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My Shasta County

Resident Rock Star – Demetra Frese

One of Shasta County’s favorite local bands is Danger Kitty, who do a great job filling the local concert venues.  I caught up with lead singer and bassist Demetra Frese right before they played a sold-out show at the Axiom Theatre.

Demetra, good evening. How are you?

I am doing well. How are you?

Good. Where were you born?

I was born in Granada, Hills, California.

How’d you end up here?

I don’t know. (Laughs)

Well, I think I was in second grade. I think my mom looked around LA and decided that was not where she wanted to raise me. My aunt had moved up here, so she decided that this looked like a really nice place where I might get in less trouble than in LA.

They were wrong about that.

Of course.

All right, Granada Hills to here, second grade, so is this your hometown?

Off and on most of my life. I’ve moved away, come back.

Where’d you go?

Where haven’t I gone? I have lived in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Arkansas.

When did you come back?

Which time? I most recently lived in Vegas for a time. I lived and worked there after I got out of school, and came back in 2005.  This is home. This is definitely home.

Are you staying this time?

Oh, yes. I bought a house. I bought my first house in 2009, second in 2011, and I told them they’re just going to have to bury me in it ’cause I’m not moving.

How did you get into music?

Through a lot of trial and error.

What was your first inspiration, your first band?

That’s going way back. I’ve been singing since I could talk. I think I was probably four or five, I went to Lutheran school and was super excited about knowing all the words to Charlie Daniels’ Devil Went Down to Georgia, and sang it on the bus and almost got kicked off, and got in trouble by the nuns. I tried to explain to them that it was a great song ’cause he wins in the end, but they were not happy.

I’ve sung for as long as I can remember, but not in front of people. I used to have crippling stage fright. Nancy was my high school music teacher, one of the two who directs Axiom Theatre, and she can tell you she’s tried to make me get out and do solos. As long as I was in the background and in the chorus, I was fine, I was great. Then, the minute you tried to make me sing a solo, it was like, “Nope, ain’t gonna happen!”

So when did you go out front?

About 2015. I just decided that I needed a life change, and I love music a lot, and if I wanted to do anything in or with music then I was just going to have to do it. So I started getting out there, and I started playing in a band, and those guys really helped get me out there.

But it’s been a journey. I think I’ve gotten to where I’m a lot more comfortable with it over the last three to four years, where I’m more comfortable and excited.  Still nervous but excited to be on stage.

I lost my mom in 2022, and that’s when we decided to do this project because I realized “Life is too short not to do the things that you really want to do.” I just kept putting myself out there and making myself do it, and it would be scary, and I would be sweating, nervous, shaky, and all the things at first.

And now you have two albums.

Yep, this is our second album, Danger Kitty Music.

Are you excited about that?

I am. I’m very excited. I’m excited for everybody to hear these 13 brand-new original songs. The first album was great and very well-received. We’ve sold hundreds of copies of the CD, with thousands of downloads and streaming. This one, I think, far surpasses it. Our musicianship—these guys are all pros—but my musicianship personally has definitely come a long way.

And besides singing, you also play the bass.

Yes. I’ve been playing bass the whole time, but I hadn’t been playing bass for very long. When we went into the studio this time, it was the best compliment I’ve had in a long time. I sat down, and our producer Bruce said,  “Okay, so show me your bass lines that you have for some of these songs,” and he’s like, “Oh yeah, that’s good. Let’s try this here, and this there,” and he starts throwing things at me.  It was a great feeling.

So, you guys are in a good spot now?

Oh, yeah. Everything’s really clicking, and it’s been a fun adventure. We have a tremendous loyal following who appreciates and supports what we do. They come out and support us at every opportunity, and it’s such a blessing.

Shasta County is lucky to have you.  Speaking of which, when friends, family or other musicians come to visit you, do you send them out to explore, or do you drive them around?

We do a little bit of both. Usually, we’ll take them somewhere like Whiskeytown Lake, where there are a couple of really good hiking trails. And we like to take them out and show them our favorite restaurants.

What are your favorite restaurants you recommend to people?

A couple of my favorites are Le Testimony, the Organic Bistro up on Placer and Buenaventura. That is, hands down, one of my favorite places in town.  The couple that owns and runs it are just the nicest, sweetest people. They make the most fantastic food and drinks. It’s like a little breakfast and lunch spot, but it is wonderful. They make crepes, salads, and all kinds of fabulous food.  You can tell everything is fresh and organic. It’s just amazing. Everybody that I’ve taken there is like, “Oh, I didn’t know this was here,” and then it becomes their favorite, which is always exciting.

Thank you, Demetra, have a great show!

Yeah, of course!