|
I caught up with a seemingly exhausted Katalyst on the eve of her debut ep release, Souliloquies. The 7 song (3 acapellas) set is a fusion of hip hop, spoken word, jazz and soul. A day later, I had the pleasure of watching it all come together - live - at La Sala Rossa, in downtown Montreal, for her album release party.
Backed by the soon-to-be legendary Kalmunity collective "Groundfood", Kat delivered her performance with a rare blend of sensuality, sensibility, and hip hop bravado. I didn't know the Prairies had it like that! While you were flipping between Video Danse and Xtendamix, Katalyst, who grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, was taking a correspondence course in Hip Hop 101, watching Yo! MTV Raps via here best friend's slightly illegal satellite hook-up. From there, young Katherine developed an appetite for hip hop, feasting on servings of Public Enemy, ATCQ and De La Soul.
Still, when listening to Souliloquies ,it doesn't take long to realize that her influences span far beyond the rhythmic boob bap of hip hop. From artist like Chaka Khan to Led Zeppelin, James Brown to Black Sabbath, and Erykah Badu all the way back to Muddy Waters, it is a mixed collection of funk, soul, rock and blues that has always stimulated the budding artist. None moreso than the Purple One himself who, in Kat's eyes, is the "best musician, best artist, best songwriter, (period)."
Aside from being a solid performer, Katalyst is also a marketing and branding specialist. With such an eclectic style, I wondered how she saw the "Katalyst 5" brand fitting into the proverbial "box" that industry drones insist on defining for artists. When "marketing yourself, you have to market what's unique - your goal should be to show how you don't fit into those boxes, how you're different than everybody else." She goes on to warn artists against the all too common mistake of littering their bios with hyperbole and comparisons to other acts: "You're never going to be more than that; your comparison automatically makes you a step below. Be unique." Exhibit A: the EP. Souliloques is the carefully crafted offspring of Kalmunity collaborators Jahsun (drummer), Freddy V(Guitar), Anastasia Culerides (Bass) and, of course, lead vocalist, Katalyst 5.
Eight months of gestation, from jam session to studio and back to jam session, and the result is as unique as they come. By deliberately veering away from "hip hop" producers, Katalyst was able to go places most hip hop artists don't have the vision (or courage) to explore. It's Jazz ,but it's hip hop. It's rock and roll, but it's hip hop. It's blues, but it's still hip hop. It's Katalyst 5, and SHE IS HIP HOP.
Written by Shane Scully
Find out more at www.myspace.com/katalystfive
|
