Catie Curtis

The vibrant Boston music community has given rise to numerous talented performers, ranging from rock acts such as Aerosmith and Morphine to folk musicians including Patty Griffin and Ellis Paul. Into this environment steps Catie Curtis, whose instantly identifiable voice and perceptive, often witty lyrics have allowed her to secure a firm place among fellow artists. Early recognition arrived through her performances on the house concert and coffeehouse circuit in the early 1990s, where she promoted the independently issued From Years to Hours that followed the cassette-only Dandelion from 1989. Her initial style carried echoes of Rickie Lee Jones while her songwriting displayed an innocent yet sincere poetic quality that would grow deeper and richer through accumulated experience. Hear Music took notice with the 1995 release of Truth from Lies. EMI/Guardian soon expressed interest, resulting in a 1996 reissue of that album and the 1997 appearance of Catie Curtis. Those recordings traced the performer's development as she eased away from her unrefined folk beginnings toward a modestly pop-leaning direction. The song "Soulfully" from Catie Curtis found a warm welcome, reaching listeners via radio and television placements on Dawson's Creek and Chicago Hope. Steady touring, including portions of the Lilith Fair tour, helped her cultivate a growing audience. After her label shut down, she landed at Rykodisc and delivered A Crash Course in Roses in 1999, an album centered on the sudden events that can alter lives. Time spent on the road with Dar Williams sparked ideas for the next recording. For the 2001 album My Shirt Looks Good on You she pursued a more collaborative songwriting process, joining forces with several of Boston's leading writers such as Billy Conway and Mary Gauthier. She also enlisted producer and engineer Trina Shoemaker to reshape her sound during the sessions. The outcome marked another confident stride forward and pointed toward continued achievements. Her first Vanguard release, Dreaming in Romance Languages, surfaced in 2004. Long Night Moon arrived in 2006, much of it contemplating her role as the new mother of two adopted young daughters, with Sweet Life following in 2008.