Central Jersey singer-songwriter Kathy Phillips will showcase her original ballads April 20 at CIBO in Skillman.
By: Susan Van Dongen
Twenty-five years ago, things were just starting to open up for women in pop and rock music.
"I tend to write about situations I’m upset about," says singer-songwriter Kathy Phillips, who will showcase her original ballads April 20 at CIBO.
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Girls who dreamed of emulating their female heroes played scratched copies of records by smart, sophisticated Joni Mitchell or Joan Armatrading. We vacillated between wanting to be Patti Smith cool, while wishing to look elegant and sexy, like Carly Simon on the cover of Anticipation or Stevie Nicks, on stage with Fleetwood Mac in her trademark gossamer gowns and platform boots. Some of us would have sold our souls to have one iota of Aretha Franklin’s. Then a song by Renaissance would come on the stereo and we wished we could hit the high notes along with Annie Haslam.
Central New Jersey singer-songwriter Kathy Phillips knows what it’s like to sway between those influences. In fact, that’s why she called her debut CD Sway (Black Potatoe Records).
"When you’re influenced by somebody it causes you to do your own kind of art," says Ms. Phillips, a resident of Flanders. "The new CD is a good integration of the styles of the people who have influenced me, as well as the people I’ve actually worked with."
Ms. Phillips has been showcasing her original ballads and infectious up-tempo songs at various venues, with a performance slated for April 20 at CIBO. The intimate, casual Italian restaurant on Route 206 in Skillman has been featuring live music since February. This will be her third appearance there.
Sway combines Ms. Phillips’ lilting voice much like Natalie Merchant’s early days with the 10,000 Maniacs with the smooth groove of Edie Brickell and a touch of Jewel’s "rich hippie" polish and earnestness.
Produced by Black Potatoe’s Matt Angus, Sway features some of central New Jersey’s best musical talents, including Anthony Krizan (Spin Doctors), John Ginty (Jewel, Matthew Sweet), singer-songwriter Gregg Cagno and fellow Black Potatoe artists Kim Williams, John Davies and Tom Nelson.
One of the songs, "Angels Never Sleep," is also included on the new benefit compilation CD, Jersey Jams, Jersey Cares (Randex Communications). Ms. Phillips recently appeared with her band in a concert at the Stanhope House, part of a series of Jersey Jams gigs to assist the state’s victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
"This was one of my first songs, written a long time ago with my friend Jay Morrissey," Ms. Phillips says. "We wrote it for a friend from school whose sister had passed away suddenly. I’m really honored to have it as part of the compilation. A lot of people wrote songs after the attacks, but this one seemed to fit perfectly."
Ms. Phillips mentions her former songwriting partner, who collaborated on seven of Sway’s 11 songs. She admits to a fallow period after Mr. Morrissey left for North Carolina, which caused her to re-assess her direction as a songwriter.
Produced by Black Potatoe’s Matt Angus, Sway features some of central New Jersey’s best musical talents.
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"We’d been writing and performing together for years," she says. "But when one door closes another one opens. I got the opportunity to work with Matt Angus. We went into the studio to write and record some new songs. Kim Williams and Gregg Cagno also helped me get new material together.
"It’s definitely different, trying to write alone when you’ve had a songwriting partner for so long. With a partner, you can feed off each other’s ideas. I feel like I’m more cautious now, but the songs reflect more of who I am."
You can hear the difference on Ms. Phillip’s "Throwaway Grin" and especially the melancholy "Icicles," which echoes the feeling of what it’s like to go it alone and to go inward for the first time in a while.
"I tend to write about situations I’m upset about," she says. "It’s funny, but I can’t write when I’m happy. I feel more creative when I’m depressed. I also write about my feelings when I can’t express them to people. Songwriting is often very therapeutic for me."
Ms. Phillips says she has always loved to sing. Her early musical education was divided between the choir at Morris Hills High School in Rockaway, singing along with her sisters’ Fleetwood Mac and Carole King albums and eventually performing in small coffeehouses and cafés with other singer-songwriters. After graduating from the University of Delaware in 1992, she grew more serious about music and studied voice with noted jazz singer and teacher Kate Baker. In addition, Ms. Phillips has worked with a number of regional bands, including The Eiffels, Fedora and OK Wig.
"I’ve always loved to sing," she says. "In fact I think I’m my most honest, comfortable self when I’m performing."
Ms. Phillips knows realistically that she has quite a distance to go before she can leave behind her day job with a Morris County advertising agency. The gigs at CIBO, the support from Black Potatoe and, especially, the new CD have helped to boost her confidence and keep the creative juices flowing.
"Trying to launch a creative career is tricky when you have a full-time job, because you don’t have a lot of free time," Ms. Phillips says. "But I’ve dedicated myself to this music. I call ‘Sway’ my baby because it took nine months to finish. I feel like I really did give birth to it."
Kathy Phillips performs at CIBO, 1378 Route 206, Skillman, April 20. For information, call (609) 252-9079.
Ms. Phillips’ new CD, Sway, is available at www.blackpotatoe.com.
Kathy Phillips on the Web: www.kathyphillips.com