2. The title track and debut single for
Kate Todd’s latest album, Anywhere
With You, is more than just an ode to
the ideal romantic relationship. It’s
passionately hopeful tone could also
be said to be emblematic of the way
Kate herself has plunged headlong
into pursuing her musical dreams.
“It’s about having such a deep connection to some-
one; having such faith in them that you would follow
them anywhere; the same goes for your passions
and desires to follow dreams. It requires this kind of
faith,” said the multi-talented, Toronto-based country
music sensation.
Anywhere With You was co-produced with Peter Lin-
seman, and both he and Kate crafted the album’s
original songs with some of the top writers in Nash-
ville during a productive and eye-opening writing trip
to Music City USA last year. While in the epicentre of
the country music scene, Kate wrote with such lumi-
naries as CCMA Award-winner Patricia Conroy, Ralph
Murphy (Shania Twain, Little Texas), Bernie Nelson
(Kenny Chesney, Wynonna Judd) and Phillip Douglas
(Emerson Drive, Lone Star).
“That was my first trip to Nashville ever” said Kate.
“We went down there with a line-up of ‘hit makers’ to
co-write with, so I was really excited. Everyone was
so great to work with. They all really connected with
my style and we ended up writing some killer songs
together. Bernie Nelson, Phillip Douglas, and Tim Tay-
lor actually booked extra days to work with us and
as a result, all of those songs will be on the album.”
Kate will tell you, “I love writing. I have always con-
sidered myself to be a writer first and when I perform,
authenticity is most important to me. I want people to
believe in what I am singing. I think that feeling what
the artist is feeling and making a deep connection
with their words and message, is the whole deal!”
From the onset of her recording career, Kate has
been rewarded for her work and her talent. She was
nominated twice for a Country Music Association
of Ontario Rising Star Award, two Best Country Art-
ist nominations from the Toronto Independent Music
Awards, two MARTY Awards, as well as being award-
ed the Best New Album at the Radio Nation Music
Awards for her 2012 debut Finding My Way.
Since the release of that album, Kate believes there
has been significant growth and maturity in her ap-
proach to crafting music, which is evident on the
songs she has created for Anywhere With You. “Life
experience in general makes you a better artist no
matter what medium that you work within. More ex-
perience means more stories, and of course stories
are really important in music. I definitely took what I
have learned and what I have been through over the
past few years and put it into this album, and I think
people will take notice of it.”
A key component to the authenticity of Kate Todd’s
music was her small-town rural Ontario upbringing.
“I spent a lot of time on my grandparents’ century
farm. They’ve passed away, but it’s still there. That
great feeling of being out in the country, in the fresh
air and experiencing a different pace of life is at the
heart of my music. It was an important element of my
upbringing that shaped me not just as an artist but as
a person. When I sing about the country life, it’s from
the heart” she said.
Kate’s performing days actually began on television
while she was still in high school, and landed a star-
ring role in the hit teen-oriented TV series Radio Free
Roscoe. She also appeared in hit TV shows like Dis-
ney’s My Babysitter’s A Vampire, Life with Derek, a
Family Guy episode and most recently, a character
role in one of the largest video games in the world
- Assassin’s Creed V: Unity. But as much as acting is
enjoyable and has helped her hone her performance
skills, there is no doubt that music is her first love.
“My character on Radio Free Roscoe was, ironically,
a singer/songwriter and radio DJ, who played guitar.
When I was in my trailer I was always playing. I never
had lessons, but people on the set like the grips,
electricians and other crew members would walk by
and show me stuff. And that’s how I learned how to
play. But as much as I loved acting, music always
came first and now it’s become my primary focus,”
she said.
As Kate developed her music career as a young
artist, she was inspired by a host of female singer/
songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Terri Clark, Shania
Twain and Sheryl Crow, whose impact she still feels
in her music to this today. “Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides
Now inspired me to pick up the guitar and start play-
ing live.That was one of the first songs I ever played.”
The song Everything and Nothing picks up the title
track’s theme of the power and blissfulness of being
within the confines of an amazing relationship, where
you can do anything with the one you love – or do
nothing at all and still be fulfilled.
Conversely, Bad Bad Girl looks at a woman who has a
wild side and loves life a little on the edge - although
she is quick to point out that the song is not autobio-
graphical. “I wrote that with Bernie, Phillip and Peter
and I thought it was a cool and sexy title. ‘On a good
good night’, we all have the potential to ‘be a bad
bad girl’.
Kate, who grew up on the anthemic songs of Lynyrd
Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash, want-
ed to create her own party anthem – and she suc-
ceeded with the brilliantly catchy sing-a-long song,
My Country. “It’s an ode to what I grew up listening
to -- all those great classic rock bands and outlaw
country artists. It’s a fun and catchy tune that is very
much ‘me’ and reflects my lifestyle - “a little bit of
lace, a little bit of leather and whole lot of country
and rock and roll!”
With songs that speak of hope, love, life and positiv-
ity, Kate Todd has truly found her sound. Her sweetly
powerful and expressive voice, easy charm and natu-
rally engaging showmanship proves she is a legiti-
mately gifted performer who knows how to draw in
an audience and then dazzle them in a really big way.
www.katetodd.com
PUBLICITY: PAULA DANYLEVICH, HYPE MUSIC, PAULA@HYPEMUSICONLINE.COM 647-559-0302
