About cynthia::
Cynthia Catania was born in Northern NJ to first-generation, American born Sicilians. Her dad played an antique mandolin at family parties and listened to jazz and his favorite crooners at home. Her older brother became a successful session guitarist in NY and toured the world with Hall & Oates. After cutting her teeth in the NY music scene, Cynthia left home for her silver screen - rock star dreams in sultry Los Angeles California. During the early 2000’s she formed Saucy Monky with Irish native Annmarie Cullen. The quartet went on to tour Ireland and Europe many times and performed on festival stages with heroes like The Cure, PJ Harvey, Wilco, and more. Fun to note, during their breakout Saucy Monky were media darlings and often found themselves in the pages of Hot Press Magazine, a prestigious music publication akin to Rolling Stone in the states.
The LA Times said this about the band: “Saucy Monky shares a lot of the qualities of pop’s classic female-fronted bands — Irrepressible melodicism and smart lyrics...”
After her successful run with Saucy Monky, which included film and TV placement success; a theme song on ABC daytime, Cynthia joined the Los Angeles power trio The Secret Things. With a pulse on the European market - the band was picked up by Sweden’s Loud Kult Records and released a set of singles and the EP Shock Diary. Keeper the #metoo inspired track was released via Loud Kult (The Orchard) in 2018. The band made three provocative music videos directed by Sue Ann Pien, culminating in their cover of PJ Harvey’s “Down By The Water”. Pien’s re-vision of the filicide theme kickstarted a series of benefits to support the Transgender community in Los Angeles.
In 2018-2019, Cynthia was invited by editor Niall Stokes to write for Hot Press Magazine. Her sex-column stories ran for the better part of a year. She continues to write for the mag as a freelancer.
Last years’ great adventure had Catania kickstart a long-awaited solo career. Her first single “Phones” was released worldwide in July '19, paired with a captivating video, again directed by Sue Ann Pien. September had her returning to Irish shores for a string of shows and radio performances including the popular Arena (Radio1/RTE network). After her solo dates, she met up with ex-bandmates and international singer-songwriters Annmarie Cullen, Naimee Coleman, Sylvie Lewis and drummer Adam Marcello (Katy Perry, American Idol) for shows with the 'Songwriters On Tap' collective.
“Sidelines” Cynthia’s first single of 2020 was released just before the coronavirus crippled the music world and world at large. All Spring 2020 concert dates, Irish Tour and support slots with The Young Dubliners, Hothouse Flowers & Tracy Bonham were cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns across the globe. Six months into the "new normal" she dropped her NEW single "Remember" (August 5th, 2020) Remember recieved her debut spin on "Late Date- RTE Radio 1". Thank you to DJ and Hothouse flower guitarist Fiachna Ó Braonáin!!! <3
Visit Cynthia's other sites. OOR_olivoiL records - The Secret Things - Saucy Monky
photo by Sue Ann Pien