Now Playing: Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale’s ‘Be Brave’

Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale are prepping for the release of a new album. It's titled Be Brave and has a drop date of September 29, 2023. But first, for those of you not yet familiar with the act in question, a bit o’ background.

##Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale##

According to the band’s official website, this performing pair “are married co-conspirators in song.” Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale first performed as two-thirds of a trio called The YaYas with pianist Paul Silverman. As No Fuss and Feathers, they have more recently toured the US with Karyn Oliver and Carolann Solebello.

Signature Sound

Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale’s signature sound is a mix of multiple music genres Americana, folk, and pop. On their website, they describe themselves as “two scoops of modern folk with a generous sprinkling of pop-catchiness, topped off with the wit and flair that comes of their theater backgrounds.” It has more recently been described as “pop-folk, theatrical [and] anthemic.”

Be Brave

Be Brave is a 10-track album of all original material written by Miles and Mafale. Miles (vocals) and Mafale (guitars, harmony vocals, shaker, tambourine, hand claps, and ukulele) lead the way, of course. But the tuneful twosome is backed by an assortment of other artists including Eric Puente (congas, drums, and djembe), Jason Rafalak (upright bass), Paul Silverman (accordion and keyboards), and Brad Yoder (glockenspiel and soprano saxophone).

Track by Track

The album opens on “March”. It’s an effective enough focus track. Yet with the diversity in evidence on this release, it merely foreshadows what is yet to come.

The second selection is “This House”. It’s a strong, solid song and deserves to be the disc’s premiere single. In a recent post on social media, Miles discussed the “nature vs. nurture” number.

She said: “This is not a song about a house, despite the fact that we do live in the house that one of us grew up in. It is house as metaphor for how we live inside our emotional history, especially the negative stuff, especially from childhood. Without realizing it, all that history surrounds and underpins our decisions and choices and how we interact with other people, often in ways that aren’t good for us and don’t make us happy. Wouldn’t it be a better world if we all decided we didn’t have to live that way?”

“Ocean” has a gentle rhythm and appropriate fluidity all its own that helps it stand out despite its placement immediately after the previous piece. Another focus track, “Kenny and Lulu”, follows here. This one is a memorable little song story complete with a colorful cast that cries out for its own accompanying music video. It’s fun but not overly insistent.

The cleverness continues on “Rubber Band”. A musical metaphor or grade school flashback? Maybe both? Ah, who cares? With a sneaky little bit of Henry Mancini added, it’s another stand-alone cut.

Speaking of potential musical metaphors, Miles and Mafale slide “Snake Oil” in next here. Don’t read too much into the lyrics. Undoubtedly, they are careful about how they introduce this one at certain live venues. After all, everyone loves music but not everyone enjoys partisan politics.

The seventh selection is “Stronger”. This ditty is on division and unity. It’s an upbeat song with a positive, important message. Let’s hear it for not pushing a partisan agenda!

Also included here is “Cricket”. It’s a fine example of the duo’s ability to take an unusual micro-moment of life and turn it into something unique but not overly silly. “This Is Happy” is yet another example of taking a moment and turning it into something fun and meaningful.

The final track is “Remember to Be Brave”. It’s a lovely little lullaby that is both a recollection and an apt album endnote.

Overall…

Overall, this is an album of cuts that are tunefully transformed reflections of the performing pair’s personal perceptions and observations. They explore themes of bravery, change, love, loss, grief, happiness, and more. Miles has a powerful, resonant, and expressive voice that remains steadfast yet also adeptly adaptable.

Mafale plays in a melodic, fitting, and oft'times nigh-melancholic manner as the couple effectively express themselves in song. To put it simply, it’s well worth a listen! So, “March” right out and pick up Catherine Miles and Jay Mafale’s Be Brave.

(Images courtesy of Broken Jukebox Media)