Tenderness, the London-based solo project of Katy Beth Young, releases her debut album True.
The road that led to the solo project was paved with challenges. Young navigated the pandemic, a cancelled tour, a break-up, and the loss of her father. From grief, time, and reflection, Tenderness was born.
“I was having a hard old time but it was also strangely beautiful. There’s something about that space of grief that is very tender. There was a lot of sadness, but also a sweetness and openness to the world. You feel things deeply but you’re also gentle with people.”
Tenderness
Bittersweet, reflective Americana tones weave through each track, where love and reality emotionally blur.
“We perform love in the same way that we perform love songs. And when you sing, performing makes the emotions real again. That’s why ‘True’ became the album title. It’s all true, I think.”
Tenderness
Young also draws on her musical community across the album, featuring contributions from Peggy Sue’s Clay Slade and Olly Joyce, La Luz’s Marian Li-Pino, and members of Deep Throat Choir. Backing vocals come from Berlin musicians Martha Rose, Dandy Deniz, and Benjamin Gregory, with strings and synths added by producer Chloe Kraemer.
“One of the most joyful things about doing a solo record has been needing and wanting and being able to invite so many different people to play on it. It feels very beautiful to me that so many of the people I’ve made music with are on the album.”
Tenderness
Alongside the release of True, Young shares the album’s title track and reflects:
“’True’ is the heart of the album. It’s a song about the very fine line between love and love songs, between emotion and performance. Everything about it feels very honest – the words and the guitar part and the harmonies by my friend Clay Slade. I think that’s why it means so much to me.”
True reflects resilience and heart, remaining true to oneself even through loss and uncertainty.
Listen to True here.
Live dates:
13/03 – London, Dreamhouse Records (solo in-store)
18/03 – London, St Pancras Old Church (headline show)
28/03 – Bristol, Ritual Union
09/04 – Ramsgate, Ramsgate Music Hall w/ Lande Hekt
13/04 – York, Fulford Arms w/ Lande Hekt
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