On her new album “Quitter” out today, singer/songwriter Katelyn Tarver collaborated with the likes of esteemed co-writers Delacey (Halsey, Tate McRae), Adam Yaron (Maddie Zahm, Alexander Stewart), Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Scott Effman (JP Saxe, Kelly Clarkson), and producer Chad Copelin (Sasha Alex Sloan, Sufjan Stevens).
With “Quitter,” Tarver shares a lived-in and enthrallingly detailed account of navigating her early 30s, opening up about so many the troubles we typically keep hidden: imposter syndrome and struggles with self-worth, the fear of the unknown and anxiety of perfectionism, an all-too-familiar tension between craving acceptance and longing to pursue your absolute truth. Anchored in her crystalline voice and gorgeously airy indie-pop, “Quitter” ultimately creates space for listeners to ease into expansive self reflection—and, in turn, possibly arrive at a more open-hearted and free-spirited perspective on their own journey through the world.
Photography Irida Mete
Graphic Design Diana Flynn
Why did you call this LP Quitter?
The message of the song Quitter is learning how to stop living for other people’s expectations of you. The lyric is “it’s kinda nice to be a quitter/giving up on who I thought that I had to be.” I think a lot of these songs are me processing how to really do that. How to let go and accept who I am and where I’ve been and where I want to go. So I liked the idea of that being the title and hopefully encapsulating a lot of heavy songs with a message of empowerment and liberation
Navigating your early 30s is a universal challenge. Why do you think that is and what have you found from navigating your own 30s?
Because social media and societal norms make us feel like we are supposed to have everything figured out by 30, and if we don’t we’ve failed and disappointed our parents and if you’re a woman? You might as well not even exist! Exaggerating of course, but also kinda not? I think your early 30’s in particular feel tough because your friend group is all the sudden all in drastically different places. One friend just had a baby, one friend has a preteen, one friend is single, one friend is divorced, one friend is super rich, one still hasn’t figured out their career path… it can bring up a lot of existential dread and there’s way more pressure to have checked off all these “boxes”. However! You also have more life experience and phases under your belt, so you are starting to feel more and more comfortable in your own skin and who you’re becoming… So ultimately it’s an exciting time and if anything, has made me look forward to getting older and finding out what else life has in store for me. Looking forward to the future? Imagine!!!
How do you think you’ve changed as an artist since you started off?
I mean, I like to think I’ve gotten “better” overall, but honestly I don’t even know what that means? I feel most proud of the way I’ve really taken the reins on my work. Every song, every lyric, every choice feels more and more authentically me, and that feels very rewarding.
What is your favorite track off the LP and why?
I love them all equally. Japanese Cafe feels like if I wrote a memoir in song form, it would be that song. Which is cool for me. Parallel Universe has always been a personal favorite. I love the story it tells and the different angles it takes throughout. And then I really love One Without the Other. I just think the message of that song is one I really needed and hopefully it can be one someone else needs too…
What’s the most common thing your fans say your music does for them?
A lot of times my fans will tell me that I articulated a feeling they didn’t even really know they had until they heard a specific song or lyric of mine. Which is just the coolest thing ever and, as a writer, the highest compliment.
Are you inspired by your fans’ stories and feedback?
Oh yeah definitely. I mean, I named my tour “Compliments Only” as a nod to how much I love good feedback only please!!! But on a serious note, the stories my fans share with me impact me in a big way. It makes me want to keep showing up authentically for my art, and hopefully keep creating music they connect with.
How do you keep your inspiration alive in order to keep writing music?
I try to just pay attention and stay connected to myself and my surroundings and how I’m feeling and also try to remember that sometimes the smallest things or parts of my day can become songs. And also if there is no inspiration there are no songs and if there are no songs there are no albums and if there are no albums my label will be calling me and asking me where the album is and ultimately I still am a people pleaser and never want to let them down so – gotta make it happen somehow!
What is your overall message? What are you trying to say with your music ultimately?
That you’re not alone in your complex, scary, sometimes dark thoughts. We are all human and for the most part, trying to do our best. We all succeed at that sometimes. We all fail at that sometimes. We are all more alike than we are different. Also don’t quote me on that okay, I don’t know what I’m talking about!!!!
