Kate Ceberano www.kateceberano.com
There is something truly spectacular about award winning singer and songwriter Kate Ceberano. Whether it’s her soulful voice, her charismatic character or exotic looks, she has become a household name, a woman with a reputation for being one of the industry’s hardest working. She manages to juggle an abundance of other roles outside of music from television appearances (Dancing with the Stars) to motherhood (her daughter Gypsy is now 3) and still finds time to do what she loves most; and that is head into the studio to make an album.
This time she salutes the 80s with a new album released in April 2007. Titled Nine Lime Avenue, it’s a tribute to a decade she holds close to her heart. In fact the album is named after her childhood street.
“We basically do songs that I used to listen to growing up in the 80s,” says Kate Ceberano who is vocally inspired by the likes of Nina Simone, Kate Bush and Chrissie Hynde. “They are songs that have had some relevant experience for me in my life especially as I was a teenager growing up. They are songs I used to listen to on my own or with my brother. They really inspired me to get out and start a band. The songs are sleek and very roots driven.”
Songs on the album will include covers of Heroes, Must Be Love, Throw Your Arms Around Me, Go Your Own Way and Do You Really Want to Hurt Me. “The songs are recorded in Melbourne and are nostalgic. I hope they inspire others to reminisce in time as well.”
Nine Lime Avenue follows a string of award winning albums. Ceberano has sold in excess of one million albums in Australia alone, has five Platinum albums and five Gold records under her belt. She has performed countless sell-out tours, starred in acclaimed feature films and hosted her own television show Kate Ceberano & Friends.
She first found fame with her funk band I’m Talking, a group that was managed by Ken West who went on to found the Big Day Out with partner Vivien Lees. The group’s album produced three top ten singles, went Platinum and won Best New Talent (1984) at the Countdown Awards. Kate won Best Female Vocalist (1985) at the Countdown Awards as well as Best Female Singer (1985) at the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA)Awards. However after just one album, the group broke up and Kate went solo. It wasn’t until the late 80s that she started to gain reputed success for her soul, jazz and pop repertoire.
“I get so frustrated with how I see people give up too soon in this industry,” says Ceberano who has been nominated for ARIA awards seven times, a figure only Kylie Minogue can match. “You can be dissuaded from wanting to continue in the music business, but you have got to weather out the hard knocks. My mother gave me the greatest compliment of my life when she said; the thing with Kate is that she recovers fast. And that is how you have to be. You just can’t give up; everyone is going to have an opinion about you. Everyone is going to love and hate you. You just have to soldier on.”
Ceberano was recently appointed the Victorian Ambassador for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Her role sees her help raise funds and awareness about an illness that affects many lives. “I like to be as involved as I possibly can in causes I feel strongly about,” says Ceberano of her appointment. “Yes I am a musician, but if I can do more to help others then I will.”
In November 2005. Ceberano was asked to sing with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and before that she went to New York to make an album. These are two of the greatest highlights for the 40-year-old singer.
“I don’t think many artists of my generation get an opportunity to sing with the orchestra and to have original works performed by them. That was truly an honour,” she says.
Armed with the orchestrations of conductor Sean O’Boyle, pianist Aaron Choulai, a hot Perth rhythm section and the samples and saxophone of Glenn Reither, Kate performed a vastly eclectic collection of songs. Ranging from the eternal pop classic ‘Unchained Melody’ through to original songs and contemporary modern gems like Pulp’s ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’.
The two shows were recorded and released as an album, Kate Ceberano Live with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. “It all started when I performed with the WASO back in 2001 at the Sandleford winery,” says Ceberano. “It was such a special show, competing with over-flying jets and ominous storm clouds, we proceeded to create something that was special for all of us, on many different levels.”
“For me it was an opportunity to experience the grandeur of sound and the ebb and flow of an orchestra. Being that I’m a contemporary-styled singer I was unaccustomed to the lack of drum and bass and felt pulled back and forth like taffy. Needless to say, once sorted, we really started to rock ‘n’ roll!
“When asked to repeat the performance again in November 2005. I was determined to have a witness, by that, I mean some recorded evidence that “the show actually happened”. I basically begged both WASO and the ABC to let me record sound and visuals. I know, indulgent perhaps, but heh, it’s not every day or just any contemporary artist that ever gets the invitation and, like I said, I wanted a witness. So maybe I’ve finally reached that age in my life where people are actually doing what I say, or perhaps the threat of a hissy fit was just too unbearable to contemplate for the few loyal associates I work with… All I know is that the WASO created for me a special place for me to sing my heart out, singing songs of my life and to feel like a diva.”
In 2004, Ceberano went to New York to record 19 Days in New York. It was a calling in her career that inspired her as much as motherhood has. “New York is a strong part of my musical dreaming. When I was a kid I always had ambitions to go to New York to either live, play music and be part of the musical scene. If I have lived in a past life, I am sure I would have lived there because I have such a fondness for the atmosphere. I love the fact they celebrate their artists, they embrace eccentricities, they have more patience and tolerance for not so ordinary artists. It made me feel completely relaxed and in my element,” she adds.
Kate’s first solo album was the live set Kate Ceberano and Her Septet (1987). Her following album You’ve Always Got The Blues (1988) earned her an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist (1988). One year later, she won another ARIA for Best Female Artist (1989) as well as one for Highest Selling Single (1989) for Bedroom Eyes. At the end of 1990, she received three prestigious MO Awards for Jazz Performer, Female Rock Performer and Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year.
In 1992, Kate performed the role of Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar (1992), which toured Australia and also featured John Farnham. Kate followed this with her own late-night cabaret-style show on ABC TV called Kate Ceberano And Friends (1993-1994). In 1996 Kate released her next solo album Blue Box, which went Gold and saw her nominated for another Best Female Artist ARIA. In 1997 Kate wrote and released what has become an Australian classic – Pash. It went Gold and established Kate as one of our leading female songwriters.
“I know I am privileged to be where I am at in my career. I don’t take anything for granted,” she says. “I am very thrilled to have this opportunity to follow my love of music, but I work hard to be where I am.”
Albums
2007 Nine Lime Avenue (Gold)
2006 Kate Ceberano Live with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra
2004 19 Days In New York
2003 The Girl Can Help It
1999 True Romantic: The Best Of Kate Ceberano (Double Platinum)
1997 Pash (Gold)
1996 Blue Box (Gold)
1994 Kate & Friends (Gold)
1992 Jesus Christ Superstar Cast Album (4 x Platinum, 10 weeks at Number 1)
1991 Think About It
1990 Like Now
1988 Brave (Triple Platinum)
1988 You’ve Always Got The Blues (Platinum)
1987 Kate Ceberano & Her Septet (Gold)
1986 Bear Witness (Platinum)
Award Highlights
2007 Dancing with the Stars – Winner
1999 Outstanding Achievement in the Arts in Asia -Business Asia Awards
1986 Countdown Awards – Best Female Artist 1985 Countdown Awards -Best Female Artist
1994 Peoples Choice Awards Favourite Female Singer (record 3rd time)
1993 Peoples Choice Awards Favourite Female Singer
1992 Peoples Choice Awards Favourite Female Singer
1990 MO Awards – Jazz Performer of the Year
1990 MO Awards – Female Rock Performer of the Year
1990 MO Awards – Contemporary Concert Performer of the Year
1989 Monte Carlo World Music Awards -Highest Selling Australian Artist
1989 ARIA Award – Highest Selling Australian Single
1989 ARIA Award – Best Female Artist
1988 ARIA Award – Best Female Artist
1987 Coca Cola Australia Music Award – Most Popular Female Performer
1987 Asian Song Competition Winner
Television
It Takes Two
Dancing with the Stars
Kate and Friends – Host
ABC Teen Educational Program – Host
ABC Fox Studio’s Australia Opening Performer TCN
Feature Films
Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (2002)
Dust Off The Wings (1996)
Garbo (1990)
Arguing the Toss of a Cat (1989)
Musicals
Jesus Christ Superstar – Lead
Guys & Dolls – Lead
Tim Rice’s Musical Spectacular – Lead
Theatre
Solstice – Lead, South Australian Theatre
Special guest with acclaimed Los Angeles improv group The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company
