Watch the accompanying video to Kathryn Williams‘ new single ‘Answer in the Dark‘, taken from her first official album since ‘Hypoxia’ in 2015. Night Drives marks new ground with Kathryn exploring a more filmic sound, with a larger ensemble of instrumentation, particular emphasis on the strings and production from Ed Harcourt. Night Drives is out on July 15th via One Little Independent Records.
Watch the accompanying video to ‘Answer in the Dark’ below that Kathryn directed and edited. That filmic quality is there from the start – the discordant and unsettling opening, the gentle sweeping strings and a melancholy undercurrent. The emotional currents are sweet and heavy, reminiscent of Beth Gibbons at her best.
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.
Kathryn explains “I’ve been releasing music for 24 years now. That fact blows me away, and things have changed so much over those years. The biggest change has been my love of co-writing and writing for other artists. This began when I first went on a writing retreat with Chris Difford forming close friendships and working relationships that are represented here”.
Discussing some of the themes on the album Kathryn says, “Some of it is questioning who we are, realising that being human is about flaws, humility, and the consequences of how we react to others. It can be about the longevity of a long-term relationship, how to keep the fire burning and to celebrate that. So many love songs are about the first moments, but this is about enduring love. The simple things that fill a day and how our dreams and wants are so separate to the daily grind. The final track is a philosophical musing on loss and gain in life. How by living a long life we will lose so much, but that in itself is riches”.
Night Drives Track listing:
- Human
- Answer In The Dark
- Chime Like A Bell
- Radioactive
- The Me For You
- Moon Karaoke
- Night Drive To The Lake
- Put The Needle On The Record
- Magnets
- The Brightest
- Starry Heavens
- I Am Rich In All That I’ve Lost
Live dates:
20th May – Edinburgh – Neu! Reekie!
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