Soul Singer Katherine Penfold Releases Debut Album ‘Sweetest Thing’; Watch The Video For “Unapologetic”
October 4, 2019 BY Nettwerk
After a steady set of single releases, music videos, and buzzing NY & London shows, Katherine Penfold finally debuts her much-anticipated album Sweetest Thing (Out Now via Justin Time/Nettwerk). Following the international buzz on her latest singles Better, Feel Like Makin’ Love, Far Away, and Unapologetic, this 10-track release is the perfect soulful, intimate jazz album to kick off the autumn with a First Listen on EARMILK. Penfold will also be live on Austin Radio’s KAZI this Saturday, October 5th at 7:30PM Central, which will be streamed online and via the TuneIn mobile app.
Soul resides just beneath the exterior. Upon meeting Katherine Penfold, you might initially notice the prominent tattoos along her shoulder and arms before the conversation veers to her lifelong affinity for motorcycles, skateboarding, or woodworking – let alone music. Listening to her sound elicits a different impression altogether – as a sultry, smooth, and sweet delivery belies the rustic badassery she exudes with ease.
With a story to every song and a really powerful vibe, the album is the musical juxtaposition that is Penfold. Although her tattooed, 6 ft, tomboyish exterior seems harsh to the naked eye, Penfold’s quirky Nova Scotia and Brandon University classically-trained upbringing creates a soft and clear musical voice that is all about love and joy. With this unique persona, Penfold went on to win the GROOVEFM singer/songwriter competition, perform alongside the likes of Hugh Laurie, Jeff Lorber, Brad Turner, and Jodi Proznick, and even sell-out headline shows. Her fascination for construction and architecture drove her to build her own studio – one of the many things she loves creating from scratch with her hands. While co-producing this album with David Sikula, Penfold channels these experiences and her spirited style to a soul, funk, and R&B 10-track wonder.
She taps into this vibe on the first single, her cover of Roberta Flack’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love.” Over dreamy keys and slick percussion, she breathes new life into the classic staple, sliding into the pocket with seductive bliss. She co-wrote “Better” alongside GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Chin Injeti [Drake, Eminem]. Its slinky groove seesaws from jazzy verses into a resounding chorus as she croons, “You make me feel better,” in a call-and-response over a bass warble. “I struggle with depression and anxiety,” she admits. “The song is for my partner. He finds a way of making me feel better during those times. It’s dedicated to the person who helps you up.”
Elsewhere, fluttering keys and dreamy production underscore “Far Away” on which she joined forces with Moonchild’s Amber Navran. The track details “the heartache of a long-distance relationship.” Handclaps and sky-high vocal runs abound on “Unapologetic,” her latest release and intimate music video, which highlights the scope of her showstopping range. “It’s about stepping up and not hiding anymore,” she goes on. “It’s a powerful moment for me.”
Penfold will celebrate with an album release event on Friday, October 18th at Vancouver’s Guilt & Co, which will be the first in a series of West Coast performances through December.
Track List:
1. Unapologetic
2. Feel Like Making Love (prod. Eye 3 Brandon)
3. Far Away (prod. Amber Navran from Moonchild)
4. Better
5. We Gotta Choose
6. High
7. Sweetest Thing
8. Movin’ On
9. Tell The World
10. You Know the Way I Feel
Tour Dates:
03-Oct-19 Vancouver Guilt & Co
18-Oct-19 Vancouver Guilt & Co
24-Oct-19 Vancouver Guilt & Co
01-Nov 19 Edmonton Yardbird Suite
02-Nov-19 Calgary BuckingJam Palace
06-Dec-19 Vancouver CBC Studio 700
13-Dec-19 Vancouver Christ Church Cathedral
14-Dec-19 Vancouver Christ Church Cathedral
14-Dec-19 Vancouver Festival of Lights
