previous... Cheryl Catherine Smith Is Our Sonic Bids Emerging Artist of The Week Cheryl Catherine Smith Website Cheryl Catherine Smith has the sort of back story that speaks of urban legend, mythology and hearsay, yet I am assured it's all true. A father who may have been part of the Mafia in New Jersey drove to Vancouver to see his two children when Smith was eight. The next day he was found dead. Smith's life spun slowly out of control from there. Smith frantically searched for meaning and purpose, trying everything from modeling to religion to drugs. Personal tragedy (rape) and success mixed in a whirlwind leading up Smith's own suicide attempt. Somewhere in there Smith came to terms with her own path; since that time the creative possibilities in her music have opened up a whole new world for Smith, who has been compared to Pat Benetar, Pink, Leonard Cohen and even Bette Midler. Smith's self-titled debut CD, released in 2009, is starting to gain serious traction in Canada and the United States, even garnering airplay in the UK. “All Dark Places” is set to a dance beat and speak of the void in anyone who has been hurt that waits for love to fill it. The vocal is lush and entrancing with a rocker edge to it. This will be the second single in the US and has serious commercial potential. “Smash Up My Telephone” opens with a talk/sing introduction before heading into a lyric bridge and a guitar-heavy chorus. This is another tune with real potential commercial impact. It's just off the beaten path enough to stand out and finely crafted enough as a Pop/Rock song to swim with the big musical fishes. “Why Does She Hate You” has already earned status as a moderate radio hit in the US. It's a driven rock song that calls to a cross between Pat Benetar and Patti Smyth. With the right push from a label this would easily be a top-10 single. It's that good. Cheryl Catherine Smith is the real deal. Her sound varies from Rock to Pop to Country without any variation in the quality of her songwriting. “Cheryl Catherine Smith” is the sort of album that breaks out and big, turning a relative unknown into a known commodity and occasionally even into a big star. There's enough material here with real commercial impact to sell a lot of albums/downloads, but Smith never seems to aim for a commercial sound. It's more like she writes what she writes and some of it is just so good that commercial radio can't ignore her. Once you've heard Cheryl Catherine Smith you won't be able to ignore her either.” ~ Wildy Haskell, Wildy’s World KEVIN STUART SWAIN Songwriter and Bassist Kevin Stuart Swain began his career writing, recording and performing with Barney Bentall and Idle Eyes.  He co-wrote the Idle Eyes’ release “Sandra Doesn’t Live Here” which became their second largest selling single.  He has performed live with a variety of artists to include: Jerry Doucette, Jim Byrnes, Frank Soda (Frank Soda and the Imps), Ray Roper (Stonebolt, RZR), and Terry Watkinson (Max Webster.)  Kevin is also an active session player and has worked with artists such as: Jerry Adolphe (Chilliwack), Phil Comparelli (54/40), Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath), and Ron “Obvious” Yermeulin (Bryan Adams.) He is now committed to the Cheryl Catherine Smith band.  Instrumentation Cheryl Catherine Smith: Lead Vocals, Percussion, Keys. Kevin Swain: Bass Guitar, Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Keys, BG Vox. Henry Peters: Lead/Rhythm Guitar, BG Vox. Don Peters: Drums, Sequencing, Keys, BG Vox. Kelly Stodola: Drums Discography Cheryl Catherine Smith (Self Titled, 2009)