Selections from the CD "Visions and Dreams" by Catherine Duc  2005

Essence of Dreams: Your first glimpse of the land of Visions and Dreams begins here. Over the ten songs, you will be taken to different exotic places which may only exist in your imagination and dreams. The mysterious sound of a shakuhachi flute calls to you, while a downtempo groove arises in the background. If you decide to enter, you'll discover more ethnic instruments including panflute, dulcimer, kalimba and taiko drums. These textures are combined with acoustic nylon guitar, strings, chimes, ambient female vocals, Gregorian choir and warm ambience.

One Autumn Day: One Autumn Day brings change and a chance to reminisce on your memories. Traditional Celtic instruments are fused with an introspective pop arrangement. This song features violin, tin whistle, harp and mandocello. Piano, bass, guitars, strings, a drum & bass influenced pop beat, and a touch of ambient background vocals and keyboard timbres develop the wistful mood.

About Catherine Duc

Catherine is a classically trained pianist and has studied recording and production techniques at the Concert Hall in Melbourne. She also has a Diploma in Film Music Composition from The London School of Creative Studies.

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Awards

• Best Instrumental Artist, International Online Music Awards 2007
• Instrumental Artist of The Year, 16th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards 2006
• World Music nomination, Just Plain Folks Music Awards 2006
• Honourable Mention, Instrumental category, Unisong International Songwriting Contest 2005
• First Prize, Electronic & Dance category, Philips Song Competition
• First Prize, PLC Original Song Competition
• Featured Artist of The Month, About.com Electronic Music section
• Guide's Pick, About.com World Music section

Discography

• Album: Visions and Dreams (2005)
• Compilation CD: Artist, Repertoire and Licensing International Magazine, issue #25 (2006)
• Compilation CD: TuneTank ElectroDance Express. Presented at Amsterdam Dance Event (2006)

Training

• Diploma in Film Music Composition (London School of Creative Studies)
• Multitrack recording (Melbourne Concert Hall)
• Music production (Melbourne Concert Hall)
• Arranging
• Classical Piano (A.M.E.B. Level 5)
• Keyboard
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• More About Catherine Duc: www.myspace.com/catherineduc      www.catherineduc.com
  

Official press release

Duc Melds Diverse Influences Into Groundbreaking Electronica Album, Visions and Dreams

Australian musician Catherine Duc melds ancient Celtic melodies with contemporary electronica rhythms, creating a unique and exciting hybrid on Visions and Dreams.

Classically trained but with electronica savvy, Catherine Duc (http://www.catherineduc.com) readily bridges the ancient with the up to date on her new album, Visions and Dreams. Rarely has the label worldbeat been more appropriate. She brings together musical forms from around the globe and creates a bold leap forward for Celtic influenced New Age and electronica music.

Duc blazes trails for New Age music on her new album, arriving at a novel and intoxicating blend of Celtic and ambient music. This is music to take note of. It doesn't merely recede and become background sound. Instead, the layers and juxtapositions provide food for the mind while providing rest for the soul. Duc composed and performed all tracks on Visions and Dreams using the latest multitracking techniques to create the vibrant Celtic soundscapes. The album was mastered by Toby Learmont at Sony Music Australia and is being distributed by The Orchard.

In 2002, Duc won the electronica prize in a national competition organized by Philips in Australia. A classically trained pianist, Duc studied recording and production at the Concert Hall in Melbourne. She recently earned a diploma in film music composition from the London School of Creative Studies.

"Fusing world music with electronica has become quite popular," Duc said. "Often artists choose Middle Eastern or African themes. I was interested in the possibilities of mixing Celtic motifs with ambient, trance and electronica."

So far, critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. R.J. Lannan of New Age Reporter said "Visions and Dreams...is an amazing amalgam of Ambient, Celtic and World themes." Arsenio Orteza of the Times for Acadiana cited "...the verve that Catherine Duc brings to a genre that's now more than a quarter century old." Dene Bebbington, Melliflua said "It's clearly an album by someone who knows where they're coming from in terms of influences, and who knows how to make use of it in their own style."

Autographed copies of Visions and Dreams are available from http://www.catherineduc.com.  The genre busting album fusing electronica with Celtic music is also on sale online through Amazon.com and CDBaby.com and at online and retail outlets (USA) of Sam Goody, Tower Records, Circuit City, Target and Virgin Megastore.

Press Contact:
Catherine Duc
catherine_duc@yahoo.com
http://www.catherineduc.com

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