“It’s a mix of infatuation and nostalgia with a side of uncertainty.”
20-year-old singer-songwriter Katy for Kings has released one of her most accomplished tracks of late – ‘City’. The Essex-born rising star has been gaining a hard and fast set of fans who flock to hear her folk-pop melodies and storied lyricism. Having only picked up a guitar at 14, Katy flourished into an engaging young musician with a whole lot of potential and her latest track teases this. The depth of storytelling and poignant emotion that is heard through her lyrics sounds experienced and deeply expressive.
After an appearance on YouTuber Emily Canham’s songwriting challenge back in 2019, Katy for Kings has become one to watch. Listening to the ease with which her lyrics flow, you would think that she’d been doing this for decades. Her TikTok mini clips tell stories that draw you into her world that is inescapable, give her a follow and you will be sucked into her melodic narrative.
What do you envision the future of music to look like?
I think it’s easy to write off the future of music, especially if it’s not catered around your generation, but people have the freedom to write and be recognised for that now more than maybe ever, all you have to do is own a smartphone or be filmed by someone who has one. It certainly isn’t all positive, but social media gives you a space to create and post within a matter of minutes and apps like garage band and logic mean you can have studio sessions from your bedroom. I don’t know what I personally am expecting from it, but I find it all really exciting.
If you could collaborate with any musician in the future, who would it be and why?
John Mayer is always my first answer. Recently I’ve found a few artists around my age through TikTok. I’d love to collaborate with women like Lizzy McAlpine, Laura Elliot or Ella Jane. I think they’re incredible in every sense of the word.
Where would be your dream venue to play?
That’s a good question! I’m not sure I even have an answer because it’s been so long since I’ve even been in a venue. I love Chinnery’s in Southend, I’ve played there a couple of times, but my own headline show there would be incredible. I’m not sure anyone would turn up though to be completely honest with you.
Where do you hope to be in the next year?
Okay first thing that comes to mind is being 22 so probably dancing around my bedroom and singing 22 by Taylor Swift at the top of my voice. Does that count? I just want to be releasing music really and making stuff that makes me really happy. I’d quite like to get into writing songs for and with other people, I think there’s a great skill that comes with climbing inside someone else’s head and exploring their thoughts and making art from that, but I haven’t been able to explore it quite yet.
The next 5 years?
When I think that far ahead my imagination goes a bit wild. I think of moving out, falling in love, making new friends, living somewhere quiet like the beach or a big farm and expanding my crystal and vintage clothing collections but I think most of all I hope to be proud of my 20 year old self and I hope that I can see achievements for what they are, no matter how small. I’ve struggled with time pressure quite a bit growing up, I thought that if I wasn’t putting out music and breaking records at 16 then it was never going to happen. I hope I’m being a bit more gentle with myself when it comes to my definition of success.
Press play on Katy for Kings’ ‘City’ below now…
