Katie Gavin's debut 'What A Relief' taps into the unguarded self-possession and homespun pop sensibility of singers like Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple and Ani DiFranco, and uses their tenacity as a north star for Gavin's own trek towards self-discovery. Written over the course of seven years, 'What A Relief' comprises a set of songs that Gavin always loved but which 'had something in them' that she and her bandmates felt didn't quite fit within the universe they were trying to cultivate with MUNA. Many of them were written on acoustic guitar, and are rooted in 'a style of music that's very much in my blood, and natural for me', as typified by the Women & Songs CDs that Gavin loves, which compiled music by artists like Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. That openness of spirit is the overwhelming character of 'What A Relief', an album that's refreshing in its willingness to accept people as they come, even as it remains in dogged pursuit of a life that's kinder, wiser and more loving. Gavin's explorations of desire and intimacy feel time-worn and necessary - songs that might teach a generation if not how to live, exactly, then at least how to look within oneself for guidance about how to move forward.
Track Listing:
1. I Want It All - Katie Gavin
2. Aftertaste - Katie Gavin
3. The Baton - Katie Gavin
4. Casual Drug Use - Katie Gavin
5. As Good As It Gets - Katie Gavin
6. Sanitized - Katie Gavin
7. Sketches - Katie Gavin
8. Inconsolable - Katie Gavin
9. Sparrow - Katie Gavin
10. Sweet Abby Girl - Katie Gavin
11. Keep Walking - Katie Gavin
12. Today - Katie Gavin
Year of Production: 2024
