KATHY HAGGERTY: Once Upon A Spell

Kathy Haggerty

Once Upon A Spell

© 2004 Kathy Haggerty (783707922423)

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Ethereal, haunting vocals, lush, rich harmonies layered with beautiful, melodic piano and strings, and trance-like ethnic grooves create a unique listening experience unlike anything you've heard before.

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Kathy Haggerty's award-winning music has been compared to many artists including Enya, Vangelis, Bjork and Kate Bush. But there is something dynamic, passionate, provocative, and unusually beautiful to her sound that makes it completely identifiable and her own. Haggerty's melodies are lavish, with many instrumental grace notes that create the perfect backdrop to her world-class voice.

"I produce my music using many layers of vocal tracks, much like Enya," explains Haggerty. "I love to blend the organic with the inorganic; changing the tonality and character of my voice along with other instrumentation. I love to play and experiment with sound and beats. I sang a low, growling, Tuvan Throat Singing style base line which underscores the melody in 'Once Upon A Spell'. It created the nebulous vocal texture I was looking for... I'm inspired by many different genres of music, but I tend to gravitate towards soundscapey, classical and eastern musical stylings. I enjoy deconstructing my own work as I'm laying down tracks - molding and sculpting and tweaking the eq's until I hear something that just grabs me and captivates my ears. The audio mixing and effects processing process is becoming my ultimate instrument."

The inspiration for each song varies, and Haggerty is always looking for the sonic 'sweet spots' within the individual tracks and accentuates them in the mix. "I keep some framework of a story in my head when composing, and although there is a bit of crafting that goes into it -the songs do seem to come to life by their own volition. I recorded the album in a three month span of time. And since I was doing everything by myself, there was this special luxury of having a complete sense of freedom -of not having to keep track of the time or feel the constrictions of self-consciousness that the presence of others can invoke. My composing self was unfettered by outside distractions, and I was able to 'zone' and channel-sing melodies, thoughts and feelings which may have otherwise not been tapped. I was actually, very surprised and pleased with the musical landscape the solitude seemed to have painted."

" As I was traveling in between recording the album, the experience of being in different countries filtered into my writing process. 'Veil of Rain' was inspired by Shirin Ebadi, a remarkable woman who's courage and work for women's rights in Iran garnered her the Nobel Peace Prize. That song led to the writing of 'Pacem', which means 'Peace' in Latin. All the songs just seemed to flow very naturally. I think it's important to allow your creative self to explore and accept when something unusual happens; it keeps you fresh and spontaneous - and that's where the 'magic' lives."

All songs on this CD were written, performed, produced, engineered and mixed by Kathy Haggerty. In addition to vocals, she performed the keyboards, cello, guitar, tambourine and chimes. Electric guitar by Jim Curtis; mastering by Trevor Sadler; whales by Chris Stone; musical opining by Ken Melville of Indie Film Composers.

She attributes much of her creative musing to her longtime friend and widely hailed textilian artifact, Richard Greene - who performs vocals on "Ephemera" and "Corinthia". Listen closely, and you may hear the hidden message that he sings...

reviews

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  • Once Upon a Spell is soothing without being soporific, uplifting yet not hyper..
    author: NEW WITCH MAGAZINE...SHEELA ARDRIAN.

    Close the door. Slip a disk into the CD player. Listen to the ethereal, > lilting sound of Kathy Haggerty’s voice and let it carry you away. You’ll > find a passage to a whole different world … Once Upon a Spell. > > Eleven songs weave together elements of water, air, earth, fire, and > spirit. My favorites include “Veil of Rain,” “Yin and Yang,” and “The > Sic5{ The others are “Pacem,” “Ephemera,” “Corinthia,” “Lost > Whale Swimming,” “Before the Chill,” “Room,” “Once Upon a Spell,” and “The > Oracle.” Consider the first lines of “Veil of Rain:” > Fall like the rain > Water is flowing > Render your name > Into the Everlasting > Raise your eyes now > Welcome Sun and Sky. > > Along with the melodious vocals you’ll hear keyboards, acoustic and > electric guitars, tambourine, and cello. Whalesong and other natural sounds > round out the effects. > > Once Upon a Spell is soothing without being soporific, uplifting yet not > hyper. It’s perfect for easy listening or background music, but some of the > songs have potential for use in ritual. Recommended. SHEELA ARDRIAN.

  • This is an extremely sweet, peaceful, willful collection that sounds as if it mi
    author: Music Monthly

    In a a swirly wash of reverb and echoes, Kathy Haggerty’s “Once Upon A Spell” spins a spiritual web. In a clever mix of acoustic and electronic sounds, Haggerty seeds her soothing, multi-tracked voice to create soundscapes more than songs. This is an extremely sweet, peaceful, willful collection that sounds as if it might be a soundtrack to a fantasy movie having to do with unicorns, fairies, fragrant gardens within protected castle walls, and princesses. It is a confection with the effect of decompressing the listener. This is a CD you pull out for play during languorous vacations at a lovingly restored Edwardian or Victorian bed and breakfast, during a “day of luxury” at a local spa or maybe on a rainy Sunday afternoon in a room lit with scented candles. Haggerty’s compositions string together to form a trancelike experience. Her voice is up to the task and while there’s a certain sameness to her vocal layers, she gets away with it where others wouldn’t. She plays keyboards, cello, guitar, tambourine, clicks and clucks. But for the acoustic guitar work by Jim Curtis on one track, Haggerty is a one-woman band.My only wrinkle is of her sparse use of a few childlike character voices and some glottal closures that, for me, move the CD dangerously close to a Tella Tubby experience. They are few and far between and I get the sense that they are intended as an expression of her sense of humor and to add dimension to the dreaminess of her style. I’d rather she do it with articulate instrumentals or more inventive sound design. Since this CD is “studio made”, perhaps a track or two recorded with underpinning of natural outside sounds recorded during a gentle rain, in the woods or at the seashore. Need help in getting down after drinking too many hyper-caffeinated beverages, “Once Upon A Spell” should do the trick.

  • Haggerty carries off her very unique musical style quite well.
    author: Splendid Magazine

    Haggerty carries off her very unique musical style quite well. Vocals are Once Upon a Spell's centerpiece -- layers upon layers of them, making use of myriad styles (from guttural growling to a heady soprano).

  • This is contemplative music of sweet beauty ...
    author: RJ Lannan, New Age Reporter

    Haggerty's music is vocally unique and lends itself to a category of its own (New Age Fantasy Vocal?). "Once Upon A Spell" is a musical daydream that is akin to an animated movie in your mind. Her piano performances are first rate with just enough classical influences to make the music retain a strong structure. Haggerty, with a honey tinged voice that is amazingly expressive and yet as comforting as the tender touch from your lover, has some uniquely ethereal harmonies. They sound as if they are reflected waves of her voice as she looks at her image in a mirror... Imagine if a Hobbit could sing. Okay, just think about it, but don't be surprised. "Corinthia" is an astounding song of flowing vocalization with a strange language background (Greene Speak, a vocalization that defies description) and heavenly instrumentation that produces a dreamlike state in which the listener dreams while they are awake. It is the only explanation I have for this extraordinary song. It is one of my favorites on "Once Upon A Spell"...

  • Kathy Haggerty is poised to single-handedly invoke a revolution in the electroni
    author: J. Sin - Smother.Net

    "With a voice as commanding as Enya and a knack for fusing electronica with the traditional sounds associated with new age classical. In addition to her tremendous voice, she also can boast keyboard talent and plays an over-a-hundred-years-old cello while also tipping her hat in the direction of guitar, tambourine, and India Street chimes. Overall this Irish-Korean lady rewrites the definition of "ethereal" with her picture neatly printed next to it. A Northern Virginia native, Kathy Haggerty is poised to single-handedly invoke a revolution in the electronica-fused classical music scene." - J-Sin, Editor, SMOTHER.NET REVIEWS!

  • "Once Upon A Spell" is magical...
    author: Midwest Record Recap

    About the only thing that you can call this album is magical. Even though she is aided and abetted by some heavy mainstream pals, this is one set that doesn't fit the format, but once you get into it, you can appreciate that it IS the format. Sort of like a Tori Amos for grown- ups, Haggerty goes a long way that's purely her own for the delight and enchantment of any progressive listener with ears wide open.

  • I loved "Once Upon A Spell" as soon as I heard it!
    author: "Captain" Christopher

    I loved "Once Upon A Spell" as soon as I heard it! -"Captain" Christopher Albright, Host, Phoenix Flight 91.5FM WTUL

  • The ethereal voice of Kathy Haggerty will delight and enchant you. These tunes w
    author: Creations Magazine

    The ethereal voice of Kathy Haggerty will delight and enchant you. Multi-talented, she plays keyboard, cello, guitar, tambourine and India street chimes on this CD. If that is not enough, she also wrote, performed, produced, engineered and mixed all of the songs. She has been compared to Enya, but has a definite sound of her own. Her lyrics are deep and speak for everyone. These tunes will put you in a peaceful state.

  • Excellent! This recording showcases great compositions, performances and produ
    author: Gary Rinkerman

    From the first few notes of Once Upon a Spell it is clear that the recording offers great compositional, performance and production skills - and it grows more impressive with each play. I can't think of another recent recording that demonstrates such emotion, integrity and, just as important, respect for the listener.

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