Catherine Feeny

Although born and raised in Pennsylvania, Catherine Feeny launched her career as a singer/songwriter in Los Angeles. She initially immersed herself in the city's folk scene, taking influence from artists like Gillian Welch and issuing a self-titled album of likeminded material in 2003. However, a friendship with British musician Sebastian Rogers convinced her to decamp to England and rediscover her pop sensibilities. Feeny recorded her sophomore effort, Hurricane Glass, in Rogers' studio; she also took up permanent residence in the county of Norfolk. Flaunting a mix of summery pop and folk ballads, Hurricane Glass was released in the U.K. in June 2006. The piano-fueled single "Mr. Blue" won Feeny some acclaim back home, particularly when it appeared in an episode of The O.C. and the film Running with Scissors, and she soon signed a deal with EMI Records. Returning to America in 2008, she settled in Oregon and began work on her third album, taking time off during the fall to perform alongside a bevy of L.A.-based songwriters on the Hotel Café Tour. ~ Andrew Leahey