Discover the Glistening, Joyous Gem that is Katy J Pearson’s Debut Album ‘Return’
Katy J Pearson’s debut album, Return is a shimmering jewel in the dirt by the side of the highway. Showcasing the undeniable talent of this Bristol-born songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, Return is an infectious, joyful ten-track collection that seamlessly melds lovelorn country, lo-fi folk, and glistening, unforgettable pop. Slightly bias? Perhaps. But we’ve had this album on repeat since its November 2020 release, and we can honestly tell you that Katy J Pearson is an artist you need to know.
Return symbolises the re-entry of Pearson into music-making after a previous, collaborative project with her brother fell foul of the pressures of a major label record deal. “I didn’t write for about seven months”, Pearson reflects. “I was just like nope, I’m gunna become a gardener, this isn’t happening. Return is about the whole experience of beginning to enjoy writing again, really”. Over the course of two-and-a-half years, between her parents’ house in Gloucestershire, her Bristol bedroom, and nearby community arts space The Island, Pearson honed her craft as a solo artist, learning to rely on her creative instincts, and bringing forth an album just as shaped by the South-West of England as the rich musical history of America’s Southern States.
The songs were strengthened and evolved in a live setting — including in support of Olden Yolk and Cass McCombs on their respective UK and European tours — before being taken to the studio of producer Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, M. Ward, Perfume Genius, Gruff Rhys), where they were captured in their final form. A favourite of ours is “Beautiful Soul”, the lyric video for which — created by acclaimed artist Raissa Pardini — was released last week.
Katy on the track: “Beautiful Soul is a song of love and appreciation for anybody you love dearly who may be going through a shit time and needs to hear that nothing is ever permanent. As my mum always says, ‘this too shall pass’.”
“These are the most honest and proper songs I’ve written; songs that have come from my own being, rather than a room with a guy prodding me to tell a traumatic story of my life and then write about it.”
Delivering a live performance that’s just as charming and captivating as her recorded work, Katy J Pearson’s appearance at this year’s virtual Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) festival is eagerly-anticipated. She will perform at 9:30 pm CET on Thursday, January 14th and luckily for you, ESNS 2021 is streaming all sets for free! Katy’s performance will be available HERE and you can find out more about the entire festival HERE. Her recent live session at The Close Encounter Club offers just a taster of what to expect…
Having recently performed a live-stream show the week of album release from The Louisiana in her home-town of Bristol as well as a set at the End of the Road’s Garden of Streaming in the autumn of 2020, Katy’s previously announced headline shows in February 2021 have been rescheduled for June. Recently announced as part of this year’s End of the Road Festival in September, Katy also heads out with BC Camplight for shows in the spring. The full list of live dates can be found HERE.
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