Goth-pop artist Katie Wood is thrilled to release her fourth single, ‘Enemies To Lovers‘
Wood, who is known for her eccentricity and androgynous image, continues to defy categorization as she delivers her most exciting song to date – ‘Enemies To Lovers‘.
Inspired by the 90s cult television classic Buffy The Vampire Slayer, ‘Enemies To Lovers‘ takes on an anti-hero perspective and explores the often misunderstood enemies to lovers trope.
“I saw a resemblance in relationships I’ve had to Buffy and Spike’s. Their love is complicated, and it’s never easy. There is undeniable chemistry that I wanted to capture in the music. By no means am I romanticising the violence in their relationship, however, there’s just something about them together. When it’s good, it’s hot!”
Tell us about your story
The arts in general have always fascinated me and I guess music has uncovered a part of me that I didn’t know existed, and certainly a part of me I haven’t always believed in. Originally I wanted to write songs for other people, it was one of the only ways I felt I could escape. But Slowly I realised the reason I wanted other people to sing my songs was because I was scared, not because that’s what I actually wanted to do. So it’s been a long journey, the project is thought out and ever growing. Not that it matters, but I studied music for a long time, I’ve sat back and watched my peers grow and do amazing things with their art and that whole time I was studying them as well. I want the music, the visuals, the world I am creating to be an experience and stay with people when they hear or see it. I am nowhere near where I want to be yet, but I got to this point by making it an obsession.
Who and what is an artist for you?
I listened to a podcast once that said to be an artist you have to accept every season, and I didnt realise what they meant until I started to release music. You have to accept the process and part of that is realising that you’re going to feel shit a lot of the time! Being an artist often means you have a very active imagination and self critical mind. So I go through these intrusive emotions, where I end up convincing myself one minute that everything I do is worthless, and the next being so inspired and excited by the art I’m making, but I think it’s the lowest moments that create songs with the most depth and substance.
What’s a musical guilty pleasure of yours?
I’m not even ashamed to say this because I think it’s a complete masterpiece but I regularly listen to the Tarzan soundtrack – Thank you Phil Collins haha!
What are some sources of inspiration for you?
Tv and film are big inspirations for me, if I can relate to a storyline or love the film score it tends to be the thing that inspires me to write. But to be honest anything, I was on hold the other day and the music that was playing was kinda cool and sent me into a writing spell so I guess that was one good thing that came out of being on hold for god knows how long!
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
FKA Twigs is a big one for me at the moment, I think any project that allows you to get fully immersed in a way that she does so profoundly is like gold to me.
Favorite activity to blow off some steam?
Might be a bit of an odd one but I really like cleaning, it’s something I do when I’m stressed, when I’m happy, when I’m sad, I don’t know why but It just makes me feel better. I’m also a nichiren buddhist so I chant ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ morning and night, it’s something that’s changed my life for the better and a great way to blow off steam as well.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
I wrote ‘Enemies to Lovers’ a few months ago after I watched Buffy from start to finish during lockdown. I just got so inspired and obsessed with the show, I felt like at one point when I was watching almost 6 episodes a day that I was actually a little too immersed in it haha! I wanted to write a song from the character Spike’s perspective about his infatuation with Buffy, he is just one of the best written characters to date in my opinion. I felt so captivated by them and their relationship, and I wanted to recreate that playful, yet sensual, energy he brings to everything within a song.
What are some things you do to deal with creative blocks?
I would be lying if I said that I have actually figured out how to deal with both of these things well… anxiety has been a very difficult obstacle in my life for over 10 years now but I try not to go down the rabbit hole so to speak, when I catch myself falling I replace it with a happier thought. As for creative blocks, I try and find something to reignite the creativity and inspiration, lately that’s been podcasts, or conversations but I try and find just something to hold on to.
What inspires your visuals, videos, looks etc?
Anything fantasy based, world building, I like things that appear darker but are actually beautiful. It’s all about authenticity and presenting in a way that makes me feel powerful enough to be what I say I am.
What is the most embarrassing memory and most proud moment of your career so far?
This isn’t that embarrassing, it’s more comical, but.. I was played on BBC Intro and the person that introduced me stated one of my influences as Cheryl Cole instead of Sheryl Crow, way off the mark their haha, although ‘Fight For This Love’ is a 2009 classic.
My proudest moment so far has been when someone had messaged to say that my song ‘Uh Huh Yeah’ had helped them through one of the toughest times in their life.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
Make art not content.
Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?
There have been a lot of changes to the way we consume art, naturally and through unfortunate circumstances we are very much down the path of everything being online. However it means the industry is more diluted, and it doesn’t seem impossible to make a video that could hit a “good” amount of views. I’m sure there are so many artists out there that have found a way to use the universal pain we have felt in the last year to cultivate something incredible, and we’ll be seeing the products of those experiences I’m sure of it.
