INTERVIEW: CATRIONA FRAY AND ALENA BERNARDI

Acclaimed stage performers Catriona Fray and Alena Bernardi are set to play at the Duplex in New York City with their new show, “Divine Feminine Soul” one performance only on the magical date: 11/11 at 7pm. The show will take you on a transcendent journey through the pathways of the divine feminine energetic experience on earth. Through this performance they seek to marry the yin and the yang of all life’s encounters through the enchanting melodies and harmonies of their music.

In this Tin Pan LA exclusive Catriona and Alena share their inspirations and the philosophy that drives this soul-stirring experience.  

What inspired you to put a show like this together? 

CATRIONA FRAY: Alena and I are both inspired by spirituality and in the practice of simply being, and within that state of beingness, living in alignment with the Divine who is breathing and pulsating in all living things. All of the music we create is intended to guide people back inward by exploring these conversations of love, light, fear, duality, darkness, nature, God, and the meaning of existence beyond just the physical realm. “Divine Feminine Soul” is a song cycle with a purpose of cherishing, honoring, and deepening the relationships we have with ourselves, others, our communities, this Earth, the Universe, and God who dwells within us, as us.

What does “Divine Feminine Soul” mean to you?

ALENA BERNARDI: “Divine Feminine Soul” is the essence that lives beneath or within or around our physical form (human body) that has a particular radiance, softness, suppleness, and vulnerability. It is the part of us that mothers, cares, and nurtures, but then also knows when to lay back let events and circumstances play out around us without control or interference. We are all connected to divine feminine soul energy. It swirls around and lives within all of us. What the “Divine Feminine Soul” cabaret does is capture this essence and the journey one goes through to discover this essence for oneself and thus presenting itself in a cycle of songs. 

When writing the songs for this show how did you incorporate the show’s philosophy into the music and lyrics?  

ALENA BERNARDI: As we were on our own discovery of connecting to our inner feminine energy, we found ourselves coming up against and managing the duality of our ever-changing physical world. Duality, we’ve come to understand, means black and white, up and down, right and left, aka the physical reality that most things exist in relation to one another. Confronting duality can bring about fear and confusion, so we allowed ourselves to write about these concepts.

Two of the tunes that come to mind are Catriona Fray’s original “Fear” and my original “Suspended.” But then confronting this reality can also bring about great bliss and joy and acceptance of what is. In this respect, we also find ourselves falling in love with the magic around us, the earth that is so giving with its energy and abundance. Some tunes from the show that come to mind are my song “Gifts” a song written from the perspective of Mother Earth and a group number written in our writing community titled “Sunshine.”

What is your favorite song to perform in the show and why?

CATRIONA FRAY: Every song presented in this song cycle is an original song written by myself and or Alena Bernardi with our music producer/co-writer Danny Pravder (who is also accompanying us for the show) and with our writing community a part of our music studio, Homegrown Recording. Each song invites the audience into the conversation of experiencing the essence of the divine feminine soul, the flow state of beingness.

Although I can’t exactly pick an absolutely favorite song to perform, my favorite thing our music does that deeply touches my heart is that its flavors and frequencies have different shades and nuances that cleanse the palate of our souls (like the richness of food and prayer, nourishment and santicity) and can be interpreted in a new way each time I experience the tune, depending on where I’m at emotionally, mentally, and spiritually while listening and singing.

For example, “Sunshine” could be interpreted as a worship song, or it could be a song dedicated to a love; what truly matters is that it’s connecting to a deep richness of the true experience of loving someone and everyone can universally connect to its sweetness, playfulness, joy, and peace through all of the compositional layers and harmonies written in the piece.

What can audiences expect from your show?

ALENA BERNARDI: Audiences can expect to get in touch with their own inner essence, a peaceful connection to all that is. Audiences can also expect themselves to feel transported almost into a dreamland of ethereal, harmonies, melodies, and divine messaging. 

Any final thoughts about the show you’d like to share?

CATRIONA FRAY: The journey of a “divine feminine soul” is choosing to surrender to the flow. Sometimes our experiences in life leave us feeling messy, erratic, chaotic, up and down, and confused, like waves crashing in the ocean, but it all connects us back to that divine feminine energetic experience of inner peace.

This experience is surrendering to the idea that we can create beautifully epic, dynamic and fierce waves in our oceans like the moon does, the physical representation of feminine energy orbiting our Earth. Our moon shines light in the darkness just like we do. It’s about trusting and being present with this divine adventure called existence and presence.

MORE INFORMATION:

Tickets are available online at www.purplepass.com/divine1111

You must present your VACCINE CARD and ID at the door to enter the theatre.

$15 Ticket in Advance ($20 Ticket at the Door), with a 2 Drink Minimum in the Cabaret Theatre.

Online sale ends: 11/11/21 at 5:30pm EST.

The Duplex Cabaret Theatre

61 Christopher Street (at the Corner of 7th Avenue)

New York, NY 10014

Follow Alena Bernardi and Unicorn Music Academy and Catriona Fray on Instagram to keep up with the latest performances and offerings

@AlenaBernardi @UnicornMusicAcademy @catrionafray