Adam Douglas with a soulful tribute to his grandmother

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Adam Douglas continues to deliver delightful feel-good songs in a soulful landscape, and with his equally soulful and strong vocals, he sings about "Catherine The Great" - new single out today. It is a touching and warm song about a person who was exactly that. Grandmother Catherine lived to take care of the people around her. She was caring and selfless, while also being a tough woman with grit and determination. Simply put, she was a pillar of the family. That’s why Douglas puts her in the same light as another strong female leader, the Russian Catherine II - Catherine The Great.

The inspiration for the song came when Douglas recently looked through old photos from his own childhood and his parents' upbringing. That’s when the reminiscing started. There were noticeably few pictures of his grandmother, which really triggered a deeper dive into personal memories. The images in his mind burn just as brightly as the physical ones. Adam shares: 

- I think almost all songwriters reflect on their own families. I've done that a lot. When I found only a few pictures of my grandmother, I started to think and reminisce in a deep and very grateful way. I have a lot of memories of her, and almost every memory is of her as a selfless caretaker. Her entire life was constructed and based around taking care of everyone else, including me. An incredibly kind (but ultra-tough) woman, who lived a hard life. She was concerned with ensuring that everyone around her was as well off as possible. I thought, now it’s really time to write, tell, and sing about my grandmother Catherine.

The production was done with skilled musicians Ruben Dalen (drums), Ruben Fredheim Oma (bass), and Thor Erik Fjellvang (keys), with the rhythm section recorded live. Additionally, there’s brass by Magnus Bakken on both tenor and baritone saxophones, and Marius Henriksen-Haltli on trumpet. Vocals are by Ida Helena Brynildsen. Drummer Ruben Dalen also served as recording engineer and co-producer and was responsible for mixing. Recorded at Urban Sound Studios in Oslo and Reva Recordings, Harestua. Mastered by Morgan Nicolaysen.

Douglas debuted in 2015 as a solo artist with the album "I May Never Learn." However, it wasn’t until he participated in and won the television music competition "Stjernekamp" in 2017, that he truly sang his way into the hearts of the Norwegian people. The following year, he released the critically acclaimed album "The Beauty & The Brawn" and has since toured extensively. In March 2021, he released the studio album "Better Angels," and last autumn, he released his fourth album "Dancing for the Moon" – a diverse record that garnered a lot of positive attention, where Douglas demonstrates his unique ability as an artist to write and convey in a sincere and striking way.

Adam hopes the new single can put listeners in a nostalgic mood and inspire them to reminisce a little themselves. To smile a bit and remember their own grandparents.

“Carrying all the burden, sparing us all the weight. Forever, I’ll be certain. And forever I’ll long for Catherine The Great”