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HOME IN THE CROSSING
KATE PLUMMER
Kate Plummer has been busily toiling her folk/acoustic wares around the local live scene (in between various jaunts to play in the US) for a few years now. This, her debut album, is full of promise. These lovely songs showcase Plummer’s burgeoning songwriting talents and are more than a platform for her own exquisite guitar-playing. To top that off, Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil takes up production duties as well as adding some of his instrumental magic. You may not have heard Kate Plummer yet, but you will. MGM
2/12/2007
- Tiffany Bakker
For Kate Plummer, life and music have always been about the journey, never the destination. More about throwing yourself into the deep end in every way you can, without a paddle, but occasionally, a kayak... just to get you into a rhythmic, musical groove.
About writing songs with only your guitar to talk to. Far away from what you know. Home in the Crossing is about being displaced from your roots and your family. It’s no small wonder then that half of the album was written far from Australian shores - from the middle of Lake Superior in Minnesota (Manitou Crossing), to a Manhattan apartment rooftop with views straight to the Empire State (The New York Song), from staring at the Colorado Rockies to wandering along the streets of Paris, Barcelona and Budapest.
It’s about how you feel when you get home to your life, and you’re missing those people you’ve left behind (Summer Mountain). About revealing your true self to people you’ve known 10 minutes, in a way you wouldn’t to someone you’ve known 10 years. “Traveling by yourself, you don’t have the chance to be insular,” says Kate. “It forces you to start conversations with other people - to get out and see things.”
But for Kate Plummer life and music were always going to be this way.
Growing up in Sydney, she was the girl with the rare guitar talent, who was influenced early on by the varied musical tastes of her equally musical family - from Eric Clapton to James Taylor, The Police to Cold Chisel, Pink Floyd to Jimi Hendrix. Oh, and of course The Beatles.
“For me, it’s always been more about the songwriting and guitar-playing.”
With this in mind, Kate bought in her great friend, vocalist Trish Delaney-Brown (The Idea of North), to sing on the one co-written track, The Goodbye.
Home in the Crossing is produced by the Midnight Oil legend Jim Moginie and in him Plummer couldn’t have wished upon a better musical fit if she’d tried. The comfy, home-like vibe of Jim’s studio, located right around the corner from Kate’s place - along with drinking endless cups of coffee in the back garden - matched perfectly the sound that Kate dreamed of. It had to be vintage, and sonically beautiful. Add a Wurlitzer, ’76 Fender Jazz Bass, ‘64 Ludwig Drum Kit, Mandola, Harmonium, Moog, Gibson Tennessean, Martin OOOM28, Fender Tele, an empty Heineken bottle and vintage ‘55 Les Paul Gold Top and the desired result was realized.
Kate played all of the guitars on the record. Longtime friends, bassist Mike Whyte and drummer Lloyd G were right there with her as well as celloist Sophie Glasson who added beautiful strings to The Trade, Hidden Wings and Summer Mountain. Engineer Brent Clark joined Jim for the mixing process.
“Working with Jim has been like wearing a big smile for a month,” says Kate. “For me, musically, to be in a situation where you’re learning, surrounded by fantastic people, beautiful instruments and you’ve got the incredible support of people like Jim, you can’t help but be overwhelmed.”
Now, Kate Plummer is finally home in the crossing. And it’s exactly where she wants to be.
- TIFFANY BAKKER
April, 2007
- Writer - Tiffany Bakker
Discography
> Home in the Crossing - Debut Record (July 2007) released nationally and worldwide on I-Tunes.
> Manitou Crossing - Single featured on Australian compilation CD "Sounds like Cafe Vol 17"
Notable appearances:
> Kate Plummer completed an in depth 45 minute radio interview "Songwriters Across Australia"
> Kate Plummer has recently appeared on television, Channel 31 in Australia with live appearances from popular venue The Sandringham Hotel, Sydney and from her record launch held at The Manly Boatshed, Sydney.
> Kate Plummer has supported many Australian bands and artists including Billy Thorpe, The Flood, The Falls, Bill Chambers and Catherine Britt.
Photos
Bio
The release of songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Kate Plummer’s solo debut Home in the Crossing has been many gigs in the making. Born to a musical family in Sydney, Australia, Kate found solace and inspiration in the sounds of The Beatles, Cold Chisel, Pink Floyd, and Sting. She soon found herself immersed in the Sydney scene and beyond, starting in piano bars and later wielding her Gibson Tennessean at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with Sydney blues-roots band The Margharitas.
International experiences have had an enormous impact on Kate’s musical and personal development. Scholarships brought her the rare chance to study with blues legend John Hammond and all-around finger style genius Tommy Emmanuel in Connecticut and San Francisco, respectively while some time in New York found her playing the Bitter End in Greenwich Village and taking the stage with Jon Paris at B.B. King’s club on 42nd St. Through all this, she’s kept an open mind and a sense of understated determination. Now, Home in the Crossing brings the sum of these experiences together with a strong melody to form a cohesive musical statement.
Midnight Oil legend Jim Moginie beautifully produced the record, and in him Kate couldn’t have wished upon a better musical fit. The comfy home like vibe of Jim’s studio – along with endless cups of coffee in the back garden – matched perfectly the experience that Kate dreamed of. The organic sounds of Jim’s range of vintage equipment are everywhere on the album, giving what would’ve sounded great on any old setup a push into a whole new sonic realm – gravy on an already tasty dish, if you will. The pulsing rhythm and inspired lyrics of “Manitou Crossing” set the tone for the entire record in distinctive fashion. The journey, whether musical or across seas, is much more crucial than any destination.
This recorded journey includes Mike Whyte on bass, Lloyd G playing drums, and Sophie Glasson lending some sweet cello. Also, Trish Delaney-Brown of The Idea of North gives her vocal presence on “The Goodbye,” a track co-written with Kate. Kate is now touring America and elsewhere in support of Home in the Crossing, which has been released by MGM; on I-Tunes worldwide and in fine record stores all over Australia. Her journey shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
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