Toni Press Release - Oct 2004

Equal parts rootsy folk-rock and country with integrity, 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, on Western Beat Records featured many of Nashville's top session musicians, but Preston Sullivan's production avoided the studio-sterile pitfalls and conjured more of a band vibe. The single, Wrong Side Of Me, is captivatingly honest with the gutsy weariness of moving on. The mysterious intro to Bulletproof builds to an upbeat, driving tune that embodies inner strength – the ability to survive, the drive to go on.  The song of surrender, Me and My Heartache On The Run, was penned with Academy award nominated songwriter Gwil Owen.

As a winner of 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 received lately, Catlin may soon follow Welch and Merritt into the spotlight.

A Vermont native, Toni grew up performing for guests around the campfire at her parent’s rustic Adirondack resort. Inspired by artists such as Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams and Kim Richey. 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 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 and Fan Fair. She has toured England, Scotland and Ireland four times and has opened shows in the UK for Tift Merritt at the Borderline in London, BR549, and Allison Moorer. A favorite of Bob Harris of London’s BBC radio, Toni has been featured live on his radio show. 

Toni is currently in the studio working with Grammy-nominated producer Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, Mathew Ryan) on her second album. She’s been writing with Marcus Hummon, Duane Jarvis, Dave Coleman and others for this project due out later this year.