It is winter, which means it’s the perfect time to check out cozy music for rainy days. To help you on that search, we are going to have a look at an artist whose music is just perfect for melancholically staring out of your window while it’s raining outside. To find this artist, we are paying a visit to the musical scene of Scotland. Welcome in the spotlight: Katie Gregson-MacLeod.
Photo Credit: Joe Macgowan
Katie’s first single ‘Still a Sad Song’ was released in 2020, and her first EP Games I Play EP followed a year later. Her first big success came to her in August 2022, when a snippet of her song ‘complex’ went viral on TikTok, achieving over one million likes. Most people in the comments are pointing out how Katie’s lyrics hit them right in the heart. The demo version of ‘complex’ has received over 36 million streams to date, making it her most streamed song.
The EP songs written for piano followed the success in December 2022. Not only does it include a live version with strings of ‘complex’, the songs ‘i’m worried it will always be you’ and ‘white lies’ also received a lot of love from her fans. The lyrics on that EP are painfully honest and beautifully vulnerable, putting emotions into words that most people fail to explain.
In October 2023, she came through with her third EP Big Red. While the lyrics resemble those on songs written for piano, musically, the artist is showing more variety, not limiting herself to ballads but also faster pop songs like ‘Your Ex’. In November and December of 2023, Katie Gregson-MacLeod went on tour, not only in the UK, but she also had shows in Paris and Amsterdam. Over the summer of 2024, she has been on the line-up for a variety of festivals, including Lollapalooza Berlin. This September, she was supporting Tommy Lefroy at their UK + Dublin shows.
Katie’s music is perfect for all those who prefer their songs minimalist, she needs nothing more than her guitar and her piano to create unique melodies. Her lyrics perfectly display emotions that are known to most people. This becomes even more obvious when seeing her live; her songs hit the same, if not better, when played live. Even those who do not know her usually fall in love with her voice and melodies. ‘September’ and ‘Guestlist’ definitely should not be missing from your playlist this autumn, and if you have a chance to catch her live sometime, definitely take that opportunity, you will not regret it!
Written by: Janine Vivien Stein
Edited by: Nèri Cliteur
