Cat Power: Power to the People
Photography by: Shervin Lainez
Few artists can tap into a wellspring of vulnerability like Chan Marshall. Her “2000” Covers record is a perfect example of this and the tender lens she uses to connect with her audience. Taking this one step further on her new LP – “Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert” – her lens has turned to Bob Dylan, a path that seems ideal for the modern troubadour breathing new life into his iconic performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
As we regroup during her latest tour for this record, she tells me why, after covering so many artists, It made sense to focus on Dylan for this one. The allure of the songs she selected for her “Covers” album was two-fold. Citing John Lennon as her inspiration, he said “You can’t change the world but you can do something to someone’s mind with a song. Music can’t save the world, but you can light a fire with a song. For her, this is what Dylan’s songs do and they opened a door for her to express herself “in a very punk-rock way.”