Photograph courtesy of Mike Baden
Music Motion: Singer and songwriter Dianna Gatto has released her second CD, titled 'Word to You.' Gatto, who taught herself to play the guitar and piano at the age of 7, describes her music as a combination of blues and pop with a jazzy edge.
WG woman releases second CD and makes local shows
By Amy Jenkins
Boston, Mass., is clear across the country from Willow Glen, but that's precisely where Dianna Gatto, 24, traveled to advance her music career.
Since she graduated from Presentation High School in 1995, Gatto has been busy establishing herself across the country as a musician. She says she was lucky to have the opportunity to attend Berklee School of Music in Boston and earn a songwriting degree because she has always been interested in music but never knew it was logical or feasible to become a musician.
Now she knows it is, as she released her second music CD on Dec. 15 titled, Words to You. When comparing her new CD to her first six-song CD, Angel, she says, "[Words to You] is more grandiose than the first one. There is more energy because the musicians are all in their 20s, free with themselves and added their own twists, and in the first CD they were in their 40s."
Twelve musicians make appearances on the new CD and there is a wide variety of instruments used, ranging from rhythm guitar to violin to cello.
Gatto produced the new CD in Portland, Ore., last July. She says she was offered a publishing contract in Portland with Rumblefish but decided it was the wrong time to become involved with that company. But that didn't stop her from getting a lot of gigs and the chance to jam with different musicians while she was there, she says.
The type of music Gatto plays can't be placed into one genre, she says. When asked to describe it, she says it's "bluesy with some pop, but has a jazz sound that gives it soul and the chords are folky." She adds, "The focal point of me as a package is what I do with my voice."
It is no surprise Gatto got involved in music because she comes from a musical family and has a long history of musical experience. When she was only 2 years old her father taught her how to sing while he played the guitar, she says. By age 7, she had taught herself how to play the guitar and piano.
Her influences come more from a personal level than a professional level, she says. But she will mention a few of her favorites, including U2, The Beatles and classic rock. She says she has been inspired most by musicians she has met at open mics. Her advice to young people is, "believe in yourself, never take no for an answer, shoot for the stars and anything is possible."
Gatto takes a little something away from the different cities she visits. While in Boston she was able to fulfill her dreams of learning music and build confidence, she says.
"I never had confidence before but at Berklee I had the ability to push myself and get motivated," she says. "My confidence grew lots more in Portland."
The new CD exemplifies Gatto's evolution as a songwriter. She says at age 13, when she started to write songs, she drew from her emotions and relationships, but now she writes some songs about what other people tell her. "With the CD I wanted to portray to the listener that it is OK because someone else has been there too," she says. "I'm not afraid to put myself out there."
Since she moved back to Willow Glen in December, Gatto has already written a couple of new songs. She says her songwriting is affected because the area has a different rhythm than Portland, and she is at a different place in her life.
She recently played at Barnes and Noble in Almaden, and her CD debuted at Willow Glen Roasting Company on Dec. 15.
"I wanted to release the CD in Portland, but I'm glad it was released at the Willow Glen Roasting Company," she says. "Chris, the owner, is very supportive of me and my band, and my friends and family came."
Dianna Gatto will perform at the Willow Glen Roasting Company on Feb. 1, 8-10 p.m.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
