Cat Jahnke ('yä[ng]-kE)

Cat Jahnke's musical evolution has played out in a very linear fashion: from "Twinkle, Twinkle" on the upright as a child to composition classes in university; from girl with the six-string to front man for the band; from misguided boy to imperfect gentleman and the inspirational heartbreak that trudges in the wake. In the spirit of a true prairie girl raised in a landscape that allows a clear view for miles, Cat's fate has been evident for her twenty-six years.

Yet the words and tunes she fuses are never so straightforward. While her first album, Cathartic, was intentionally dark and cryptic, Cat's latest release, None Of Those Things, attempts to strike a more accessible balance between her fondness for double meanings and a dedication to candor, if often disguised. Using simple words, she repeatedly leads the listener to one idea and then drives the opposite conclusion home.

The title track invites the audience to pine for lost loves, for lost paths and for lost friends because "None of those things quite existed anyway". The theme of Tricky is suggested by its name and underlined by its chorus ("You just can't deny that look in your eye / It's love and it's here to stay / Don't you dare lie, just confess so that I / Can pack my bags and be on my way"). Even the final words of the album, the denouement of Pocket Full Of Sand, nearly placate but are ultimately shrouded ("I can't leave you / I can't leave you / And how could I leave you / You're already gone").

Although subject matter, instrumentation and patron may change, this contradictory approach continues to mold Cat's style. Whether composing a biographical song for the next album or scoring a short film for a Hollywood director, whether performing for a crowd sipping champagne or a mob tossing beer bottles, Cat can confidently bond a hopeful outlook with a gloomy muse. And the juxtaposition is proof of a flexible and fearless talent.

With her album None Of Those Things sitting tight in her pocket, accolades from a Hollywood film festival tucked beneath her cap and nothing less than a finalist ranking in two separate international songwriting competitions stowed up her sleeve, Cat is a versatile musician who is as comfortable on stage as behind the scenes. Cat Jahnke's capacity for musical evolution has been clear since day one, and her horizons have never looked brighter.

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ACCOLADES:
FINALIST: 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Competition (Session II)

SEMI-FINALIST: 2006 International Songwriting Competition

WINNER: 2006 168 Hour Film Festival - Hollywood, CA - "Best Original Score" for the film "Free Of Charge" - Directed by Robert Kirbyson

FINALIST: 2005 International Songwriting Competition

NOMINATED: 2005 168 Hour Film Festival - Hollywood, CA - "Best Original Score" for the film "Pieces" - Directed by Robert Kirbyson


SCORE COMPOSER:
2007: "Unlocked" Starring Andy Ostroff and Katharine Everett

2007: "CTRL Z" Starring Tony Hale (Arrested Development, Andy Barker, P.I.), Emy Coligado (Malcolm in the Middle) and Zachary Levi (Less Than Perfect)

2006: "Free Of Charge" Starring Marieke Douridas and Haynes Brook

2005: "Pieces" Starring David Storrs (Scare Tactics, Hi-Jinks), Lola Corwin (Temptation Island) and Sean Gavigan


QUOTES:
BRANDON FRIESEN Multi-Juno Award Winning/Grammy Nominated Producer "Cute, clever and a little dangerous summarizes Cat Jahnke."

MARTHA ALPHONSO Swerve Magazine "With vocals as rich as triple-chocolate mousse, Jahnke presents a beautiful sound, and a beautiful look into her intricate life."

JEFF ROBSON UMFM Radio "She's got a poet's way with words, a heart that isn't afraid to be exposed, and an inner rock child that somehow makes even her darker songs upbeat and fun to listen to."

BROOSE TULLOCH Radio host (CKUW - Beer For Breakfast) & Magazine Contributor (Stylus Magazine) "The songs are well-crafted and sincere, and the subtle harmony vocals ice the cake, but that voice... oh that voice...so pretty it's heartbreaking."

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You can also check out Cat at www.myspace.com/catjahnke

And if you like what you hear, Cat Jahnke's 2006 full-length debut release "None Of Those Things" is available for purchase online here through Garage Band's sister company, CD Baby.

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Please note: Song reviews are written by Cat Jahnke Management - Darren Johnston (Producer)