Katalin Matyus

Q:Tell us about your act, music style, and brief history, including band members and what instruments they play.
A: I mostly sing pop, R&B, soul music. I really like the Latin music, not just because the musical style of it, but also because I am a professional ballroom dancer and instructor, so my life is definitely about the latin style music too. But I also like funk, jazz and rock music, depending on who I listen to, or which song I perform. Right now I do not have own band, I perform in different places with different band members at Berklee and outside of Berklee.

Q:What have been some important gigs or venues you've played?
A: I have had important gigs in my native country, Hungary, and in America too. Right now I would say I have had more in Hungary, since I lived there for 25 years, and I came to the U.S. two and a half years ago. To mention the most important ones, I performed in Hungary in the Moulin Rouge, Soho London Pub, Club Seven, I was a finalist in the Hungarian version of American Idol called "Megastar", also a finalist in another popular singing competition called "Star factory", sang together with many famous artist like Janos Berkes, Daniel Benko, Seufert Helmut, etc. In the U.S. besides my Berklee-related shows I performed in many different Fred Astaire shows, parties and championships as a dancer and also singer (these studios are part of a Franchised Studio System all around the U.S.). I've also performed at the Lowell Folk Festival, New England Culture Fest, the Amory street Fire Benefit and many others...

Q:What are the names and release dates of your previous recordings?
A: I recorded four demos from a great collection of cover songs I performed through the years back in Hungary and here in the US. The first one I made in 2002 called Sound of my heart including a traditional Christmas song, Oh holy night and a beautiful Christina Aguilera song called Obvious. This demo was more an experiment for me since this was my first demo I worked on singing those styles. My second demo I've had was made in 2003 with five songs called Selection. Then I had a long, 4 years break of learning and performing until I had my third demo called Thoughts and dreams with five songs again. This was made mainly for my scholarship portfolio at Berklee. The specialty of this demo that it's included my first song which is a beautiful ballad I perform since then and a funky-techno music mix I created also as an experiment. Finally, last year I've had my recent 4 songs demo called Reborned which I named based on my own, spiritual and personal changing and growing process I'm going through lately. It was also a great experience to record it after working on my singing more and more. Now, that I have a nice collection of own songs prepared I'm working on my own album to record. Also I've had a chance to get great support from an incredible musician, arranger, friend who helps me to make it sound perfect. I haven't released it, because it's not ready yet, but that'll be the next step as soon as we'll be able to finish it.

Q:What are you working on now?
A: Because of my classical musician background (pianist, singer) besides working on my singing skills I feel I have to pay more attention to my song and lyric writing (mostly lyric writing because of the language differences) and of course - also on my piano skills, because being a classical pianist involves very different skills from playing contemporary styles.

Q:What kind of people or opportunities are you hoping to find on Berkleemusic?
A: I just love to play and also co-write music with people from Berklee and also outside of the College.