Biography

Catalyst: a person or thing that precipitates an event or change.

In only a few years, Swedens Alternative Metal band We Are The Catalyst has managed to stir up quite the buzz.

For example:

They did their second show EVER on tour in China, followed by touring the UK and playing several festivals in 2015.
In the last couple of years, We Are The Catalyst songs on streaming services like Spotify, Deezer etc. has been listened to over 3 million times with no label backing involved.
They have Jerry Springer in the beginning of their music video for the cover “Don’t You Worry Child” presenting the song and talking to the viewer about the band.
But let´s take it from the start.

Swedens We Are The Catalyst was formed in November of 2012 with the intent goal of being a light in the dark for those who need it the most.

The members Cat Fey , Kenny Boufadene, Joni Kaartinen and Håkan Strind spent years touring with their former band, the Modern Metal act One Without (sharing bills with Dead By April, Evergrey, Katatonia and more, as well as releasing albums on Lifeforce Records and other labels) and have channeled their skills and passion into We Are The Catalyst.

The name “We Are The Catalyst” is meant as encouragement to overcome and challenge the darker parts of ourselves and others, to invite the listeners to keep fighting in a rough and dark world, and try to encourage them to be their best self, even when it might seem hopeless.

They have been described as many things, among others Alternative Metal, Emotional Rock, Metalcore, Electronic Rock, Pop Metal, Dark Rock, etc, all blended into a unique mix with a strong modern feel.

In March of 2015, We Are The Catalyst embarked on a 10 day tour of China, doing their second show ever being specially invited to perform at the prestigious “Sound of the Xity” music expo in Beijing, as well as playing stand-alone shows and Chinas biggest music festival “Strawberry Festival” in Shanghai, where WATC headlined the “Planet Stage”.

In June of 2015 WATC won first prize in a competition organized by Metal Hammer, Bloodstock and the Dutch Symphonic Metal band Delain, where the prize was to perform at Bloodstock Open Air, with bands like Trivium, Sabaton, Within Temptation and more, as well as opening for Delain at their Birmingham show on their UK tour. This coincided with WATC doing their first UK headline tour of 13 shows in October/November.

In December of 2015 WATC returned to the UK for the third time that year, now headlining the second stage at the festival “Planet Rockstock” with bands like The Darkness, FM and Rival Sons.

The band’s debut EP from 2013, Panem Et Circenses, was a critical and fan favorite, earning the band spots on several major soundtracks and video airplay in over 20 countries. Considering their pedigree, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.

The debut album, Monuments released in October of 2014, topped everything expected from WATC. Released worldwide by Ferocity Records, it hit harder, it soared higher, and it cut just a little bit deeper. Case in point was their single for “Don’t You Worry Child,” a blunt assessment of the heartbreaking truths surrounding child abuse in the world and the steps that we can all take to help end this terrible affliction. At the start of the music video for the single none other than talk-show legend Jerry Springer is addressing the viewer with a request to help raise funds, as all profits from the single go to The Fostering Network and helping children in need find loving homes.

With their album “Elevation”, released on September 2nd of 2016, the band took their sound to a new level. Darker, heavier and more emotional while still maintaining the WATC trademark melodic modern sound.