Catriona Sturton is an Ottawa, Ontario based singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist. She has had a prolific career, performing in bands such as Plumtree

Plumtree (band)

-History:The band formed in their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1993 after meeting through their music teachers. The original line-up included Lynette Gillis on drums, Carla Gillis on guitar and vocals, Amanda Braden on guitar and vocals and Nina Martin on bass and occasional vocals.When...

 and collaborating with artists like Joel Plaskett

Joel Plaskett

Joel Plaskett is a Canadian rock musician originally from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and now resides across the harbour in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia...

, Al Tuck

Al Tuck

Al Tuck , is a Canadian songwriter and folksinger, originally from Prince Edward Island. He has spent much of his career based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Biography:...

, the late Dutchy Mason, the Mighty Popo and members of Sloan

Sloan (band)

Sloan is a Toronto-based alternative rock quartet from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Throughout their 20-year tenure Sloan has released 10 LPs , two EPs, a live album, a "best of" collection and no less than thirty singles...

 and Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...

. She is currently working on a solo project.

Early musical development

Sturton got her start at an early age when her parents put her into classical violin lessons for eight years. In her teens, while shopping for some fiddle music, she saw a harmonica and bought it. This led to a passion for the Blues and she quickly acquired proficiency with the instrument. Her adolescence was spent under the tutelage of local Ottawa harp legend Larry "The Bird" Mootham and performing in and around Ottawa at various blues bars such as The Whipping Post, The Rainbow and Tucson's.

Past projects

When Sturton left Ottawa to study History at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she took up the bass guitar and joined the indie all girl band Plumtree. With the band, she released and recorded two albums, won a YTV Yaa! Achievement Award and toured extensively around Canada with others like Thrush Hermit and the Weakerthans. Plumtree also inspired the comic series entitled "Scott Pilgrim," named after their hit song. She claims that she used the experience to cut her teeth on the rigours of songwriting, traveling, marketing and other aspects of being a touring musician. In 2000, she moved to Japan to teach English and met Sonnet Bingham from Arizona. Together with two locals they started The Secret, a bilingual J-Pop influenced Garage band and toured Japan and Canada. This was the first instance where she sang lead vocals in a band setting, previously being nervous about her abilities. Her new found role also was a major push towards perfecting her song writing.

Current musical projects

Currently, Sturton works for a non-profit literary foundation, a job that grew out of her past musical experience. Her work allows her to travel across Canada to help promote literacy in small communities. She has been focusing on her solo career as a performing song writer and is in the process of preparing material for upcoming collaborations. She performs regularly with Ottawa blues singer/guitarist John Carroll.

Multi-instrumentalist

The first instrument Sturton studied seriously was the harmonica. During her teen years, she wanted to be a professional blues harp player and since then, has studied with Larry "The Bird" Mootham and Cuban-Canadian harmonica virtuoso Carlos Del Junco. She frequently gives harmonica workshops and has backed many artists such as Al tuck and Neko Case. During her time at Dalhousie University, she learned the bass and took over that duty with Plumtree and The Secret. In Japan, she enrolled in an intensive apprenticeship to learn a zen form of Shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument with healing properties. She has performed in and around Hiroshima. Sturton also plays the guitar and uses the instrument for her solo performances. She started singing at a very late age after being nervous about her voice but the time she spent in Japan taught her that there was an appreciation for her vocal style. Currently, she is studying the accordion after having desired to do so her entire life.

Musical style

Sturton's solo work finds its sonic roots within all the styles in which she has worked. Many of her songs constitute of overdubbed tracks, with her playing every single instrument. Her voice has an innocent, sometimes hyper active, quality to it which makes it very distinguishable and a great addition to her overall sound signature. It was developed during her time in Japan where her vocal style was appreciated and encouraged.

Selected discography

2006:

• Catriona Sturton and The Screaming Elks – Catriona Sturton and The Screaming Elks Demo (vocals, guitar, harmonica, songwriting) - Modern Soul Records

• “Digger” – (vocals, guitar, harmonica) Ladyfest Ottawa 2006 Compilation

2003: The Secret – Himitsu EP – (vocals, guitar) Himitsu records 002 – Japan

2001:

• Chikusen and Soken Danjo – Nembutsu - (chorus vocals on CD of healing music for hospice patients) Aikoto 05 Japan

• Al Tuck – (bass, harmonica) The New High Road of Song – Brobdingnagian Records

2000: Plumtree – (bass, harmonica, backup vocals, songwriting) This Day Won’t Last At All – Endearing Records

1999: “I Love You When You’re Walking Away” (with Plumtree) - Moshi Moshi: Pop International Style (Compilation) – March Records

1998: Plumtree – Predicts the Future (bass, backup vocals) – Cinnamon Toast Records

1996: “Scott Pilgrim” (with Plumtree/The Inbreds) – North Window Split 7” – PF Records

External links

• Catriona Sturton on MySpace
  MySpace
  Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
  
  
• The Charlatan Article
• [ Plumtree] on Allmusic
• Catriona Sturton's Modern Soul Records Page
• Ladyfest Ottawa