The Forests Daughter Instrumental

A taster of upcoming Arts Council-funded debut EP 'Fly' out later this year and currently being recorded at Airtight Studios, Manchester, this song was written for and about my Dad. The vocals and guitar were recorded one night while travelling for work, far away from home while thinking about family, the past, and how for some people just getting up in the morning is an act of daily heroism. While a new version is being developed for the EP, this one features the original vocal and guitar from the day the song was written, and represents the first tentative steps of an anxious singer towards letting a vocal stand alone without hiding behind too much production and harmony. The track is available on Soundcloud and at https://testcardgirl.bandcamp.com/ or a little lo-fi version live from Britain's most depressing work hotel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0HsrW5n950

This track will be released on all platforms on 25th June 2021

Voices from the past beat down the waving blades of grass and end our summer time,
Smashing plates and glass and questions trapped inside unasked invade your other time.

A loss of home and warmth, loss of centre and form turn over tables
So every step you took was ever harder than it looked but still you're able
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the win die down in your sails
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

Words said by those who didn't think have sometimes bought you to the brink and swirled around just out of sight
Left alone and lost in thought a ghost hung up upon the door waits in your childhood night
A loss of home and warmth, loss of centre and form turn over tables
So every step you took was ever harder than it looked but still you're able
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the win die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

Out across the dark blue sea, a beam of light revolves
It always comes back round again, watch for it and resolve
Out across the dark blue sea, a beam of light revolves
It always comes back round again, watch for it and resolve

To give and not to count the cost, to overcome the human loss, don't let the wind die down in your sails
And remember - we'll always be there.

We'll Always Be There (Acoustic)

Fly is the 2nd single from Manchester artist Test Card Girl's debut synth-folk EP due out in July. Written during the long hot days of lockdown, the song is about feeling trapped inside, whilst jealously watching a fly explore the 4 corners of the room and then fly off through the window to freedom. Sonically, it is a result of hearing Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' playing in the background while half-watching a programme about colliery bands in British mining towns. It's a rallying cry to stand up and walk to nowhere.

The track was produced by Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios in Manchester and features I Am Kloot drummer Andy Hargreaves. Production was funded by an Arts Council England grant gratefully received in 2021. Test Card Girl will be releasing another single at the end of April and her debut EP in July 2022. She was recently chosen as one of Manchester International Festival's MIF Sounds 2022-23 artists and will be performing regularly in and around the North of England and beyond this year.

Fly (Full Release 25.02)

See You In The Ring DEMO Feb 2022

The Beyond is the 3rd single from Manchester artist Test Card Girl's
synth-folk EP 'Fly' due out in July 2022. The lyrics were written during a long car journey, looking out of the window, watching the
white lines pass and thinking about where life is going. It's about the uncertainty which, at times can be all-pervading. How much do we decide for ourselves, and how much of our lives follow an inevitable path that we watch ourselves treading, often confused or resentful, but not brave enough to step off? 

The track was produced by Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios in Manchester and features Andy Hargreaves (I Am Kloot) on drums and Nathan Sudders (The Whip)
on bass.

Lead Vocals, Synths: Catherine Burgis
Drums: Andy Hargreaves
Bass: Nathan Sudders
Produced by: Seadna McPhail
Mastered by: Graeme Lynch
Written by Catherine Burgis
Artwork: Spencer Robens

For further information please visit:
www.testcardgirl.co.uk or contact info@testcardgirl.co.uk

The Beyond (released)

Like A Train - EP Demo 2022

Seven Dolls (DEMO 2020)

EPK: https://bit.ly/3grXoq2


Written by Test Card Girl (Catherine Burgis)
Vocals, synths - Catherine Burgis 
Backing vocals - Dave Fidler 
Bass - Ray Mitchell 
Drums - Andy Fidler 

Recorded at The Fuse Studio, Manchester 
Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Christian Wright 


Artwork: @spncrrbns

Holds Me Down (Full release 18.09.2020)

The third single from BBC 6 Music's 'Ones to Watch 2021' Manchester artist Test Card Girl. Described as 'two minutes of life-affirming Mancunian electropop' by Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music Introducing Mixtape https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000sj42) Don't Go is a song for anyone who's had to remind themselves repeatedly not to return to a person or situation. Combining elements of synth pop with a simple catchy playground melody, this is a summer song to brighten the mood. Dance away bad times and regrets accompanied by an 8-bit band of synthesised sounds.

Don't Go (Full release 26.03.2021)

Well this is not good
Just mainly staring, not preparing a thing.
Well this is not food
Just mainly wearing slightly scary loss of mood.

Lie still, don't move, and it will pass
Lie still, don't move, just fill your glass
Another morning will be dawning for you
But not in your room

Well this is grown up
Just mainly waiting and frustrating with yourself
Well this is messed up
What part of privilege is the sabotage of your health?

Lie still, don't move, and it will pass
Lie still, don't move, just raise your glass
Another morning will be dawning for you
Just not in your room

But still I can't get out of bed
But still I can't get out of bed
I didn't go to war
I just sat in my head

But still I can't get out of bed
But still I can't get out of bed
I didn't go to war
I just sat in my head

Image: Rene Magritte ID 119241142 © Orlando Florin Rosu | Dreamstime.com

Out Of Bed (DEMO 2020)

A little bit of time goes by again when sitting on your own
That you can use to fly or sing or cry when talking on the phone
A happy little fly goes by again just searching for a stone
Where she can go to hide herself before she flies back to her home

What is love if nothing but a fire light's burning embers for a higher life
I never thought I'd walk this road again

Fly
Fly

A little bit of time goes by again when sitting on your own
That you can use to fly or sing or cry when talking on the phone
A happy little fly goes by again just searching for a stone
Where she can go to hide herself before she flies back to her home

What is love if nothing but a fire light's burning embers for a higher life
I never thought I'd walk this road again

I've fallen foul of foolish
Got nothing more to do this

Fly
Fly

A little bit of time goes by again when sitting on your own
That you can use to fly or sing or cry when talking on the phone
A happy little fly goes by again just searching for a stone
Where she can go to hide herself before she flies back to her home

Picture Credit: File ID 179368908 |  © Nadezhda Aksenova | Dreamstime.com

Fly (DEMO 2021)

Written with and produced by Dave Fidler

Come
Calling winds flow
Falling leaves show
Morning heave ho             

When did you say this would pass
When did the water flow last
When did the tree shed its past
And when…

Where have you gone? 
Where have you gone? 
Where have you gone? 
My summer song.


Come
Rolling tides move
Stolen skies prove
That Broken hearts soothe

When did you say this would pass
When did the water flow last
When did the tress shed its past 
And when

Where have you gone? 
Where have you gone?
You’ve been here all along. 
My summer song.

My summer song
Painted rainbows
My summer song
Hands at windows
My summer song
Talks and low roads
My summer song
Hope from all those

Photo 156800569 © Voronkovasofjushka - Dreamstime.com

(Where have you gone?) My Summer Song (Test Card Girl / Dave Fidler) DEMO 2020

Solitary Beat (DEMO 2020)

Lets Go Home - DEMO (For mum)

Listen (DEMO)

Let Sleeping Dragons Lie - needs vocals

Written for the #positivesongsproject August 2020
https://www.positivesongsproject.org/weekly-submissions/

Illustration 133934195 © Nadiaforkosh | Dreamstime.com

Just Like Falling In Love (DEMO - 2020)

Life-affirming Mancunian electro-pop"
-  Tom Robinson BBC 6Music
​
"That has Manchester's musical heritage running right through it like the writing in rock"
-  Guy Garvey (Elbow)  BBC 6Music

"Lush"
-  John Kennedy  Radio X

Test Card Girl is a solo project by new Manchester indie singer-songwriter Catherine Burgis. Having grown increasingly frustrated with an admin-based existence, and wishing to conquer a life-long fear of singing in public, Catherine embarked on a country-wide tour as a musical comedian in 2018 complete with novelty miniature keyboard. Winning awards (North West Comedian of the Year, Frog and Bucket 2018, Funny Women Semi-Finalist 2019, Beat the Gong Winner, The Arc, Stockton 2019) and growing in confidence as a singer, she performed her first (and last) gig as solo synth-folk artist Test Card Girl in February 2020, with all subsequent gigs immediately being cancelled due to the dawning of a global pandemic.
 
With live performance not possible, Catherine turned her attention to recording and released her first single 'Holds Me Down' in 2020. The single was picked up by BBC 6Music, Radio X, Absolute Radio and XS Manchester and she was named Steve Lamacq's BBC 6 Music 'One to Watch' in January 2021. Catherine was awarded an Arts Council grant to make a further 3 singles in 2021 and is currently working on her debut EP 'Fly' with producer Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios, Manchester.  The EP is due for release in Spring 2022 and will feature guest performances from drummer Andy Hargreaves (I Am Kloot) and bass player Nathan Sudders (Miles Kane, Guy Garvey, Nadine Shah). Test Card Girl's music ranges from lo-fi bedroom pop to simple indiefolk songs, influenced in equal parts by the standard-issue musical taste of a 90's Manchester teenager; an obsession with the MIDI sounds of childhood keyboards past and finger-picking folk songs of old. In January 2022 Catherine was announced as one of 10 Manchester International Festival MIF Sounds artists​ and will be performing live throughout 2022 (dates TBC).

Test Card Girl

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