We recently shared the news of Kathryn Williams’ new album, Night Drives, which marks new ground for Kathryn as she explores a more filmic sound using a larger ensemble of instrumentation with particular emphasis on the strings and production from Ed Harcourt. With that album announcement, Kathryn shared ‘Answer in the Dark’ in which the emotional currents were sweet and heavy, reminiscent of Beth Gibbons at her best.
Today she reveals her new single ‘Moon Karaoke’ in which her poetic songwriting takes flight in this intensely dreamlike late-night ballad. The video, by the super talented contemporary folk artist and animator Marry Waterson, taps into this world like a haunted Disney movie as Williams sings of everyone and everything having a great time. That includes the moon, the expanding universe, comets and the clouds…it’s like everyone is having one big party…in what feels like a deepening paranoia, even ‘blackholes whisper secrets behind their hands’.
While the glitterball and moon backdrop cast some form of hope or turning point, that doesn’t surface. Instead, a teardrop appears (in perfect Disney style) as Kathryn sings ‘everyone’s having fun but me’. As the song builds to the repeated refrain, “I’m just trying to be me”, the sadness becomes almost too overwhelming as she bows her head towards the end. If you need evidence of top-class songwriting then look no further.
These are intelligent, self-aware tracks, with Kathryn’s unmistakable writing backed with beautifully arranged, natural compositions.
“I am really proud of this record. Also really scared of putting it out into the world after such a long time,” she continues, “I can say that because it’s not just down to me. It’s because of the musical family I have around me that keeps me safe, makes me better, is there for the times when I think I can’t go on. It’s about realising that by sharing things creatively, they can be better and it’s not about showing people how great you are. It’s about making the songs the best they can be and trusting people with that. I’ve been on OLI records since 2010. In that time, they have put out 8 albums as well as the anthology box set. Their belief in me and ongoing support has been nothing short of a miracle. They’ve happily allowed me to do side projects, collaborations, write novels, teach. They’ve encouraged me to make my art and include it on releases. Having the label, Ed Harcourt and the other artists who I work with believe in me has helped me believe in myself and want to be what they think I am.”
Throughout Night Drives, Kathryn is joined by a host of collaborators, including Kirsty Logan, Oystein Greni, Romeo Stoddart, Matt Deighton, Simon Edwards, Yvette Williams, Neill Maccoll, Andy Bruce, Ida Wenoe, Joel Sarakula, Emily Barker and John Alder.
Live dates:
23rd July – Stroud – Chalfest
20th August – Purbeck – Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
8th November – Cardiff – Level 3
More here: https://www.kathrynwilliams.co.uk/
Pre-Order Night Drives (July 15th): https://kathrynwilliams.lnk.to/nightdrives