Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Capozzi.
Catherine, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’m a working artist who tours internationally with diversified interests. Guitarist (primarily rock influenced by classical, gypsy, surf, swing, middle eastern, progressive). Composer for film (I’ve won some awards for Best Score), Instructor, I teach guitar to all ages, I believe that playing guitar is a full body brain workout. Purveyor of unique, eclectic once in a lifetime musical experiences- played a secret concert in the catacombs of Paris. I played a two-minute guitar solo and Brian May from Queen gave me his guitar because he liked how I played.
Several of my compositions have been featured on several History Channel shows, including American Pickers.
I started out playing violin (age 7) then added drums (age 10), then guitar (age 10). That angered my violin teacher so he refused to teach me when I added guitar. He said, “You want to be a rock star”.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Music has gifted me experiences that I would have never imagined possible. It has taken me around the planet and introduced me to people and places that have expanded my heart, soul and mind. I’ve been welcomed by strangers who don’t speak my language but who connect through music/art. It sounds cliché, but music has proven to be a true universal language in my life. A positive connecting force that has shown me we’re not really all that different, these are all concepts that influence the sounds I make and the projects that I work on.
As a guitarist, my primary band is Axemunkee (instrumental rock) , I wanted the guitar to be the voice, and have two drummers Yuri Zbitnoff -acoustic, Tamora Gooding electronic, and Jason Adams -bass. With Axemunkee, I am able to fly my hybrid genre bending guitar style to all points between rock and swing surf and beyond. New performing project “Fauxmenco” is a nylon string guitar duo featuring me and Rafi Sofer. I’m also working on musical projects with artist /writer Christina Goh (based in Tours, France) which will take me back to the Cote d’Ivoire this November, and reuniting with old bandmate Christine Zufferey (Paris, France) for a reunion of Ziaf- the rock quartet that performed the music of Edith Piaf.
Film composing is one of my favorite ways to write music and I am happy to have worked on a number of films for Launch Over Productions (under the name of Night Kisses) with Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola. With film music, I get to play a character. Really accenting and highlighting emotions – setting the mood, is fun and I get to explore an entire palette of musical motif’s and genres that are outside of my performing box. Finally, I am the producer brain child of the multimedia production ‘Bring Us Your Women” which is dedicated to women and the pursuit of divinity and freedom.
This quote from Leonard Bernstein is my favorite and describes my inspiration:”. we must never forget that music is movement, always going somewhere, shifting and changing, and flowing, from one note to another; and that movement can tell us more about the way we feel than a million words can”.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
Good question, General conditions are not great. People have devalued the arts in general (particularly in American culture). I think there are tools available to artists which allow people to more easily self-publish what they create (i.e. you don’t need a record deal), but the challenge is to be heard and break through the flotsam and jetsam of daily American life- to have people hear /see you.
As for what cities can do to help, several ideas. One might be to curate and encourage a creative economy that can connect patrons of the arts/ donors with local artists – not just grants, but maybe events that are almost VC like in nature, with the idea that there is a shared risk, build reputation, audience- (just brainstorming). Venues should have nights that are more diverse – have artists of different genres, experienced veterans sharing bills with up and coming bands, artists, etc. I realize it’s difficult to get people out to venues, maybe if there were more all ages venues- (?) certainly in Boston, being a college city – should be a no brainer to get options open for all ages.
Culturally, in my touring, I have found that Europe is more open to ‘arts’ really listening to a new artist without being told they should ‘like’ them. I can play the same sets and get very different reactions depending on which side of the pond I’m playing.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
On September 13, you can see me live performing at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, MA with Ziaf and Fauxmenco. In November I will be in the Cote d’Ivoire with Christina Goh, and March 8, 2019 at the Somerville Theater for Bring Us Your Women.
I have several films that I scored are available on Amazon-these are all from Launch Over Productions including “Blood of the Tribades”, “Magnetic”, “Ten”.
Be on the lookout for ‘ClickBait’ which is making the festival rounds now. And another short film I scored from director, writer Laurel Vail called “What Metal Girls are Into” is still doing festival rounds and hopefully will be available for general public viewing soon.
People can see my work (with all the links) by going to my website:
http://www.catherinecapozzi.com/ and http://www.bringusyourwomen.com/
Can support by going here:
https://axemunkee.bandcamp.com/
or on iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/catherine-capozzi/675966122
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/axemunkee/291753707
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bring-us-your-women/968983075
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.catherinecapozzi.com/
- Email: axemunkee@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Axemunkee/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/axemunkee
- Other: http://www.bringusyourwomen.com/
Image Credit:
Photo 1 Marlise Steeman, All other photos Kelly Davidson Photography
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