Having toured since her teens, Katie Harkin‘s reputation as an in-demand multi-instrumentalist has seen her pass through thirty countries whilst writing and releasing three critically acclaimed records with her own band Sky Larkin. Her work garnered the attention of friends and fellow former Leeds dwellers Wild Beasts, with whom she worked across their Smother tour, and reverberated across the pond to urgent cult trio Sleater-Kinney, who recruited her as a touring member upon their triumphant return to the live stage. Most recently, Harkin has performed across North America with Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak‘s solo project, Flock of Dimes and across the UK with Low. Now, (as she unveils her debut solo project) the collaborator steps out as the singular, her new setup giving further platform to her idiosyncratic, muscular guitar-playing and revealing a body of work that is equally propelled by a life on the move and anchored by her romance for the North of England.
Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney) has this contribution to the idea of Songs About People the Artist Hasn’t Met Yet—start with Katie Harkin, Jenn Wasner, Shamir, and Tom Fleming’s thoughts, and check back for more.
I love the concept of “Songs About People The Protagonist Hasn’t Met Yet,” but what about the mystery Protagonist? Specifically, our dear departed Leonard Cohen’s “Famous Blue Raincoat.” His lyrics, “And what can I tell you my brother, my killer / What can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you, I’m glad you stood in my way,” are haunting, and is he addressing himself?
