Kat Edwards: A force of subtle indie-pop

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Breakthrough 2022

Even if you think you know Canberra-born, Hobart-based indie-pop artist Kat Edwards, her latest single makes one thing clear – you probably don’t anymore.

Music has always been a part of Kat Edwards’ life, so much so that she sights her brother as one of her earliest musical influences.

It was he who introduced Kat to music after all – initially teaching her chords on guitar until she began teaching herself. Then, in 2013 she took to the stage for the first time, performing at her first open mic night, and three years later, at 16, started writing and recording her own music, soon becoming a regular busking on the streets of Hobart.

Drawing from early influences like Bon Iver and Big Thief, Kat Edwards burst into the hearts of music lovers with her soulful acoustic folk. Right from the outset, it was her raw songwriting talent and warm, smoky vocal that had people hooked, quickly establishing herself as one of Tasmania’s most exciting new live performers.

Kat Edwards – Safety (Official Music Video)

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In 2017, Edwards cemented herself as an artist who deserved attention with her debut EP Sunk – a collection of seven songs that together did everything to push her forward as a name to keep an eye on in the future. Delicate, subtle melodies combined with her soaring vocal laid the foundations for the artist Kat Edwards could soon become.

Two years later, she set her sights even higher – teaming up with Australian songwriting and production heavyweights Xavier Dunn and Oscar Dawson on ‘Good Girl’. Moving away from the folk foundations of her debut EP, the single saw Kat Edwards move into darker territory – crafting a swirling pop moment carried by a gritty, paired-back instrumental and dialling the emotional vulnerability up to 100.

This same energy continued into ‘Good Girl’’s follow-up ‘Don’t Call Me’. The pop-inflected ballad showcased another new side of Kat Edwards’ songwriting – changing up the pace into something more driving, with her mesmerising vocal unmatched and a chorus readymade for getting lost in. It was dubbed her best work yet.

Across only a handful of releases, Kat Edwards has well and truly established herself as an artist capable of crafting special, unforgettable musical moments, so it came as no surprise to us that her latest release put Edwards firmly back on our musical radar.

The end of 2021 saw a much-welcomed return for Kat Edwards – releasing her first slice of new music in two years, a beautiful single called ‘Safety’. And while she may have kept us waiting, the result is well and truly worth it.

Kat Edwards – Don't Call Me

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With references to Arctic Monkeys, Phoebe Bridgers, and Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush, this ‘happy-sad’ tune sees Edwards smashing apart what we’d usually expect a break-up track to sound like, instead balancing the heartache and longing, with reflection, catharsis, and ultimately triumph.

Before, even though I could see this brilliant bright glittery future, I was so uncomfortable and scared of anything new. When the world paused, things began to change, and now the idea of exploring, giving my all to music, to move past my social anxiety now inspires me.
Kat Edwards on her new single ‘Safety’

While ‘Safety’ showcases a new take on Kat Edwards’ sounds, what hasn’t changed is the raw honesty, vulnerability, and power that drenches all her songwriting. Her most confident release yet, there is no doubt that she is onto something special here.

While we’ve told you over and over that Kat Edwards is a brilliantly talented songwriter, on the live stage she is a shining presence, drawing every crowd in with ease. She has performed at some of our biggest festivals including Panama Festival, Falls Music and Arts Festival, Party In the Paddock, Grampians Music Festival and Bigsound, and has supported the likes of Paul Kelly, Didirri, Stella Donnelly, Alex The Astronaut, Luca Brasi, All Our Exes Live In Texas, and US artist Julien Baker.

Kat Edwards has a voice and a knack for storytelling that needs to be heard. Half a listen to her latest single ‘Safety’ and that much is clear. She’s already emerged as a force of subtle indie-pop and an artist who excites with every release – now, with a brimming touring schedule and the promise of more music, 2022 looks to be the year she truly breaks through.

Kat Edwards – Good Girl