Kathleen Mary Lee has graced us with a collection of six compositions, a thoughtful and evocative debut EP. Written in the sleepy seaside township of Queenscliff, Victoria, whilst living in flat behind a church, Nice Kind of Pain charts the course of love, picking apart the intricacies of the heartfelt highs and lows. Certainly a name to watch for…listen in full to an exclusive FRUK premiere below:
Having a passion for writing since a young age and a talent for filmmaking, Kathleen took five months from her life in Melbourne and moved to Queenscliff explore something new and creative.
The result is an inspired body of work that is deeply rooted in something raw, honest and nostalgic. Kathleen offers observations on themes of love, loss, selfishness, selflessness whilst connecting with her surroundings – the sea, the sky, the day, the night.
Her melodies are slow and subtle offering a beautiful synthesis of acoustic and organic elements. The opening track The Goodbye Song begins the EP with hushed whispers and lullaby-like waltz. When speaking about the song Kathleen says:
“The Goodbye Song is the only song I’ve ever written all at once. It unexpectedly came pouring out of me at the end of the coldest winter of my life whilst I sat at my kitchen table in Germany. To me it captures a feeling of beautiful loneliness – shared loneliness between two unlikely people.”
Fine Times is a simple-yet-classic ballad filled with melancholy until a wild hopefulness shines through as Kathleen reminisces happier times.
My Attempt is “about the connection between the weather, beauty, hope, kindness and self sacrifice. If the day is particularly beautiful, it alone can be enough to make me want to be a good person” Kathleen says.
In Hours Gone By Kathleen’s storytelling evokes a sombre mood as she dwells on love’s complications. When reflecting on the title track Nice Kind of Pain, Kathleen says “I’ve always thought that pain could be quite beautiful sometimes, the right kind of pain anyway. This song is about how to enjoy pain instead of trying to ignore it.”
The final single and closing track Hey Very Good Friend is a bittersweet ending as Kathleen explores a sense of solace and acceptance.
Nice Kind of Pain EP Launch (Matinee): July 23 – The Workers Club, Melbourne (Aus). Doors from 1pm, 51 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
Nice Kind of Pain is released on July 1st, pre-order via Amazon
kathleenmarylee.com
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