Stratford’s Cat Clyde puts her own spin on classic sounds, with influences ranging from Etta James to Janis Joplin to Lead Belly. Earlier this year, she toured with SUSTO, rocked Canadian Music Week in Toronto this past April, and recently wrapped a string of North American dates with Paul Kelly and ZZ Ward. Her latest album, Ivory Castanets, is available here.

SDTC: What should we be paying more attention to?

CC: We should be paying more attention to nature and history.

What was the last Netflix series you binged on?

Stranger Things.

Biggest music industry pet peeve?

That there is no natural selection in popular music.

What book/song/lyric/etc is resonating with you right now?

Although it has been a difficult read, I’ve been reading Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.

Describe the funniest thing you’ve experienced in recent memory.

I was driving in San Francisco with the windows down and music blasting, the song playing was “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Anita O’Day. I was singing along and dancing, stopped at a stop light. I looked over and there was a man standing on the sidewalk reading a book. We looked at each other and he stopped reading and started dancing with me. Then, just as the song ended the light turned green. It was such a great moment.

 

What’s on your night stand?

A few books, and a photograph of my dog.

What one item would you be lost without (besides your phone)?

I would definitely be lost without my guitar.

What bothers you most about people?

Their obsession with money.

What trends are you loving right now?

Women with armpit hair.

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

John Smith from Pocahontas.

Describe your ideal Saturday.

Going for a long hike with lots of dogs.