Thursday 9 June 2016

EP REVIEW: 'This Time Around' - Kaity Rae

Out tomorrow (June 10th), Kaity Rae's second EP, This Time Around is a perfect release for the summer.

The young singer-songwriter is a tremendous talent and it really is an exciting time for the UK country scene to have artists of her caliber emerging. Kaity's four track EP is a very positive indication of where the scene is headed, as well as a very promising indication of where her own career is headed.

1. Before I Knew: This track is the perfect opener, as it serves as a perfect introduction to who Kaity Rae is. This song is catchy and country-pop at its finest and is about a cheating ex. Yet instead of wallowing in a sad song about heartbreak, the upbeat nature of the song allows for the much more positive message that you're a lot better off without people like that in your life. It's a nice note to start things off on.

2. This Time Around: This song is very addictive and there is something very satisfying about how the gentle guitar at the start grows in intensity over the course of the song. The same can be said about Kaity's vocals which start off soft and grow much more powerful over the three minutes. Combined with the steady drumbeat and a wonderfully written, hook-laden chorus, this song is perfect for the summer months.

3. Back In My Heart: A song about the confusing, overpowering and changing feelings that love can bring, especially at the end of a relationship, Kaity, again, puts an upbeat spin on a topic that many opt to go for a sadder tone on. There's also some really great guitar playing on this track, including a very nice solo around the middle mark which makes this one really stand out.

4. All That I Am: Saving the best till last, this song feels symbolic of the big future that awaits Kaity. All about taking chances in life to succeed, this track is a change of pace from the rest of EP. Stripped back, this song allows Kaity's voice to shine more than ever before and its result is a beautiful track that closes a fantastic EP as well as an indication that Kaity's time to fly high isn't too far off.

This Time Around is available from June 10th and is definitely worth checking out for lovers of country, pop and well-written songs or for those who simply want to be able to say 'I heard her first'. 


ABOUT KAITY RAE

Kaity Rae is a singer-songwriter from North London set to take the UK Country scene by storm in 2016 following a two week song writing trip to Nashville in April and winning a place in a song writing workshop courtesy of PRS at The Americana Music Association UK awards early 2016.

Spark was Kaity's debut EP, and was released on the 5th of November 2014. This has led to radio play on Amazing Radio, BBC Gloucestershire and more recently a live session and interview on BBC Introducing Three Counties. The EP has also gained attention from top UK Country acts, including The Shires' Ben Earle who took to twitter to say that he 'Loves' the fourth and final track 'It Is'.

Kaity gigs all over southern England and has supported the likes of Sasha Mcveigh and Sonia Leigh on their 'Mind the Gap Tour', US singer/songwriters Jeffrey Foucault, Angel Snow and Dayna Kurtz. She has also played in top London venues such as the 02 Islington, The Bedford and The Roundhouse for Roundhouse Rising.

Since the release of Spark, Kaity has been developing her sound whilst studying a song writing degree at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, and is now releasing her second EP, This Time Around on June 10th. The opening track, 'Before I Knew' is out as a single on 20th May. Produced by John Denzil Dines, recorded at Cream Room Sound Productions studio and released on Folkstock Records

For more information on Kaity, follow her on Twitter, like her on Facebook and check out her official site.