Katie Greenberg stuns us with her debut single, Insider, released on April 22nd, 2020. The lo-fi track greets us amidst the global pandemic of Covid-19 when fear and panic are more prevalent than ever. Greenberg’s vocals glisten above a warm bed of mellow synths and acoustic strums, inviting us to sway our worries away. We were lucky enough to sit down with this promising artist as she delights us with her first track.
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The Chicago native moved to Los Angeles in 2018. Singing her way through grade school and college, Greenberg’s pristine voice has lured in anyone who’s been fortunate enough to hear her sing. Music has resided at the core of her life, and her aspirations to be a vocalist were second-nature. Her aspirations as a songwriter, however, began to flourish towards her senior year at Washington University.
When she began to write her own music, the influences were endless. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter was raised on Joni Mitchell, and idolizes her free lyricism and ability to cross-genre. Greenberg’s curiosity stretches her inspirations from Brian Wilson to Sara Bareilles to Mark Ronson. Her vocal abilities are thanks to years in a capella groups, where she nailed interpolations of pop anthems. These numerous perspectives have shaped her into a unique artist. She’s not only alternative, or only singer-songwriter, or only pop, but a fusion. The pressure of choosing one sound to showcase her multi-genre inspirations festered within her, a feeling many writers can resonate with. She giggles about the invisible barrier that an artist breaks through when releasing their first track, and how we are only stopping ourselves. She describes this leap as liberating and exciting, and, alas, we are introduced to a slice of what Katie Greenberg has to offer.
In collaboration with Kai Klitgaard, this debut showcases more than just Katie's musical abilities. Her unapologetic fearlessness, the kind where you surprise yourself, speaks volumes to the promise of her career. She pushes herself out of her comfort zone in more ways than one, and we are here for it. A lovely graphic fills our screen while her song plays, one photographed by Jennifer McCord and edited by Jeremy Sandler. This sensual cover matches the song, but Greenberg exclaimed this is a different side to her that she didn’t expect from her first single. Here, her gentle vocals are vulnerable, but so secure that we are automatically convinced of her vocal capabilities . As if it wasn't impressive enough, the track is self-released through Sutter's Mill Entertainment, the collaborators' indie production house. We get a taste of fresh skill and style with this novel debut from a bright artist.
Deconstructing Insider
Insider is the result of the classic at-home writing secret songwriters know all too well: reaching into the sacred treasure chest of half-written choruses and verses stained from last months’ coffee. Reaching back to late 2019, the genesis of the track began in Joshua Tree, where Greenberg was accompanied by roommate and collaborator, Kai Klitgaard. The opening guitar riff that the song structurally revolves around came to Klitgaard while they were on a trampoline. The collaborators eagerly recorded a voice memo knowing they had something special. The foundation of the track was built in their home studio with nothing but a Gibson guitar, Ableton Lite, and a dose of talent. After a few re-writes, the track sat idly in the treasure chest until inspiration’s iron struck hot.
Enter Covid-19. The completion of Greenberg’s debut single couldn’t have come at a more suitable time. Not only is it a moving time to be a creator, but it is a vital time for artists to share their art. Katie not only managed to fearlessly leap into launching her artist project amidst chaos, but she threw us the life raft we all needed, as well. A soothing track to say the least, producer and vocal engineer, Elisha Kim, seamlessly transports us to a nostalgic memory and a clean slate in tandem. We are hugged by the warmth of the bass line and Klitgaard’s baritone harmonies, and awoken by Greenberg’s bright vocals and embellishments. The cozy-yet-spacious guitar melody is original and catchy, while still making us feel like we’re right at home. And while at home, inspiration from social distancing reignited Greenberg’s and Klitgaard’s muse for the song’s lyrics.
The lyrical content embodies a literal and metaphorical state of desire, where the outer surface captures a moment of lust for human connection. “Mired in desire / I’m right down to the wire / Fire, I’m on fire” transports us to that absolute state of lust and longing. As statements turn into questions, an ambiguous tone overcasts the otherwise to-the-point narration in the remainder of the chorus. By introducing the question “Inside are you inspired?”, the narration exposes the uncertainty of reciprocated attraction that hovers over, or perhaps constitutes, this moment of desire. The cognizant lyrics reflect this paradox of the human condition: wanting something you can’t have and becoming smitten by the tensions from chasing it anyway.
Greenberg’s timely release sheds light onto similar notions we are facing in self-quarantine. In speaking with her, she pontificated the parallels between romantic desire and the ever-wistful state we are experiencing today. The premise of not being allowed to leave our homes makes the idea of leaving so much more seductive. We suddenly long to return to the mundane lifestyles we once complained about; the attraction is a function of the restriction. And what more could we ask for, Greenberg added, but to have these primal emotions exacerbated by ambiguity… when will social distancing end, what will our summers look like, and how will we know if we and our loved ones are safe?
The power of desire feeds off the complicated nuances embodied in Insider, a successful debut from a promising artist. The rhyme-filled hook is consistent without becoming redundant by incorporating a cadence that catches us unexpectedly. The beautiful construction paints an image that makes you wish you thought of it yourself. Composed and EQed to the nines, the B minor track cruises at a steady 85 BPM. Structurally, the tune breaks the norms by leaving out a second verse. Much like the essence of this artists’ MO, she exclaimed that they just did what felt most natural, and that was the timeline of Chorus / Interlude / Chorus. The spotlight glows onto Klitgaard’s sonic bliss of a guitar interlude for a moment, but demands our attention in hopes their vocals reunite. By the second chorus, we are hooked by the triad of harmonies that Greenberg teases us with. Contrasted with a caressing bridge, we are left with a 3-minute escape that radiates hope. Greenberg and Co. seamlessly remind us to slow it down, breathe in, and trust in the beauty of art to light the way.
Katie Greenberg’s introduction couldn’t have been more perfect. Though a step in a new direction, all eyes are on her as she nails her first release. We are excited to hear the vast avenues this versatile artist will take in her upcoming releases. As we continue to persevere through these odd times, stay safe and keep creating. Despite all the ambiguity, one thing is for sure: Katie Greenberg’s got us hooked!
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