SINGER/SONGWRITER KATRINA WOOLVERTON REUNITES WITH
LEGENDARY GRAMMY® WINNING PRODUCER VAL GARAY TO
RELEASE EDM VERSION OF ICONIC GRAMMY® WINNING SINGLE
It’s The First Time Producer Garay Has Reworked
Classic Song In 43 Years
50 Years since the song was first written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon
Noted singer/songwriter Katrina Woolverton has reunited with GRAMMY® Winning Producer Val Garay for a collaborative EDM recording of the classic single, “Bette Davis Eyes.” The new single is available now on all digital platforms.
Originally written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon (one of the pioneering female singer/songwriters of the pop/rock era), in 1974, and released by Jackie DeShannon, it was Garay who first re-recorded the timeless gem in 1981 with Kim Carnes. Garay’s rendition went on to win ‘Song Of The Year’ at the GRAMMYS®, with Garay also sharing ‘Record Of The Year’ honors with Carnes.
Katrina & Val ’s 2024 version serves up an infectious EDM-etched supernova, featuring Katrina’s signature vocal and receiving the stamp of approval from original co-architect of the song, Weiss. Val Garay once again brings his highly regarded virtuosity to the new rendition, making the 2024 release of “Bette Davis Eyes” a true artistic collaboration.
A multiple GRAMMY® winning producer/engineer, Garay’s discography reads like a who’s who of the music world, including Linda Ronstadt, Kim Carnes, The Motels, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Katrina, and others. He has received many offers over the years from various artists to remake the iconic “Bette Davis Eyes,” turning them all down until Katrina was inspired to reunite with him; the fascinating project propelled by her tremendous respect for Garay, her increasing affection and dedication to EDM and dance music, and an inspirational sailing experience that captivated her imagination and galvanized their surprising reunion.
The two creatives are not strangers, with the prolific Garay producing, and helping co-write along with Bonnie Hayes, the songs on Katrina’s 2011 album debut, In The Blink Of An Eye. That album included her Billboard Chart topping singles “OPM,” “Shame On Me,” and others.
“I was in a mindset, prior, where I had kind of put recording new music on the backburner for a while,” says Katrina. I didn’t have a concept, so my heart wasn’t open. But the truth was, I didn’t realize how closed off I was until last summer when I was invited to race on my friend’s dad’s sailboat. It was such an exhilarating experience, such a heart-opening experience. Couple that with the fact that I had always loved EDM and electronic music, as I started realizing my playlist was filled with a lot more of it. At night, after races, on my boat one of our teammates would DJ for us and I started hearing all these EDM things I never heard before. I didn’t realize how uninspired I was until all of a sudden… I was inspired. When I came to Val with my idea of redoing “Bette Davis Eyes” with an EDM influence, much to my surprise…he said yes!”
Garay, who had always resisted artist inquiries into him remaking the song, was eager to work with Katrina again, who he knew had learned and accomplished so much since their initial recording experience. “Don’t get me wrong, she was a talented young singer when I first worked with her, but back then, I was the one leading the way,” says Garay. “Now, her knowledge and depth about the recording process and how best to use her voice showed me she has not just been on cruise control. She’s done her homework. She worked with a number of good producers and got to see how things worked first-hand.” Garay was also motivated by Katrina’s contagious passion for EDM. “I wouldn’t have touched the song and didn’t for this long because it is so iconic, but when she came to me with the EDM idea my interest grew. She wanted that kind of dance tempo and everything after flowed from that.”
With 43 years passing before Garay revisited the legendary song, he also knew they had to bring something refreshing and new to it without it being a gimmick. “When Donna first gave me the demo all those years ago, it was very different from what we eventually recorded, but I always loved the lyrics. I knew Katrina’s talent well enough to know she could bring her own passion to it and still honor the original, which is not easy to do.”
In fact, Katrina and Val went one better, reverting to the original lyrics as written, regarding the line ‘…she’ll expose you when she blows you off your feet with the crumbs she throws you..’ “Kim Carnes had changed the line to ‘she snows you,’” says Garay. “She was bothered by it possibly being a double entendre, but I always preferred the original lyric, and so did the songwriters. Donna heard Katrina’s version and is thrilled with it.”
Garay says Katrina’s knowledge “in the many permutations of EDM, which she is very well-versed in” also inspired confidence to be more adventurous with the song. “My definition of an artist is someone who creates! Is creative.”
Katrina seconds the notion. “It’s been an awesome experience to work with Val again. For him to ‘gift’ me such an iconic song, trust me with it, and then be such a close collaborator in the studio is amazing.I always say when Val is happy then you know you got magic.”
Katrina is currently working on more songs with Garay for an upcoming album scheduled for release in 2025. Fans are also looking forward to Katrina performing live shows again. With an array of successful Billboard charting hits in her music catalog, including “OPM,” “Ready to Love” and “Hold Me Down” to name a few, she returns to the concert stage beginnign Saturday, June 22 in Chicago at the Chicago Dance Factory Radio’s 18 Year Anniversary event where she’ll be performing “Bette Davis Eyes” live for the first time.
Katrina received accolades for two previously celebrated national tours with iconic Blues Traveler frontman John Popper, revealing yet another side to her live arsenal, as did shows with John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, and with the Revivalists. Among her many other successful live ventures – she toured as the opening act for the legendary Meat Loaf on his “Mad Mad World Tour” in 2012.
Since her acclaimed 2011 debut, Katrina has released multiple hit singles and snagged rave reviews for her multi-octave range, establishing a social media presence of nearly a half-million followers. www.katrinawoolverton.com