Singer-songwriter Katara has released her newest CD, "The Dodgeball EP," along with the music video to its first single, "The Flood." Her album, available for download on iTunes, marks Katara’s self-released debut.
Katara is now offering a free download of the third track off the disc entitled “The Flood”. Fans who “like” Katara's Facebook Page may download a free MP3 of the song from now until July 16, 2012.
“The Flood” music video is the songwriter’s first video release of 2012 and is now available on her official YouTube channel. The song has a hauntingly beautiful modern-folk feel, a fusion of R&B beats and folk melodies with a soaring pop hook, highlighting Katara’s innovative songwriting style.
Infectiously catchy, the EP’s first track “Except You” is raw, up front, and in your face with the opening lyrics “She’s only pretty on the outside. Watch yourself ‘cause you’ll find out she bites.”
“The song is about inner beauty and staying true to yourself,” Katara explains. “It’s about a girl who is in love with her best childhood friend and who sees him fall for someone who is beautiful on the outside but doesn’t have a kind heart. The song is her way of trying to get him to realize that the greatest love can grow from a strong friendship.”
The song is perhaps the best example on the CD of Katara’s distinct style of guitar playing. The end of the song boasts a tremendous buildup of layered acoustic and electric guitar riffs culminating in a brief but soulful electric guitar solo.
“When I wrote the first draft of the song, I ended the whole thing rather abruptly. I wasn’t happy with how unresolved that felt, so, I re-approached it and wrote the jam that made the final cut. I wanted to write an instrumental ending that would build on the feelings set down by the lyrics that came before it. I also wanted it to be short and sweet, but to still be an important part of the song. This was my first attempt at experimenting with something like that in my music, and I really had a blast recording all of it in the studio.”
In addition to writing the music and lyrics for the songs on “The Dodgeball EP,” Katara played many of the instruments herself: including acoustic guitar, piano, ukulele, mandolin, and electric guitar. In addition to his role as producer, J Chris Griffin also appeared musically on the tracks playing organ, piano, and bass guitar.
“It took me over a year to find the right producer to work with on this EP,” Katara says. “During that time, I produced a lot of the background music in my little home studio using midi and developed the guitar solos and rhythm instrumentation.”
Katara’s new album “The Dodgeball EP” is available for sale on iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon MP3.
Katara wrote the music and lyrics for "The Flood" and played many of the instruments on it herself. The video features Katara playing both acoustic and electric guitar and performing the lead vocal. "The Flood" is raw and emotional like a page from the diary of this amazing songwriter.
