Moorer. Paul Fenn of Asgaard Promotions in London is also a fan of Toni’s and has called upon her to open shows for some of the artists he represents.
Toni is currently seven songs into her follow up CD being produced by the Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist / producer Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, Mathew Ryan, Gretchen Peters). Some of the songs on the new project are ones co-written with talented writers like Marcus Hummon, Duane Jarvis, Dave Coleman, John Kennedy, Dana Cooper, Warren Sellers, Walt Wilkins, and Darin Pavone. Toni’s song No Stoppin’ This Heart recently attracted the attention of Australian Producer Michael Landers and will be the first single of one his emerging artists.
Toni is also a regular featured artist on Girls with Guitars, the popular monthly singer-songwriter showcase held in Nashville where artists like Mindy Smith and Mary Gauthier have also graced the stage. Her song “Undertow” is on the first Girls with Guitars compilation CD released recently.
Recently selected as a finalist in the pop category
of one of the world's leading International songwriting contests, the
U.S.A 2004 Songwriting Competition, Toni continues to carve her own path,
stay true to her artistry, and attract new fans to her
music.
© TC May 2005
Visit Toni's MySpace pages.
www.myspace.com/tonicatlinmusic