Published: August 20, 2009 1:52 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight August 2009 Edition
Catherine Duc
Catherine Duc
Catherine Duc's Visions and Dreams embarks on a bold and enchanting journey that takes its listeners through many emotions. What is particular appealing about this CD is how Duc is able to fuse elements of Ambient, Celtic, Electronica and World into this CD. The outcome is simply haunting, beautiful and daring. If you are looking for something that will take you away, then Visions and Dreams is the perfect choice for you.
For those fans new and old who want to learn more about this artist, check out this recent interview Catherine completed with our Webzine. She sheds some light on the artist and her background. Enjoy!
Isaac: We'd love to know about your inspirations growing up. I hear so many influences in your music. How old were you when you first discovered music? Is there any kind of musical history in your family?
Catherine: I can remember enjoying classical music since I was a young child - Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven was a favourite and also Tchaikovsky's ballet music. My mother played a big part in my love for music as she worked as a radio presenter and we went to see ballets and orchestras every now and then. My mother used to be a singer in Vietnam and can play the dan tranh (16 stringed Vietnamese zither) as well as the classical guitar.
In primary school and high school, I was very into pop music and then later became interested in ambient, world and orchestral music when I was in university.
Isaac: What drew you to pick up an instrument in the first place?
Catherine: My parents made me learn keyboard when I was 7 :) There was a little caravan with about 10 or so keyboards that came around to our school every week and we would take lessons in it. It was kind of fun - a musical caravan :)
Isaac: As you hit your teenage years, did you know that this was what you would be doing for the rest of your life?
Catherine: When I was in my final year of high school, I started taking a computer music class and writing music. It was so fun, that I thought I'd like to keep doing this because I enjoy it so much.
Isaac: Is there a performer in any genre of pop culture that you would like to work with?
Catherine: There are so many musicians I'd love to work with that it would take a whole page to list them, but some of them include Michael Cretu (Enigma), Deep Forest, Enya and Loreena McKennitt. Film composers would include John Williams, James Horner and Harry Gregson-Williams. Actually it would be amazing just to sit in the same studio as them and watch them recording and performing.
Isaac: Who are some musicians that you really like, present or past?
Catherine: All of the musicians and composers in question 4 and many more :)
Isaac: What is your ultimate goal with your music career?
Catherine: To create compositions that satisfies my soul as well as others and to share my music with more people. The ultimate goal would be to compose music for a feature film - that would be the pinnacle for me, more so than getting a #1 album on the Billboard new age chart (although that would be nice too) :)
Isaac: What has been some of the obstacles it has taken to get this far in your career?
Catherine: Time and money are the main constraints for me at the moment. This is because I work a full-time 'day job' in order to support my music financially. Equipment, hiring musicians, CD production and promotion are all costs that add up.
Isaac: Would you recommend this "field" to others who are aspiring to be musicians like you?
Catherine: I definitely would because I believe that if you enjoy doing something as a career; it's very rewarding - more rewarding than doing something just for financial gain. Of course, I'd suggest being realistic and have 'plan B' as a backup. This could be another job in the music field such as teaching music or working in a studio, or in another industry to support your music.
Isaac: Describe one piece of advice you've have been given to by others in the music industry.
Catherine: To sum it up in one sentence: Rome wasn't built in a day. To achieve any success, you need to keep persisting and over time the many small steps will add up and lead you to your destination. Also, it's important to enjoy the musical journey along to the way and the people and experiences that come with it. It will make the destination that much more rewarding.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider most of your music?
Catherine: My main genres are ambient and Celtic, although I also write in the electronica, orchestral, chillout, trance and smooth jazz genres.
Isaac: What has been your favorite piece of work?
Catherine: Hmm, that's a hard one - I have so many. I really love Southampton by James Horner from Titanic because it evokes the feeling of sailing on the majestic ocean liner so beautifully.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Catherine: My album 'Visions and Dreams' is on many music stores online (such as iTunes and Amazon) and you can also special order my CD in many music stores. I've put a full list of stores on my website at:
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Catherine: I'd like to thank my mother for giving me the opportunity of taking keyboard and piano lessons and for being so supportive of my music. She tells me she's my #1 fan which is really nice :) I also want to thank all the talented musicians who I've worked with, or have inspired and encouraged me. A special mention goes to my friend TJ for supporting my compositions from the day I launched them on the internet and for always being there for me.
Isaac: Any last words?
Catherine: A big hi and thank you to all my friends on MySpace for their wonderful support.
