Trotta unlocks with 'release'
she's dancing in a circle/
her thoughts are all a blurr/
when she looks o'er her shoulder/
the crowd is watching her/
she seems to hold a secret/
locked deep inside her heart/
to barely break the silence/
would be a journey too far/
so there, she'll remain/
dancing forever/
and that's where she'll amaze/
crowds from all over/
with her dance/
she's dancing in a circle/
her thoughts are all a blurr/
---Blurr from Release
In all the classic stories regarding the life of young women, the diary is a symbol of locked secrets, intimate pieces, happy chills, sad sonnets, the real heart and soul of the subject, but a chapter that is not to be released to protect the inner most identity of a little girl.
These days all is revealed in blogs and are accompanied by flashing billboards, nothing is held sacred, but identity is now an asset, in a world so lost in cookie cutter thoughts, and following the norm.
Katie opted to peck her emotions into a different kind a keyboard, one the speaks larger volumes than just words, but the burgeoning sounds of her piano. Her arrangements are a simple concept, piano and her husky vocals perfectly lacking of any needs of any other backing instrument for filler, these pieces are genuine, her vocals smooth out any flaw, which you are hard pressed to find.
Release first surprise comes before ever hitting play. An 18 year old fully produced and well packaged CD comes in at a whopping 67 minutes, nothing like many other local artists who can scrounge up 30 minutes of material. She already has to consider herself having a two in one record. And the quality certainly is not lost over quantity. Drop this little gem in and its not likely to stop spinning.
The most identifiable words is from the track "Piece of the Sky" with the line "yeah I'm just another little girl" reverberates in the chorus, knowing the innocence of the writer is just that, that her perspective is not likely get noticed, and if it would, the world could be a happier place, not littered by those negatives that cloud a potentially beautiful day.
Instrumentally, track 8 "Ordinary" jumps out at me each and every time. I love the small high notes that tip toe you into the song, and then draws in deeper with then her vocals paralleling with the tempo, the tip toes into then amazing bold passion, the words becoming unnecessary, reverting to simple, la, la, la harmonies. An amazing song that grabs you, wanting to stand up and join in the concert hall ovation.
Most of the record stays in a wonderful, comfortable place except for "Sarah Jane". There she gets your full attention, and tests your senses, you step into the lyrics, follow the contours of the notes, and makes you feel the facial features of the performer as if it was live. Trotta has produced eye candy with only sound.
After listening to this, its like a collection of amazing stats, yes these songs were written in her mid teenage years, yes, she does play the piano, 10 years of playing and classical training has set her apart from not only her peers, but talent in this city at any age. Produced by Corey Miller of Lodge Studios and Trotta, the studio had to have been exciting, when the tracks were played back corks were probably popping, well, that would be in my imagination, the only thing that was probably noted of the celebration is the accomplishment of this young women unlocking her short but full lifetime diary, with a infectious smile. She will be keeping her musical journey local majoring at Butler University in the fall. Indianapolis will have her full time for performances till then, I wish two things for her, one, that finds time away from her studies to perform occassionally, and secondly, that it's not opening in a club, but instead headlining a concert hall.
Katie Trotta belongs in a large acoustically sound hall, you can achieve having that yourself with purchasing her CD at www.katietrotta.com or other local stores listed on her website.
Jeff Bedel
Blue Note Promotions
Read more...