cathy-beech

My Musical Jubilee Experience

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:32:40 GMT

Hello my wonderful followers and welcome to my latest blog...

Hello my wonderful followers and welcome to my latest blog.

“Jubilee celebrations + entertainment galore = Amazing experiences for everyone”

Whether you are pro-royalty or anti-royalty, you cannot ignore a good celebration at this time in the UK. And you most certainly could not have ignored the celebrations of the 70th Jubilee of the British Monarchy for 2022. If you did, then you missed an amazing bringing together of every community in the country and it was so needed after two years of lockdowns.

As a singer, all I can say is “OMG, did I get to sing this weekend? Yes. Yes, yes.” Granted I did not sing all my own penned songs. In fact, I sang a majority of cover songs that I felt would bring people out of themselves and dance along. But singing covers never really bothers me, and I can talk about that in another blog. But after 3 years, almost, of not being able to do a full weekend of music, I managed to do 5 events over 3 days and it was AWESOME !!.

It was a joy. It was a "True June of joyful joy!" Try saying that quickly.

What makes me musically happy?...

There have been many things I have missed about performing. Not the set up or the set down. Haha. Surprised I bet! No, not the set list or the joy of remembering lyrics. I have possibly about 3000 songs of lyrics in my head, stored away, ready to be reused for another event. It's a joy to remember lyrics like a puzzle. But no, no. That isn't what made me happy.

The thing I loved the most and what makes me the most happiest is meeting people who have come to be entertained. And that is what I do. I get to witness people who have put together communities through food and entertainment and a joy of just spending time together as a community. And it is wonderful to see and be a part of and be made to feel a part of that community. And let me tell you, this weekend, I have felt a part of every single community that I have sung for. I got to entertain them. And what I love the most when I do this is when that community responds, whether that is an applause, they talk to me or sing along or dance along, whatever it is that communication from them with me means everything.

At the Lowfield Inn, in Marton, Shropshire, the first venue I sang at over the weekend, I did a full acoustic set. I sat outside. And I sang songs in the sunshine. I laughed with people I'd never met before. I laughed with people who I'd known for years but had not seen for years. And I told a few bad jokes. ( I'm not usually good at telling jokes ) But I gave my all to those outside the weather was glorious.

Was I nervous? First outdoor summer gig and over 12 months.? Yes, Yes, I was. I decided I'd put into a poem my wonderful experience of the Jubilee 2022 as a singer, rather than trying to explain how amazing it made me feel.

Jubilee 2022 and Me

As a singer musician it's hard to explain,

For 3 years I've tried so hard not to complain.

I've not had the right to go out singing a tune,

Or help people join in with a song that is new.

Not even an old hymn or two!

I've waited and waited for my life to begin,

And at one point I genuinely nearly gave in.

But for me not to sing, it's like saying don’t you breathe,

For me not to entertain. my heart will stop beating

And so I know that I had to hold in my mind,

The day I would sing again for mankind.

Then a celebration designed by a monarch and engendered by all.

Brought celebrations that got everyone to the dance floor.

And I sang and I sang and every person joined in.

It's all okay now.

Let the party begin.

And just like that, 3 years of silence have gone.

And I can sing peacefully and be one with God.

That is genuinely how I feel. Like everything that was before has now gone, that I can finally start singing again, start writing my songs and getting them out there again, start singing covers again, start entertaining people again and just basically getting to have fun because that is what singing is all about.

And so, yes, it is time to go back out and sing my heart out again.

And I hope you'll come and find me somewhere in the UK.

Many blessings to you all.

Cathy Beech.

Mother Earth

Thu, 05 May 2022 13:12:15 GMT

Hello Everyone ...

Spring is in the air. There are so many songs about love; new love, old love, broken love, joyous love, family love. For me spring brings to mind the love of nature, the new buds, the lambs, the bright sun, the heavy downpours, the smell of fresh earth, the chicks, the daffodils and the snowdrops.

The senses are overwhelmed by the natural occurrence of the earth. And it reminds me of the beauty of the majesty called Mother Earth.

I've written a poem. An off the cuff poem.

MOTHER EARTH

She sings through birds and burst rain clouds.

She sighs on the lightest breezes

She shines like stars and dew drops as the earth slowly moves into its own.

I am renewed and freshly blossoming.

I am revived from the milk overflowing.

I am joyous as one, as are all the mountains overlooking the new earth regrowing.

I am in awe of our Mother so beautiful as she smiles

Every leaf on every tree and gives abundance to all who are watching pay tribute to all that they see.

As a singer/songwriter, there is much to write about in verse. Sometimes I feel like the Princess in the Disney film Enchanted. Who sings to everything and everything sings along. And as I write this, I really am chuckling. I remember many years ago when I worked as an administrator, I would walk into work and practically sing “Good morning!” and my boss at the time said to me “Cathy, I bet you’re the type of person who on your way to work says, good morning little flower, good morning sky and good morning weeds” to which I responded “Do you know what Charlie? I do”. It was like he was in my head, because anyone that knows me, knows I'm a bit weird that way.

I know for a fact I'm not the only singer who writes about the spring and the joy it brings to us in the new cycle of life. There are many, such as the Beatles with Here Comes the Sun and the first lyric, Little Darlin. It's been a long, cold, lonely winter or A Beautiful Day by U2, but my all time favourite spring song has to be Mr. Blue Sky, by E.L.O. This song ultimately makes me know I'm feeling the joy of spring. Yes, spring is here!!. And I am learning new and old songs, writing, singing and listening. Practising for my gigs. Coming soon in the summer.

Spring is for renewal.

Check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cathybeechmusic/

for all upcoming dates throughout June, July, August and September.

Many blessings to you all.

Have a wonderful, wonderful week.

Cathy Beech.

Hello My lovely Musical Friends...

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:57:53 GMT

Hello My lovely Musical Friends...

It's so lovely to be able to do this blog, and share a bit of my thoughts with you… I think this is the first blog I've done for my Cathy Beech Music page. So maybe I should tell you a little bit more about myself.

How It All Began…

Yes… I’d like to say I have just started out, however my journey has been a long and varied one… just so you know… I have been a professional singer for over 25 years now, and I absolutely love singing. I started songwriting years and years ago, choosing to write just stories and feelings in verse format, some would say it was more poetry than lyrics. However I would say that I have developed my skills as a “poet” and become a lyricist rather than a poet and I definitely did not believe that I would be a full on songwriter. Then 8 years ago, I met this wonderful producer from Coventry, a beautiful musical soul called Keith Fabrique who runs a studio and record label called Glasslip Records.

My Truthful Beginning as a Songwriter…

It is almost poetic in the way that we met, (because I am totally blaming Keith for the path I am now on, and I am super grateful), we were at a local Music Festival in Welshpool, he had travelled from Coventry and I was the Stage Manager of the venue him and his band were performing for. The band had bought a following with them, their wives, children and friends, they were the best fun. A few days later he got in touch and asked if I would like to go and record in his studio a few songs for his album. Unbeknown to me he had seen something in my performance, (I was still a cabaret singer at this point). I felt so much joy. My dad came with me and after I sang a few songs, he asked if he could record my album. I was overjoyed, (I kept my cool though). He has without a shadow of a doubt been my leading force in helping me to develop from a cabaret singer, with no confidence as a songwriter into an musical artist that can carry her own.

Keith has given me the confidence to actually develop my ability to turn my lyrics into songs and that is why the album is called “Wings To Fly” because that is what he gave me, I don’t think I have told him that so this will be news to him too, maybe hahaha.

The album is a collaboration of work with some outstanding songwriters, Christopher Sidwell, Danny Ansell, Steve Madden to name but a few, (Coventry songwriting legends). I am even singing the song Keith wrote for his wife, “Better Reason” it is one of my favourites.

On the album I have produced, written and developed my own songs as well. It would have been ready in January 2021, however the pandemic slowed everything down, we are working towards it being ready to buy and own as soon as we can do it.

Where am I now…

Right now, after two years of not being able to perform, I am just getting out there to the public arena again like most performers, I am singing a mixture of covers and originals, and I like that… you know… the world is full of music and lyrics and other people's songs that I absolutely adore, and I am a singer first and foremost. If it rocks my world then I will sing it and hopefully rock yours too.

What Songs Rock My World…

Mostly songwriters inspire me, especially female songwriters. I do love male songwriters like Don Black, Elton John to name a few, but I don’t think you can beat songs by Joni Mitchell or Norah Jones. I genuinely have an eclectic range of music that makes me feel lifted and joyous, makes me feel the moment and be present. If it makes me feel, then I will find a way to sing it.

Who Do I think I sound like…

I have always loved the singing styles of Eva Cassidy, Dusty Springfield, Karen Carpenter and Patsy Cline and I have been told you can hear their influences in my voice when I sing, which is an amazing compliment to me, my icons. To be honest, modern day artistes I love are Lady Gaga, Sia, Rita Ora and Pink too and if I was to say, who did I sound like, I would say I sound like me hahaha….

When it comes to the performance side of my nature. I think that being born in the seventies and listening to ABBA and Showaddywaddy, lively, outgoing, in your face fun bands… you know Slade? Were they not the best fun?!! They didn't take themselves too seriously, that is me! I don’t take myself too seriously either. Don’t get me wrong, I take music seriously, but it has to be joyous, poignant and have meaning that lifts, even if it is a melancholy song, it has to represent something that brings the best out in us. Of course I have a sense of humour, even in trying times in my life, I am no different from anyone else. Music helps me to rise above it though and focus on the joy… it most certainly works for me.

What is my Album about…

My album Wings to Fly, definitely is a theme of relationships that have not worked, but I have written about the joy when they did, which is important that moment that sings to your soul, no matter how long it lasts it is still there and worth recording. As a mother of two and a Nanny now, I have discovered myself and I keep on discovering who I am, it is ever changing. That is the theme of my second album.

What you can expect from me…

Just note this for now… and it could change lol…

I am really comfortable in my own skin, comfortable in my own art, comfortable in my own singing, my hope is that you too will be comfortable enjoying all my work, my musical art and my adaptation of other people's work and not only the singing, but my truth, the uplifting, the positivity, that in a world that appears dark, only singing and music can shine a light on… in my opinion!

For now I will be using this website to promote my gigs whilst I get back to singing in public again, but with my guitar only this time. Maybe I will invite some guests on occasions to perform alongside me… who knows what will happen. I've got another event coming up at The Cock Hotel in Brockton on the 18th March. If you would like to come to that, please do come along and have a listen and sing along with me anyway..

Many blessings to you always.

Cathy Beech.

Welcome to My Website, My Music and My Musings

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:42:15 GMT

Welcome to My Website, My Music and My Musings

So here I am, you may not know me yet, but I am hoping in time that me and you will become good friends.

I’ll tell you a little about myself. I didn’t get to this creative point by accident, it was always meant to be and the very fact that I have wanted a website and a blog to release my work out into the world for the last goodness knows how many years, is just proof of the fact that I could always see it in my mind. Nowadays a lot of us hear the term manifestations and making dreams a reality due to the Law of Attraction. These terminologies make it sound like you make a wish and poof! There you go, but really to me, it is the ability to truly believe in your dreams and to see it happening no matter the length of time it takes, if it is true to your heart then it will happen.

The path that I have travelled, has been full of life experiences that I never thought I would have, some really unpleasant experiences and some absolutely off the wall happy as anything, in your face, ecstatic experiences. My wish is that you will allow me to share these experiences with you. This is our new friendship and I hope you take it with the sincerity it is coming with. I will always be honest with you and through my music and performances share the deep feeling of the words I sing.

So here I am, you may not know me yet, but I am hoping in time that me and you will become good friends.

My first Loving hand of guidance

You see, my Nanna Kerrigan, who would have celebrated her 90th birthday today, loved lyrics, we would spend many a time listening to different singers and discussing the feeling behind the words that the singer gave and the emotion it evoked within us, I would go through her collection of CD’s and we would listen and debate on what was good what was awful and at the heart of it, what made us sit and listen.

Sitting and listening is a gift, one that I took for granted because it was most definitely a gift my nan was given. She was a great listener and in all honesty my journey of my true self starts with this beautiful woman in my life. My first loving hand of guidance, the sound board of all my fears, the one whose answer was unique to every question, and her absolute knowledge that I was mostly to have faith in my own vision and my own gift. She believed, as do I, that everyone has a gift to share with the world, mine was singing and seeing the good in everyone I meet.

The Inhibited Extrovert

I am a talker, a communicator, I make no excuses for it, those that know me, love me and I am fondly referred to as Chatty Cathy now by some dear friends. My Nan knew I was an extrovert, outgoing, loud, playful, a performer, but she also knew I was sensitive, I could pick up on atmospheres, emotions, wherever I went and as a child it made me feel inhibited, and alongside lots of negative affirmations about myself, I started to gain a lack of confidence, thank goodness I discovered music, it was my go-to, my safe place to be myself, the stage was always been my friend and music my master.

The good old 1980’s though, a time of prosperity, greed and anarchy, not that I was old enough to know that at the time, but I was met with lots of resistance when I talked about my dream to be a dancer, a singer, a songwriter. It was explained to me many times that I was too fat, thin, loud, loved my family too much, didn’t have any money, not good enough, lived on cloud nine, and many, many more reasons as to why I would not be able to do singing, music or dance as a career, and I know I am not the only person that has ever faced this type of resistance.

Looking back these “throw away” comments made my perceived ambitions bigger than Ben Nevis and Snowdon put together. I didn’t want to be “famous” but I was dragged into the ideas that others thought being a singer/musician/songwriter meant. I just wanted to sing and make a room full of people happy, pull them from their 9 to 5 job mentality and into a Saturday night and in time I wanted to record music, hopefully my own, that they could listen to in their own time and chat about with friends and family. That was what I wanted. That was what I was going to do.

If music was my salvation, my saviour from all those barriers that people were putting up in front of me, then music would be the saviour for many others, I was sure of it and that is what I clung on to.

The Light that Guided Me

My Nan is the first of several mentors that I have been blessed with, (I’m a little slow on taking cues when I should hahahaha), and the reason why my first debut album of original songs is called “Wings To Fly” is to honour all those wonderful, insightful, sharing, loving, outstanding people who have given their time to mould me into the artist I have become, they are the reason why I have been able to do this album, these “Earth Angels” lifted me above the noise of the nay sayers, the doubters, dare I say it… the haters.

I was given the gift through my Nanna Kerrigan, to remember to listen to that inner voice, and let me tell you, I did not heed those words straight away, they have sat in my heart patiently reminding me to listen to those who have championed me, and to listen to what my heart says to do.

“I know now Nan, can you believe it? I am doing it,”

It took what some would say a life time… over 30 years to get to this part of my life that I knew was meant to be. Isn’t that a life well lived so far? I am amazed when I look back that I did it. Now I am discovering what was always there and listening to the beat of my own beautiful thoughts and sharing them joyously with those who are like minded and want to sing with me, dance with me and cry with me.

This website, this blog, my first debut original album is the beginning of a new chapter for me and it will pay tribute to all those that got me through my last chapter and then on to those that help me push through to this new one, I am excited beyond words.

And so…

I am going to share my stories with you, good and bad, and my experiences of my life as a performer and singer, my stories of my personal mountains that I have overcome, and I am sharing in hopes that we can relate and maybe share with each other our hopes and our dreams.

This post I dedicate to my beautiful, wonderful, marvellous Nanna Kerrigan, otherwise known as Nanna Sheila, Nan, Mrs Kerrigan (She was a nursery nurse teacher), Mrs K and many other loving names by many people who knew her. I hope you are having your half pint of Irish Stout in heaven with grandad and your brothers, daughter, great-grandson, great-daughter and many many friends who have gone home with you too. We will all be coming home at some point, until then I will raise a glass in your name and sing happy birthday to you in my heart I know you can hear me. I may sing it on line, so others can hear it too!

You have definitely taught me to listen to myself and I can truly say that; I am a woman, a beautiful, strong, outgoing, outspoken, laugh out loud, brave as brave can be woman and I am here ready as I now have my Wings To Fly…. Thank you!