Katy Kirby’s music exists in the space between folk and modern indie rock, where a deviously simple melody can twist into something unexpected with a little chromatic movement or a Beatlesque chord change. Lyrics that start off obtuse and casual toss out genius turns of phrase (“good neighbors make good fences”) and reveal themselves to be profound and poetic. She writes songs that hit harder the longer you ponder them. They unfold. They wander. They double back. They stop to ask what you think, then carry on.

Launched in 2021, Kirby’s debut, Cool Dry Place, introduced her as a preternaturally talented songwriter with a knack for quiet, whimsical reflection. Blue Raspberry (2024) confirms her place as one of the most intriguing voices amongst her peers. More sonically sophisticated and lyrically daring, the album explores discovery, longing and self-reflection with a mix of tenderness, wit and bile. It’s an album that embraces contradictions – soft spoken, biting, playful, melancholic, intimate, theatrical.

Live, Kirby invites you in with an ease that makes you lean in closer. Whether alone or backed by a band, her presence sneaks up on you – next thing you know, you’re hanging on every carefully crafted word.

- Jay Nelson