Since becoming a “Desert Diva”, Catherine Satour has had one busy year!

Not only has the Alice Springs singer joined a popular band, auditioned for TV’s The X Factor and performed at the Closing Event of  the 2011 National Congress of Australia’s First People in Sydney, she’s also been involved in workshops at this year’s Road Safety Song Contest in Yuendemu.

Catherine has also got a full schedule between now and the end of 2011, such are people dazzled by the strength of her voice and musical ability!

Opportunity has come a-knocking..

Catherine is a passionate singer with music deeply embedded in her soul.

The daughter of Bunna Lawrie from seminal Indigenous band Coloured Stone, she was born in Alice Springs, and spent many her formative years singing with and around some of Central Australia’s most talented musicians and performers.

Catherine credits being part of the Desert Divas music workshops and Showcase for young Indigenous women (a  Music NT program started in 2010), as giving her the motivation to pursue her music as a serious career path.

For a young woman with such a stunning voice, talent, grace and stage presence, only the sky’s the limit.

Catherine Satour recently spoke to Music NT about her burgeoning music career.

Music NT: What’s been happening in your music career, since Desert Divas? Has there been a fair bit of activity?

Catherine Satour: About mid-way through 2010 I decided not being involved in music is not on!

So I put an ad in The [Centralian] Advocate: “awesome singer looking for a band“. The same day I got a call from a cover band. The band – called The Warburtons – gig every week and it has been so much fun!

Also around the same time Miliyika Scales from Music NT called to say that Music NT was running workshops for Indigenous women in music [part of the iNTune Music Conference and Desert Festival in Alice Springs in 2010].

I went along and from that the Desert Divas formed. Since Desert Divas and performing at Alice Desert Festival last year, I have been so busy with singing and music work – it has been awesome.

In this time I have also written many songs and co-produced 4 of my own original songs which I am very proud of. (The Desert Divas are Jacinta Price, Kirra Voller and me from Alice Springs, and Kylie Sambo in Tennant Creek, and Cassandra Williams is from Ntaria).

I am also proud of the works of the other Divas in their music and songwriting. Never before have women really had the chance to write their own music and lyrics, and perform them in their very own show in Central Australia! The Desert Divas have had gigs at International Women’s Day, Wide Open Space Festival, Ladies Day at The Turf Club and we have done many gigs individually all over the place. So it really has been great!

MuNT: You’ve just been over to Sydney to perform at the National Congress of Australia’s First People – what was that experience like for you? And how did that opportunity come about?

CS: Yeah I performed a 40 minute set for the Closing Ceremony of the Conference, of the National Congress of Australia’s First People. It was exciting and fun. To perform my music to a new audience was really great and the response was awesome.

The opening act on the first night was Casey Donovan. I got to meet and chat with her before she went on stage, and to watch her was really good for me. Casey is an amazing singer.

On the night of my gig in Sydney I thanked the Congress Board and staff for giving me the opportunity, as not many of us Territory performers get to go to Sydney and perform.

This opportunity came about for me because, I flew down to Sydney in April to audition for [tv talent show] The X Factor. After my audition I went to visit Koori Radio and ended up in the studio on air encouraging our mob who are budding singers to go down to audition.

Then I was taken upstairs in the same building to the National Congress office and a conversation got started from there.

PS! I got through the first four auditions with The X Factor! But while I was in Syndey for the Congress gig, The X Factor rang and told me I was unsuccessful to go further…

MuNT: Were you performing with other people at the Congress, or solo?

CS: I performed by myself as an acoustic set with a guitarist.

I got to meet lots of new people and make many new networks and gig opportunities. There where over 200 delegates there from all over Australia, so it was great for me to meet and greet.

But also a great chance for me to catch up with so many people who I haven’t seen for a long time. It was fun and confirmed to me that pursuing music is the right path for me.

MuNT: Did any other opportunities arise from that gig and the trip over – that you’re able to tell us about..?!

CS: Yes, the response was great from many people at the Conference and I got a handful of gig opportunities coming up between August and end of year. So they will keep me busy and hopefully lead to other work. I can’t disclose at this time what they are, so ‘watch this space’..!

MuNT: When did you first start to sing?

CS: I have been singing ever since I was very young. My father is Bunna Lawrie of Coloured Stone and I sang at many gigs with Coloured Stone at Alice Springs Boxing Shed, Verdi Club, at football do’s and even with other CAAMA bands as a child.

I have such good memories of CAAMA bands recording at the old studios, through The Gap. My parents separated and my mother remarried and we moved to Canberra in 1990. I auditioned for a a role in the ACT State School Theatre production of Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and got the lead role of Joseph! Over the years I have been invloved in many different performing arts, theatre, and singing groups such as Glow Worms (dance group) and Urban Sista (singing and dance group) – we were nominated for a Deadly in 1998 – and now the Desert Divas.

MuNT: Did you have any music mentors or teachers in particular who influenced and inspired you?

CS: My inspiration is my mother and my Aunty Pam and Uncle Terry. They have contributed greatly to the person I am today. I feel my music is influenced from my father and my brothers Jason Scott and Eddie Letchford, as they have taught me to understand the journey you take when you create music.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very independant person and if i say I’m going to do something, it will happen!

MuNT: What’s your ‘NT story’? Were you born in the NT or did you come to live here from somewhere else?

CS: I was born in Alice Springs. I have a large local family from here. I grew up and lived at Amoonguna until I was about 10. Then I moved to Canberra for 3 years, and was back and forth between Alice, Darwin, Adelaide and even Jabiru for many years because of high school. However since 2003 I have lived in my home of Alice Springs. My mother is Arrernte of Central Australia and my father is Mirning of South Australia.

MuNT: What was the Desert Divas program like for you – your experience?

CS: Desert Divas came along for me in the knick of time. I was really feeling down and unsettled about my work at National Indigenous TV. I was there for 4 years and I was not being supported nor was there any loyality for me as a long term employee. I was forced to reasses my life and my personal values… And at the very least I wanted music in my life as it has been apart of who I am since I was a child.

Beause of the Divas workshops, I have met 5 incredible young woman who are passionate about music and songwriting! A pretty amazing experience!

MuNT: As you get more involved in music on a professional level, what lessons are you learning?

CS: My goodness, I have learnt many lessons!!

I have learnt that I am on my right path and that no matter what I will always be in the music industry.

I have learnt you must have thick skin and steer away from negative people and thier opinions – you can never make EVERYONE happy.

I have learnt the business side of the music industry is more important than the creative side.. You can be talented as all hell but you have to have the right people around you, and you have to have people working positively for you and with you. If you don’t, your talent doesnt mean much!

I am learning the fine art of balancing my life with everything in it” ‘me time’, my children, my family and my music.

MuNT: What’s the best thing about being a musician in the Territory – and the ‘hardest’?

CS: Definitely that we are down-to-earth about who we are. I know who I am, and I know where I am going.

I think it’s only your mind that stops you from achieving anything. You have to believe you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.

Get out there and utilize the organizations and services that are on offer in your area. There are some out there, you just have to look and ask around.

MuNT: Please finish this sentence: “In five year’s time Catherine Satour will be…”

CS: In perfect health, happily married, releasing her third solo studio album, have just completed a sell-out tour of Europe, the UK and Australasi, and promoting her very own self-help book for Indigenous youth. Shooting for the stars!!  : )

I don’t have a ‘Plan B’, so if it doesn’t happen, then at least I tried!

Read more about Desert Divas and Sista Sounds.

Words: Megan Spencer. thanks to Catherine Satour for the interview!