Photo credit: Ethan Gulley
Los Angeles-via-Georgia singer/songwriter Katelyn Tarver releases her gorgeous new single, ‘All Our Friends Are Splitting Up’, out on all streaming platforms on 27 August. The track is from Tarver’s upcoming album ‘Subject to Change’ – a suitably titled project after this past year – available digitally worldwide and on CD/LP via webstore on 15 October, with a wider physical release date to be announced soon.
On this new album, Tarver emerges as the rare kind of artist capable of capturing painful truths in impossibly lovely pop songs that strike every raw nerve. This is apparent on first single ‘Shit Happens’ – inspired by a podcast episode of Unlocking Us with Brené Brown (“Tim Ferriss and Dax Shepard on Podcasting, Daily Practices, and the Long and Winding Path to Healing”) — in which Tarver explores the hard truth that painful experiences don’t always come with a reason why. Subject to Change’s graceful convergence of pop, folk and indie-rock spotlights spellbinding vocal work from Tarver, whose journey as the title suggests is ever-changing.
“This song is a look at the complexities of a long term relationship,” she explains. “The fear that can creep up when you feel disconnected, and the realization that you can’t predict what problems you’re going to run into when you decide to spend your life with someone. All you can do is promise to stay and fight for each other when those problems feel really big.”
Tell us about the genesis of your project. How did you get to where you are now?
I’ve been releasing EP’s and singles for a few years now, but I started to get the itch to do a full length album last fall. I’ve never done a proper album, and it sounded really appealing to create a body of work that all went together and captured a moment in time for me. So probably in October of last year I decided to just go for it! It has been the most rewarding process of my career so far.
What does music and being an artist mean to you?
Nothing brings people together like music. Whether it’s a live show, a dance floor, an intimate moment, sitting around and singing with friends… it can communicate a feeling or an emotion unlike any other art form in my opinion. So being an artist and getting the chance to make music that might be the soundtrack to people’s experiences in life is a real honor.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
I’m really fascinated with the grey areas of life. The stuff within us that is contradictory and complex and hard to talk about… the sadness we can have in a moment where we thought we’d be happy. The unfulfillment we feel soon after we finally get that thing we worked hard for. The loneliness that can creep in even when we are surrounded by people who love us… I’ve just always been drawn to those difficult emotions and tried to express them in my music.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I’m a big Kacey Musgraves fan and have been since her first album. I love her lyrics, I love that she doesn’t compromise… she inspires me to be authentic and make music that is truthful and unapologetic.
Favorite activity to blow off some steam?
Have friends over, order food, talk shit and laugh.
What inspires your sound?
I think in general, but definitely with this album, I want the focus to be the song. The lyrics, the melody, the emotion… So many of these songs started as a few chords on the piano or guitar, and I didn’t want to stray too far from that for the final product. I leaned into the singer-songwriter/folk inspiration. We tracked real drums, used more organic sounds… It was really important to me that the production supported the song and let the vocals and lyrics shine.
What are some things you do to deal with anxiety and creative blocks?
If you want the honest answer it’s spiral downward, believe the voice in my head that tells me I am not talented, and convince myself I will never make anything good ever again… what I *try* to do is take a break, watch TV or call a friend, get a good night’s sleep and remember that anxiety and self doubt is all a part of the process. Anything I can do to take the pressure off and remind myself not to take it all so seriously usually helps me get back in the groove.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Oh man, I have no clue. It honestly stresses me out to think of five years from now because I know how fast it will be here! I would love to continue to push myself creatively to try new things. I’m an actor as well, so I’d love to get to work on a TV show or film, maybe even write my own. I’d love to put another album or two out. I’m honestly just excited to see where the next five years take me. I know it will be somewhere I probably could not predict.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
I hire people with good taste.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
I’ve had a lot of moments that felt daunting in my career. Sometimes every day can feel daunting! There is a lot of pressure on artists right now to wear every hat. Write the song! Be a producer! Be a content creator! Be a visionary! Be ambitious! Be realistic! Be happy where you are! Work harder! It can feel overwhelming. I try to remind myself that there are no right or wrong choices when it comes to my career path. You make the decision with the tools you have in that moment, and then you move forward and try to embrace where it takes you.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
It’s ok to not know something for certain at this moment.
Where do you think the music and entertainment industry is headed after this past year?
I hope back to where it was before! No, I don’t know. I think it made a lot of artists and songwriters, me included, have to really look inward. Who are you as a person if you’re not playing shows? If you’re not putting music out? If your industry comes to a screeching halt? It makes you analyze your motivations, your identity, your goals… ultimately in necessary ways that are probably healthy! A good reminder that none of us are in control of anything, no matter how much we feel like we are. I think we’ll hear these themes reflected in new music being released, and it will be interesting to see how it changes the industry forever. Hopefully it will give us all a newfound appreciation for live shows and community and how much art enriches our lives.
