“I had many personal emotional falls and one actual physical fall that inspired the songs on this album. The songs are about getting back up again and choosing to follow the light after the fall instead of the darkness.”
Barbato brings great talent and a generous heart to bear on her new record, The Art of Falling (The Giving Groove, September 7, 2018). Musically, The Art of Falling is by no means dark, however. The production by Barbato and multi-instrumentalist Brett Kull (Grey Eye Glances, Echolyn) feels warm, hopeful and openhearted, brightened by Barbato’s delicate guitar work and sweet, expressive voice, as a singer and as a writer.
Also lending their talents on The Art of Falling are Grammy-winning drummer Jim Hines (Brian Wilson, David Bromberg) and the players Barbato calls her “longtime musical companions,” keyboardist Mike Lawson, vocalist Rebecca Rankin, and guitarist Matt Teacher.
“So, on this album, it was my music family plus Brett bringing his vision as a producer and musician,” Barbato says. Following the Giving Groove model Barbato chose Rock to the Future, a nonprofit organization that provides free music education to Philadelphia’s underserved youth, as the beneficiary of 50% of the album’s profit. Rock to the Future.
In addition to releasing her own music, Barbato composes music for TV and film, such as the theme she wrote for the movie Sugar, starring Shenae Grimes and Marshall Allman.
Katie’s unique angelic voice and soulful songwriting garnered the attention of Grammy award winning producer Obie O’Brien. Along with engineer Matt Teacher, they teamed up to record her full-length album at Blackbird Studios and The Sound Emporium in Nashville. Her solo album “Times Have Changed” features 9 original songs and a cover of the Irma Thomas single “Times Have Changed”.
Barbato is also a two-time finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. She has performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and she is a regularly featured artist on WXPN, the University of Pennsylvania’s public radio station.
Barbato is set to celebrate her new album at a release party on September 8th, 2018 at the Giving Groove headquarters (127 S 22nd st, Philadelphia, PA). For more concert dates and information on Katie Barbato’s music, visit katiebarbato.com.
The Presbytery of Philadelphia for their initial $9,000 grant in 2015 to help build the coffeehouse ministry. And their follow-on $5000 grant in 2016 and their follow-on $4000 grant for 2017.