As real as it Kates
An exciting Cork band on a mission to highlight the need for more women in music will release their highly anticipated debut EP this month.
West Cork five-piece The Kates’ first collection of original tracks, called ‘Pictures Here Of Dreams’, comes out on 20 September.
The initial launch will take place as part of the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, before a second launch in Coughlan’s in Cork city on 28 September.
The Kates are Eve Clague, Liz Clark, Mary Beth O'Mahony, Míde Houlihan, and Paula K; all known musicians in their own right having each previously released a solo album.
Their upcoming EP has five tracks, each one written by a different member of the band.
“We like the idea that this EP is a picture or representation of The Kates and our feelings/dreams/ideas,” explains Paula K.
Opening track, ‘Unbalancing’, was written by Liz Clark and talks about how tough it can be to find equilibrium in a world full of distraction. She says: “‘Unbalancing’ is about my busy brain that can’t quite ever achieve this elusive ‘balance’ we’re supposed to all strive for. But also wondering if balance isn’t as exciting as my chaotic life anyway!”
The EP’s title is a line taken from the band’s debut single and second track on the EP, ‘All That Talk’. Written by Míde Houlihan, the track released in June and received rave reviews while spending two weeks on RTÉ Radio 1’s Recommends Playlist. The song is about standing in your own way but also not being sure how to address it. “It's about feeling a little frustrated with yourself in not being able to keep up with the world and how it moves,” adds Houlihan.
Track three, ‘Breathe In’, was written by Paula K and is about trying to cope when difficult things happen in your life. She explains: “It's about how the world keeps going even though you feel like everything should stop. So, you hold your breath to prevent yourself from dealing with reality, to try and stop the world. ‘Breathe In’ means it takes one breath, one action, to help begin to move forward.”
Track four, ‘Hot headed’, is the contribution of Eve Clague and is about “not being able to bear to see the person you love with someone else. Constantly being insecure but getting tired of yourself for having these feelings”.
Written by Mary Beth O'Mahony, the EP’s closing track, ‘Always’, is all about emotion. Recorded live ‘Always’ contains a real rawness about it. “It’s about how powerful love is and feeling safe with someone, but also knowing things will change and that's okay,” says O'Mahony.
The Kates release their debut EP ‘Pictures Here Of Dreams’ on 20 September at the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. They play Caughlan’s in Cork city on 28 September before a show in Whelan’s in Dublin in October.