KAT PARSONS: No Will Power

Kat Parsons

No Will Power

© 2005 Kat Parsons (647987187920)

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Hundreds of fans of this multi award-winning artist's live show, dubbed a "modern day Carole King", stepped up to the plate and financed No Will Power to fill the void between performances.

notes

The story behind Kat Parsons' new album, No Will Power, is nearly as interesting as the album itself.

Kat let her loyal fanbase know that she was ready to record her first album of new material since the national release of Framing Caroline on Chicago indie label, Waterdog Music. Soon thereafter, she received hundreds of emails from fans pledging financial support and offering to pre-purchase the unrecorded disc in hopes of making the project a reality. This unusual financial partnership between artist and fan raised enough money for Kat to record No Will Power, which is scheduled for a March 2005 U.S. release.

In addition to Kat's own vocals, piano and guitar, No Will Power features performances by Michael Chaves (John Mayer, Sarah McLachlan, Rufus Wainwright), Joe Ayoub (Liz Phair), Chris Opperman (Steve Vai), screen-actor Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding, Low and Sweet Orchestra), and production by Paul Maylone (Junkie XL) and Geza X (Meredith Brooks, Tyler Hilton).

Kat spends much of her time touring and has shared the bill with and opened shows for artists including Jim White, The Fixx, Dave Mason, Maria Muldaur, Spin Doctors, The Knack, Jonatha Brooke, Shannon McNally, Lori McKenna, Tristan Prettyman and Charlotte Martin. Kat's songs have also been featured on singer-songwriter compilations in the UK, US, and France.

Kat's been dubbed a "modern day Carole King" and has received praise from publications including The Washington Post ("her songs possess a fiery spirit") The Onion, Chicago Tribune's Metromix, featured on One Way Magazine's compilation, Music Connection and Songwriter's Monthly as well as airplay from stations including XM's Unsigned Channel (where Kat's competed against herself for the Top 3 "Most Played" slots), WRNR, WBEZ the BBC and WLUW. Furthermore, Kat and her music have appeared on MTV, Wild Chicago, Fox TV, Food Network, and KTLA-TV Los Angeles. A recent review of Kat's live show stated, "Kat Parsons played her acoustic heart out on a gigantic stage only to dominate every inch of it."

Kat is currently featured on a commercial spot for Baldwin Pianos & Gibson Musical Instruments, and she is endorsed by Yamaha and Audix, who have named her an "Influential Emerging Artist."

HISTORY:
Kat was born to parents Darrell and Julie Parsons in one of Europe's most prominent musical cities, Vienna. Her father was an opera singer in the Vienna Opera House. He recorded with the Clemencic Consort for Harmonia Mundi and is the featured tenor on a Philips release of Mozart's "Mass." He still performs occasionally in the Baltimore area. Her mother is a professional keyboardist and singer and released a solo album in Europe in the mid-70s to her credit. She also recorded and released a dance single with her band Foxx Fire.

Raised in Maryland as a child and teenager, Kat sang in local shows with her parents and brother Jon, as well as performing in various musical theater productions. Kat became a theater major at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), where her parents first met. Her interest in music continued when she tried to insert herself in already - formed bands and finally realized that she was going to have to start her own band. For a particular show, she became a songwriter out of necessity. Once she tapped into her muse, she continued to write and perform as a solo artist and ultimately with her own band.

reviews

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  • I found her
    author: Peter Stetter

    This CD should be in every collection! I know that this is a dream but the music is so good that I do my best to promote her: Telling everybody what beautiful music I found away from the german CD-Charts! Kat: I hope I'll see you sometimes here in Germany!

  • Great voice!
    author: Richard W Moore

    Was perusing CD Baby and came across Kat's page. I'd never heard of her. I was intrigued by her bio and the story of how she got her album produced. Figured if her fans were so devoted I'd have to have a listen. I liked what I heard and ordered her album. Well, consider me a solid loyal fan as well. If she needs help again, I'll be there. Love her voice. I'll pre-purchase her next album without any reservations.

  • absolutely awesome
    author: liVie

    saw kat in philly and bought a cd for $10. powerful stuff. you have to appreciate anything that can take you through so many emotions...something that's not even personally related to your life. we've all been there, or will be some day.

  • Makes me cry but love it.....love it so much
    author: Christy

    This album speaks to souls hurting and who have made regretable mistakes. A beautiful woman singing beautiful heartfealt songs. I swear this she is singing from a soul level. Love it, love it.

  • Fantastic!
    author: Charlie

    I bought it, I listened to it, I loved it! The melodies are all beautiful and Kat has great voice. The up-tempo songs are so catchy, they will stick with you after only listening once. "Go Find Her" touches me with all its might. It is one of the best songs I have ever heard. And I love to sing along to "Standing Still" - it feels like letting go of all stress. This CD is fantastic and I am pretty glad, I found it!

  • Honest
    author: Paul

    This is the most emotionally honest music I have ever heard.

  • An Inspired Voice in the World of Pop
    author: Simon

    Kat Parson's second CD, "No Will Power" bristles with the energy of an underground artist on the verge of exploding into the mainstream. The vocals, instrumentation, and production are flawless throughout this 10 song cycle dealing with the trajectory of a failed relationship. The disc's highlights include the tracks "We Deserve More" and "Standing Still," and she closes with a cover of Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me," making this plucky little record one of the most essential of the year. As an aside, Parsons is also one of the most enjoyable live acts on the singer-songwriter circuit where she never fails to captivate and enthral audiences. See her now in intimate environment as it's just a matter of time until she's playing much larger venues. If Parsons were a stock, I'd say "buy and hold" as her star is clearly rising. Notwithstanding that, a mere listen to this album will make you richer from the experience.

  • Solid songs sung with incredible power and emotion
    author: Doug

    Maybe it's just me, but it seems to me there aren't many CDs out in the universe that you can just listen to without having to program out the songs you don't want to hear. Well Kat's new CD requires no programing at all. There are no filler songs, no leftovers, no duds...just great solid songs sung with incredible power and emotion. The songs are so well written and memorable that any one of them could be a single, which makes it hard to pick favorites. To name a few, Standing Still, Go Find Her, Miss Me, and of course No Will Power...I could go on and on. Buy No Will Power and let it take control of your CD player.

  • Umm... Hello Billboard?!?!? Have you heard......
    author: Jess

    Attention Billboard, MTV, and VH1... this is a #1 hit album. I am in love with Miss Me, and No Will Power. The lyrics are written with such emotion and character. Any person going through a relationship can relate to her lyrics. It's passionate, powerful, and exciting! Kat is always playing in the CD player in the car and at home!

  • This CD rocks!
    author: Jeanette

    This CD is one of my favorites - it can play over and over in my car and I never get sick of it. Kat delivers each song with an amazing range and it's hard to pick a favorite they're all so marvelous!

  • author: Mark

    As soon as I bought this album it became one of my favorites. Kat has an incredible voice that is matched only by its strength. Her lyrics are intelligent, and truly speak to your emotions. Not only is that shown off in this album, but the musical styles offer something for all tastes. You have your rock based tracks with No Will Power and Standing Still, a little slow jazz feel, as well as powerful ballads. I cannot get enough of Go Find Her, I listen to that track at least two times whenever the disc, is put in my CD player, and trust me it makes its way in a lot. I highly recommend this album and can say it will definitely become one of your favorites too.

  • Beautiful. Just beautiful.
    author: Michael Dill

    This CD shows the world that Kat's voice can be strong without losing its tender moments, and that her song writing is continuing to grow in depth and nuance and texture. No Will Power is a joy to listen to, from beginning to end.

  • Absolutely beautiful voice, great music!!
    author: Jenna Harmon

    I love this cd! My favorite songs are probably No Will Power, Go Find Her, and Remains.

  • author: Inga - ingamusic.com

    When “No Will Power” arrived at my door, I listened to it over and over. Aside from the fact that Kat Parsons’ voice is beautiful and captivating, there’s something candid and powerful in the way she delivers every song. The production on this album is spotlessly clean. The album is both engaging and a pleasure to listen to.

  • author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby

    It's hard to describe the perfect song. Sure, there's techinque- there's a catchy chorus and witty verses and somewhere, an emotional or harmonic pay-off and hopefully even both. But just as science can't find the spirit behind the universe that sets it all in motion, there's some inspiration energizing Parsons' music, something that might not be measurable but is certainly there. You just have to feel it. And you can. With track after track of carefully-cultivated pop songs, drawing from Carole King to Jonatha Brooke, with a hint here and there of Paula Cole, "No Will Power" is going to remain one of our pop picks for months, maybe years to come.

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