Exclusive Cathy Burton Interview

June 2004

It was a pleasure to speak to word-on-the-contributor Cathy Burton on 29th June, 2004, about her second album, Speed Your Love. Have a look at our review of this album in our “Music reviews” section. But in the meantime we hope you enjoy our interview with her.

It has taken you two years to follow up your debut album, Burn Out. What have you been up to in those two years, apart from, of course, recording the new album, Speed Your Love?

It did take quite a long time to complete. We started it in January 2003 and completed it at the end of last year, but then we needed to mix it and sort out the artwork. In between I’ve been gigging.

I see you co-wrote two songs with the legendary Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue? How did you get to work with him, and were you a fan of his music?

It came about because I was performing at Greenbelt and we got put on the same stage. I only found out a month before the festival. I’m in awe of him as a songwriter and a performer, and I thought to myself if he sings either “Dignity” or “Jesus, Do Your Hands Still Feel the Rain” I’m going to lose it and cry. He sang both, and I was trying not to lose it in front of 700 people. Afterwards, I knew this was going to be my only chance to ask, so I said, “Can we write together?” We ended up having coffee and chatting for an hour, then we wrote together in London. We’ve written another song which will end up on the next album.

You wrote a week of Bible studies for word-on-the-web, about Joseph’s arrest and his time in jail (www.word-on-the-web.co.uk/studies/week168.htm). How does the Bible help you, both in your Christian life and also your songwriting?

The Bible is what we need, isn’t it. It strengthens your faith. Reading the psalms, and how David wrote his songs, encourages me to be real with my writing. David wasn’t afraid of saying how it really was. That’s what makes the psalms accessible. If we cover things up then we don’t really come across as real and we’re not going to help anyone else.

You write. You record. You perform. You lead worship. You also teach piano to schoolchildren. Which of those do you enjoy most?

I see myself as a songwriter primarily, and then a performer because that’s the way to deliver the songs. I’d love to write songs for other people, and I also love writing with other people - I love the interaction. Worship leading is something I do at my church, but I was asked to do it at Spring Harvest this year and I might be leading worship in Switzerland in September. The piano lessons keep me right down to earth, especially in developing patience! I’ve got a little boy doing grade 4 piano at the moment. He’s only 10 and he’s lovely and he can play really well. I know he’s going to be brilliant!

Where can we see you in person?

I’m doing various festivals this year: Greenbelt, Flevo in Holland, and the Tara Festival in Belfast. I’m putting together a mini-acoustic tour in September, and the dates are being confirmed at the moment. I’m also doing a gig in Guernesy in October - I think it will be the highlight of my autumn! The best thing is to check my site which gets updated all the time (www.cathyburton.co.uk).

Musically, where would you like to go next? Something different, or a continuation of what you’ve done before?

A continuation. I would also like to get more of a break in the mainstream. Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 likes the album and has played a song from it on the air, so I hope it will spread to other DJs on Radio 2. This sort of break will help me reach an audience I can’t reach at the moment without the radio.

Is there anything else you would like to say to word-on-the-web readers?

Yes, I support two charities: Cry in the Dark, which helps children in Romania; and Christian Aid’s Trade Justice campaign. It would be great if word-on-the-web readers could check these out:

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/campaign/index.htm
http://www.cryinthedark.co.uk

Cathy Burton, thank you very much!

You can find a review of "Speed Yoru Love", at: our music review section.