She needed a demo tape, so she prayed. She needed a PA system, so she prayed. Now she's prayed her way into the Cross Rhythms festival. Geoff Howlett talked to singer/songwriter Catherine Francis.

Catherine Francis

To many aficionados Catherine Francis is the best new singer/songwriter to emerge in recent times. Things have been moving very quickly for Catherine. She began playing regular concerts at the beginning of 1994. Starting with small fellowship groups, she was soon moving further a field to larger venues. Which is she more comfortable with?

"I enjoy both because they have different things going for them," Catherine replies. "Playing last year's Greenbelt Fringe was big for me and a good experience, but the smaller places offer a more immediate reaction." The warm, friendly voice laughs, as she recalls how she almost didn't appear at the summer festival. "I sent off a tape and they sent back all the forms for me to officially reply. I was so intimidated by them all that I didn't bother sending them back. Then, a couple of months later, a friend telephoned to say that I was listed on the Greenbelt poster, so off I went."

Music seemed to be the natural choice for a girl who's parents are a symphony orchestra conductor and a violinist, as well as a brother studying at the Guitar Institute, but Catherine resisted. "I decided not to follow the family footsteps and went to university to become the 'academic' one. But, here I am." Her piano-based songs have been likened to both Kate Bush and Tori Amos and, as if confirming those claims, both artists are amongst her own favourites.

Catherine took piano lessons from the age of six, until she began to play in two local bands. Her songwriting only began when the groups disbanded. "I never just try to write something for the sake of it, it's only if I'm inspired," explains Catherine. "But, even if it isn't a specific Christian song, it's going to have some Christian content in it because of my faith."

Inspiration for Catherine's writing often comes from personal experiences, including the song she wrote following her grandmother's death. "It's not supposed to be a sad song," says Catherine. "It's quite happy in a way because it's looking towards the time when I see her again in Heaven." Another, "This Woman Knows", will soon be appearing in poem form in a collection of works about domestic abuse. Catherine continues, "It's about three women who suffered a lot of abuse at the hands of their husbands and I've rolled them all together."

Catherine's debut tape 'Jung's Dream' came as an answer to prayer. "It was recorded by a man in York called Tim Banks," enthuses Catherine, "a friend of a friend. I knew that I wanted to make a quality demo but really didn't have any idea about where and how it should be done, so I prayed about it. The resulting offer came right out of the blue." Prayer is a very important part of Catherine's life and God answered her plea when PA equipment was required. This time, the offer was a purpose built system, to her own specifications. "Idiot proof," Catherine adds, "so that I can put it together myself and small enough to carry around in my car."

Catherine's ministry often results in personal contact after a concert. "One night, I played the song about the abused women and, amazingly, this deaf lady (a brilliant lip reader) said, 'Could you write out the lyrics for me because that's my story.'" Even in her workplace, Catherine has been able to share her faith by inviting non-Christians to concerts or passing them a tape. "Everyone is intrigued by the music, so it gives me a great way to share."

In June Catherine will be going into the studio at Nu Life Records, with Paul Hodson as producer. "The finished product will be sent to Kingsway," Catherine says, "and, if they like what they hear, we'll be recording a full album by the end of the year." Catherine is also looking forward to the festival season and has already been booked to play Reading's JAM festival as well as Cross Rhythms SW.

Catherine Francis once tried to forget her music. Thank God that he didn't let her.