KAte Clark - Raising the Black

Kate Clark 

Raising The Black
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kate Clark is a talented songwriter who has been involved with music a good portion of her life. Back in the mid ‘90s before some of you were born Clark was rocking out in a band. She later graduated with a Music Education Degree from Duquesne University and just recently completed a three-song EP entitled Raising The Black.

Clark certainly can sing. She has a powerful voice, which is ultimately the anchor that holds down the music. The songs are atmospheric and she is going for an epic impact here. If I had to shove this into a genre I’d go with New Age but in some ways the label doesn't completely do the music justice.

The first song “Hard To Believe” may be the most moving of the three songs. She sings, “It’s hard to believe I’m standing here” and goes on to question how she got to where she is. The song delves into the existential dilemma the majority of people face at one time or another. “Hard To Believe” is built around atmospheric pads and piano. It serves to support her voice and does it well.

“Chaos” was the highlight of the EP. It’s more upbeat, contains percussion and I have to say I liked her voice a bit more when it sounded hopeful. She gives an exceptional vocal performance and I was hoping for a some more of that vibe after I heard it. She closes with “My Heart is a Rogue,” which is a slowing moving sprawling song. The song gets more intense in a number of ways as it progresses. There was more instrumentation including piano, which was an effective element.

This music will appeal to a certain niche of people. Imagine Enya if she was a bit more hip at times. That’s kind of what you have here.

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