MUSIC

Hi, I’m Cat.

I think we are all a bit afraid to truly be ourselves, yes? Because we don’t want to risk Death perhaps? Physically and socially? We don’t want to be reminded of our mortality, and we do strange things to avoid acknowledging it? We also don’t want to be rejected, because a social Death would render us completely alone…and then perhaps Dead with no support system? Social Death, physical Death. We all know what it’s like to be scared of Death. We despise when other people don’t consider our physical safety or makes us question our sense of belonging or purpose. We feel threatened and maybe cope by lashing out or drawing inward, feeling invaded upon, stifled, marginalized, less than—we become protective of our own hearts, give less of ourselves, and speak up for no one. We decay as we start to reject ourselves, the way “they” rejected us, and the very Death we feared is the thing we now tempt because we are hurt, defiled, or traumatized. We begin to turn away from love and listening; affirming our pain. We start to believe less and less that we have something to give, something to offer, something to be. I think that motion is the actual Death we fear—an end where we feel stripped of our mattering and meaning to the world. But this is simply a spiral of untruths. We matter alright. We always do.

I’ve found upon contemplation that even in Death we matter to not only the soil, but in the impact we made on those who knew us, or those who observed us only in passing. Yes. You have made an impact simply because you exist. And even stronger so, you matter to yourself. And you are capable of reaching happiness when you decide it’s safe to be happy. This concept was one of many that helped me regain my happiness, self-esteem, autonomy, agency, and die my first real Death to an old self, an old Identity I was clinging to for dear Life.

Each song I write is a lifeboat to myself and others. It’s a hand of compassion when it’s difficult to give grace. My songs are a soothing voice to an unrelenting self-critic who wants to assure me it’s easier to enact shame, guilt, and fear of rejection. My songs are confessions of rage and confusion, criticisms of human behavior and self-sabatoge. They are affirmations of self-love and transformation. Sometimes I’ll write songs in the voice of others, borrowing from their habits, mood, and melancholy. I write to mark my own growth, and to portrait the insufferable and suffering characters I meet. I become them to redeem them, often finding similarities within myself. I explore them with deep compassion, reminding myself that even the greatest evil we make or witness is a reaction of Fear. I remind myself to love people through their suffering, give myself grace as well, and truly allow myself to make mistakes. I approach life with Radical Acceptance, and remind myself of our significance. It is safe to be happy and having the courage to be yourself is liberating.

FACTS & FIGURES

Cat is from New Jersey, United States. Her band’s new single, “The Likes of You” launched November 8, 2024. Cat is also one half of the musical improv comedy duo, Cat and Vegas and the Temple of Boom. She co-hosts a touring act and podcast, “The Yes Anthem” with her husband and producer, Rich Aveo. Cat enjoys creating comedy sketches on Instagram (Handle: @catherinebobatherine) like “At the Gym, On My Period” and “Henry & Martha.” She is also a live improvisational poet, and likes to create stream-of-consciousness poetry exclusively for her followers on Threads.

Cat’s songs are experiential, often involving themes of love, regret, rage, self-acceptance and sabotage. Cat tours and writes with her friends Anthony Freda (drums), Paul O’Keeffe (bass), and Rich Aveo (producer/pianist). They’ve toured with Sofar Sounds Concerts, sharing the stage with acts such as Lizzy McAlpine, Skout, and Isaiah Mostafa. Cat independently released her first collection of songs, Box of Chocolates, in 2012 with Robert Frazza (Tony Levin, King Crimson). Shifting her focus toward darker themes and piano, she set about working on her sophomore release, Dangerous Me, released in 2016 with Rich Aveo. Cat has supported bands such as The Head and the Heart, Hey Ocean!, and Jeffrey Gaines.

Cat London and comedian Vegas Lancaster formed their improv comedy band, Cat and Vegas and the Temple of Boom, in 2008. Cat & Vegas concerts are completely improvised with on-the-spot co-writes inspired by audience suggestions. Unique to the Temple of Boom, Cat and Vegas invite audience volunteers to accompany them on stage with musical instruments. They perform regularly at Philadelphia’s premier improv theater, SideQuest Theater. Cat & Vegas credits include acts such as Michael Palascak, Chanel Ali, Benny Feldman, and Canice Nnanna, and have appeared at improv festivals internationally.

Cat and Rich Aveo co-founded their improv comedy/music podcast, The Yes Anthem, after wrapping a 360+ episode live-pod “The Piano Party Podcast” at the close of Covid-19 Lockdown. The Yes Anthem’s philosophy upholds that if people practice self-acceptance and belonging, we begin to accept other’s perspectives without fear or judgment. The Yes Anthem Road Show is a hybrid theatre show of musical impersonations and improv comedy with on-the-spot poetry, musical comedy and sketches, and celebrity musical impressions.

Cat also loves to act for film and stage. In 2022, she appeared in the music video for “All Day I Dream About” by songwriter, Joe P (Atlantic Records). Cat produced and directed her very first comedy short “SKUBER” in 2020, celebrating recognition at a few film festivals. Other exciting collabs include her movement piece choreographed to “People Pleaser,” by Kate Miller-Heidke, and her dance music video “The Right Way.”

Cat loves poetry, gardens, traveling, dancing, painting, spooky stuff, improv, songs, and her family.