08 July 2020 - 0 Comments

Aotearoa folk-pop singer-songwriter Susannah Bull (known as Susannah) has announced the release of her debut single, Katy. The Auckland based artist will support the single with a performance at Dead Witch on Saturday July 18th with special guests Superturtle and The Liers.

Based upon a single sparse and affecting piano melody recalling the ethereal brilliance of Massive Attack’s Teardrop, the song is a mournful slowburn telling the half-imagined, half embellished story of family friend and fine tapestry artist Katy Corner.

“Katy was an old friend of my parents who I also befriended - in particular, we would catch up when we caught the same bus into town in Wellington. I don't know exactly what it was in particular that made me write a song about her, but she had such a generous spirit and warmth to her and she cared a lot for my brother and I, even though we only ever really saw one another in those chance encounters on the bus.”

“Katy was an amazingly talented tapestry artist, if you google Katy Corner you can find images of her brilliant works and I guess seeing the person that was sitting next to me on the crowded no.14 bus, no one else would have any idea how talented this woman is. You could however notice other parts of the song in this woman before you - her big smile but also the tattoos, the dark shadows under her eyes, the tired skin..."

“I've tried and failed to write upbeat, happy or love songs. I always end up going back to emotional, dark and what have been described as "haunting" songs. This is probably why I am such a fan of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen.”

“Unfortunately Katy never got to hear the song as she sadly passed away not long before it was finished.” 

Produced by her brother and fellow musician Christopher Bull across a long two and a half year period in London and New Zealand, the siblings worked at layering the elements of the song together, adding light electronics and textures, while still retaining its simple and clear core, keeping the focus on the lyrics.

“It was surprisingly easy to work with Chris.. I had already been playing Katy for a while (voice and piano) so we were adding more and more layers on top of it. We had a similar idea and sound we were after so it worked really well. We started recording in Chris' flat in Grey Lynn, Auckland but unfortunately I ended up unwell not long after with a bad endometriosis flare up (a topic I have written another sad song about) and then Chris moved to London so we didn't complete the recording until a couple of years later in Chris' flat in London.”

The single cover image features a stunning artwork from local artist Maggie Covell. 

Find Susannah online here: 

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Superturtle

The Liers

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