DECEMBER 15. 2005
]USt|OUt 47
music
Tale of Two Beginnings
New singer/songwriters bring talent to Portland
by Malka Geffen
est Duncan can impress you tn
Duncan moved to Portland from Olympia, Wash., |
Duncans Web site will
many different ways. She can tell
where she attended Evergreen State College. Her
go online by mid-February.
you about her work as the commu debut performance was opening for Laura Mitchell
In the meantime, you can
nications coordinator for Equity
of Dirty Martini at a backyard barbecue. “People
contact her about per
Foundation, “a local nonprofit ded started calling- after that, and things took off,”
forming and get on her
icated to funding change." She can also tell you about ' Duncan says. This was a change from Olympia,
mailing list by e-majling
rhe book she’s writing on adolescent sexuality and
where she says it is harder to get off the ground. ! westofaminor@yahixr.com.
gender identity. Or she can wow you with the guitar,
“Olympia is really competitive, especially with
mandolin, harmonica and banjo she plays.
acoustic performing."
he DJ may have saved
Duncan grew up on sailboats and horseback in
Macy Gray’s life on the
As a queer artist, Duncan appreciates the
the small maritime town of Gig Harbor, Wash.
instantaneous audience base Portland can pro
Black Eyed Peas’ “Request
“When winter came around, I picked up a guitar.
vide. “I’m able to really use my voice, to not have
Line," but a guitar saved the
Seventeen years later, I'm still playing and learn to hide and have every facet of my creativity illu- I life of Portland musician
ing,” she says.
minated on stage and feel really comfortable," she
Kate White. “1 got in trou
Her music ranges from Southern bluegrass to ; says. “1 turn on a different side of myself when 1 per ble and spent time in
political folk rock and falls comfortably within the
form. When people are really listening and enjoy
Hillcrest Juvenile Deten
larger alt-country genre. She describes it as a blend
ing, 1 tend to thrive.”
tion. They let me have a
of Wilco, Indigo Girls and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Duncan writes original songs and performs
guitar. It was a really crucial
Inspiration abounds for Duncan, who examines
covers. One of her favorite oldies is Woody Guthrie’s
time when I wrote my first
personal experiences as well as the Bush adminis “Lord of the Skies,” which examines religion and
songs, and I’ve never
tration in her songs. “The harder life gets, the bet politics in the United States. “1 play the foundation
stopped,” she says.
ter the music is,” she says.
of the song and change up the rhythm and tempo to
Though
born
in
A relative new kid on the local music scene,
give it a different feel," she says.
Chicago, White moved
here when she was 10 and
considers herself a native
Oregonian. She is a
mechanic and loves spend
ing time in the mountains.
Former pro football player Kate White is working on a 13-song CD
“I’m a Gemini, so I have to called Insatiable.
have my hands in a lot of
things, but music is my main thing,” she says.
monogamy in a relationship and how it doesn’t
White, who describes her music as sensual
work despite best intentions. “I used to think it was
acoustic R & B, says she wanted to sound like
a gixxl idea before I believed I could find it all in
Helen Reddy and play guitar like Joan Baez when
one person,” she adds.
she grew up. Her nine-song debut CD, Undecided,
A big challenge for White is self-promotion.
sold out at In Other Words after her performance
"While I'm pretty gregarious, I’ve got no skills at
at Pride m 2004- “My friends call it their making
selling myself. I’d say 95 percent of my performanc
love album,” says White, who was named Road to
es have been for free or benefits,” she explains. “I
the Bite’s singer/songwriter of the year in 2005.
have a don’t-say-no policy unless it’s something I’m
One of her favorite songs is “Mercy," which she
ethically or morally against.”
wrote about a friend who repeatedly got involved
White says she’d like to make a living playing
with the wrong type. “It comes off as really being
music but figures she would need to hire an agent.
about sex and living in the moment, but it’s really
“I used to play pro women’s football. I was compet
about repeating bad behavior knowingly," White
itive and aggressive, but 1 am only like that on
says. She also likes her song "Before I Believed,”
field.”
a ballad based on conversations between her and
For more information visit www.thekate
white.com. ©
Love, Death and Tradition, West Duncan's debut full-length CD, will be released this spring.
her partner, Michelle Rixlgers, about non
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