Haunted by Waters

World Fusion · Celtic Rock · Electronic Ambient

San Francisco Bay Area

World Fusion Celtic Rock Electronic Ambient

About

Haunted by Waters is a group of Bay Area musicians and artists who created an exciting and powerful blend of music that is truly cross-cultural. Fusing together sensual Middle Eastern melodies, Celtic vocals, driving rhythms and soaring synth sounds, their music celebrates spirit, unity and diversity.

Built on a primal and infectious rhythmic background of Middle Eastern, African, and Celtic rhythms and percussion — weaving in lush vocals, rich melodies and harmonies, and sensuous electronic textures — they create a progressive, entrancing world sound. At once ancient and futuristic, Haunted by Waters seamlessly combine a galaxy of diverse influences into a cohesive and moving soundscape.

Their instrumentation spans the globe: fretless electric bass, textural and distorted electric guitars, acoustic guitar, synth and sampled sounds, didgeridoo, tin whistle, conch shell, electric violin, flute, tabla, dumbec, udu drums and more.

"...when the occasional gem comes along, it's reason to rejoice...the instrumental sound is impressive...intelligent, humane, artistic songwriting is the key to Haunted by Waters."

— BAM Magazine

"...multi-textured, pop/world beat. A kinder, mellower Height for the '90s: incubation over revolution, musical instruction over wigged-out improvisation..."

— Option Magazine
Haunted by Waters live Cait and Gerry Haunted by Waters performing

The Band

Each member is a musician of international caliber on the cutting edge of world music

David Hannibal
David Hannibal
Guitars, Keys, Didgeridoo, Programming

Co-founder. Has worked with E-mu Systems, Oberheim, Q-up Arts. Sampling work heard on recordings by XTC and Fishbone; in major motion pictures including Batman and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Cait McWhir
Cait McWhir
Lead Vocals, Tin Whistle, Percussion

Co-founder. Born and raised in Ireland, steeped in Celtic folk music and theater. "Ireland is full of music. Everywhere you go you hear it. Even the lakes, the valleys, the trees and the wind sing loudly in Ireland."

Gerry Bassermann
Gerry Bassermann
Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals

Graduate of the Eastman School of Music. Worked for EMU Systems (7 years) and Opcode Systems (6 years). Writer for Electronic Musician magazine. Currently at Propellerhead Software.

Tina Bean Blaine
Tina "Bean" Blaine
Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Founder of the multimedia ensemble D'CuCKOO. Studied with master Senegalese and Congolese drummers. Recorded with Brian Eno and Mickey Hart. Composed music for television and video games (Sega/Genesis).

Discography

Two albums on Yellow Curb Records

Light of Day
Just Released
Light of Day
2024

A discovery from deep in the archives — never-before-released songs crafted during the band's most creative years, lovingly completed in the present. David Hannibal added new edits, additional instrumentation, remixes and mastering.

  • 1. Stars in My Soul 6:39
  • 2. Invincible 7:24
  • 3. Nemesis 6:27
  • 4. Light of Day 6:21
  • 5. Many Roads 6:41
  • 6. Dreamtime 3:30
  • 7. Flame 5:15
  • 8. Falling Through Again 6:16
Genre: World Fusion / Rock
Cover Art: Harry Hrair Tanielian (Raven)
Mastering: David Hannibal
♦ In memory of Jeff Obee (bass), who passed away in 2024. His legacy lives on in this release.
Like the Dust
Like the Dust
1995  •  Remastered

The debut album — a unique collection celebrating spirit, unity and diversity. Featuring an extraordinary array of world instruments from didgeridoo to tin whistle, conch shell to tabla.

  • 1. The Coming of Lugh 6:33
  • 2. Winds of Love 5:56
  • 3. Hideaway 6:02
  • 4. Like the Dust 6:20
  • 5. Shasta the Wanderer 7:08
  • 6. Drowning in the Waters 7:06
  • 7. M'Bayata 4:19
  • 8. Jalne Jalne 7:03
  • 9. Impassioné 6:00
  • 10. Pray 6:56
  • 11. Camille 4:20
Genre: World / Ambient / Celtic
Executive Producer: X DOT 25 Music
Mastered by: Michael Romanowski, Rocket Lab SF
Mixing: Mesa Recording, Sebastopol, CA
Cover Art: Harry Hrair Tanielian (Raven)
Samsara's Edge

Also: Samsara's Edge

Inner and outer worlds collide in this collaboration between multi-instrumentalist David Hannibal & Irish vocalist Cait McWhir — co-founders of Haunted by Waters. A strong electronic-ambient flavor drives this multi-textured and eclectic collection of tracks. Cait's other-worldly vocals add a hypnotic feel alongside David's psychedelically edgy guitar. Guest artist and Oakland poet, the late Juan Domingo, rounds it out with trip-hop flavored spoken word.

Press & Reviews

"...when the occasional gem comes along, it's reason to rejoice...the instrumental sound is impressive...intelligent, humane, artistic songwriting is the key to Haunted by Waters."

BAM Magazine

"...multi-textured, pop/world beat. A kinder, mellower Height for the '90s: incubation over revolution, musical instruction over wigged-out improvisation..."

Option Magazine

"Inner and outer worlds collide in the intriguing debut album from Samsara's Edge... Cait's other-worldly and globally influenced vocals add a hypnotic feel to the work alongside David's psychedelically edgy guitar."

Rambles.net

Lyrics — Light of Day

All 8 songs from the album

1. Stars in My Soul
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
(Gaelic-influenced language) Our arms open wide to the sky I see all the love in your eyes Save me from hate Save me from fear Save me from anger The disease of despair Who sees inside from the outside?
2. Invincible
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
In search of ways to tell me of the things that set us free You say I spend my time in darkened shadows Desire for the perfection That wrests us from ourselves And glimpses of a way beyond confusion I see you walking on the sand Emotions running wild We learn to heal the places which are broken I lived my life in circumstance
3. Nemesis
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
Soul cries Our lives Hold on tightly Long ago and far apart Solemn prayers Forsaken...easily All gone Soul strong Fire burns
4. Light of Day
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
It's a crazy hard to figure out world If you let it get you down If you give away your integrity You run the risk of getting drowned If you do what you want And not what you're told You're really going to pay If you tell somebody what you really mean They tell you that you don't see Light of Day...light of day
5. Many Roads
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
In the shadows of each other We are building our lives In the shadows of each other We continue to survive Do you know how hard it's To the children that leave Looking for a better life Than they knew before And as the past surrounds us
6. Dreamtime
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
Who are you? What are you? You watch you wait you wonder If it's ever going to happen They told you that it's easy Dreams like hearts Like hearts of lovers Who are you?
7. Flame
Light of Day · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
Two thousand, five thousand, ten thousand So many years ago Looking for the thread that runs through time Man didn't know what he wasn't supposed to understand Is it a different heartbeat That we are listening to? If I could see Beyond it all If I could see
8. Falling Through Again
Light of Day · Lyrics: McWhir/Hannibal
Down down down down Remembering Down down down down Can you see it? Can you reach out for it? It's here, right over here Just try falling through again Down down down down

Lyrics — Like the Dust

All 11 songs from the debut album

1. The Coming of Lugh
Like the Dust · Hannibal/Bassermann/McWhir/Blaine
(Based on Irish mythology — the great Celtic warrior Lugh Lauve Fauda) (Gaelic — Tadhbhas De Lugh) (Vocals with Bodhran, Electric Guitar, Keyboard Sequencing, Drums)
2. Winds of Love
Like the Dust · Traditional, arr. Haunted by Waters
The Winds of Love are blowing at us They're standing at the crossroads of the valley Oh you winds of love help me Will you take me to my homeland If I wasn't so afraid to go there I'm so afraid that I would grow Old in this land of exile Take me to the land of my beloved
3. Hideaway
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
Used to be easy to hide my feelings away from you Bury my feelings away Inside.... And do you know how I wanna try To make it easier to understand That something's different now It's gonna be different now Gotta' be real about it Throw caution to the wind this time
4. Like the Dust
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
On a train goin' nowhere It's an empty road ahead If you wanna get out of the desert Forests are burning into the night Green fields are going brown, everywhere Earth is scorched by the sun And we're killing the sacred land We live on We live on our heart
5. Shasta the Wanderer
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
Don't know how to tell you Now you're gone Don't know how to say What's right or wrong Could have been different Who's to say Why we go so far away? Ya, Ya, Ya, Ya, Far away
6. Drowning in the Waters
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
You wait I wait... Waiting for the love To reveal itself again Last night I called your name Softly to the wind for her to carry This seems so easy to believe Or is it only for our souls to dream?
7. M'Bayata
Like the Dust · Hannibal/Bassermann/McWhir/Blaine
(World Beat — Vocals, Djembe, Keyboards, Classical Guitar) (Chant and percussion — inspired by West African traditions)
8. Jalne Jalne
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
inspired by the Macedonian folksong "Se Vradse Vradse Jalno Sonce" There's something calling out to you That seeks to pierce the ignorance Deliverance to understand The Knowledge that you bring Infinite a wisdom forced To seek eventuality Rebirth all is life and death I see it circle round
9. Impassioné
Like the Dust · Hannibal/Bassermann/McWhir/Blaine
(World Fusion — Vocals, Didgeridoo, Djembe, Keyboards, Conch Shell, Rainstick) (Textural vocal journey — no fixed lyric)
10. Pray
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir (inspired by Nelson Mandela)
Now we can begin The time has come at last Let go of all the hate Surrender of the past Pray for the other Wait for the change Love never leaves you Hope stays the same
11. Camille
Like the Dust · Lyrics: Cait McWhir
You didn't know why you were the one The deal you struck with fate Signed sealed delivered in your hands Trying hard to forget the one whose sympathy you wrought Betrayed by the visions from your mind And all the work you did demanded compromise from men A woman's genius left out in the cold And no-one really cared about the soul who lived inside And freedom stolen from the wings of love