Today, Melbourne-based songwriter and producer Katz shares ‘Forward‘ – the latest single from his forthcoming second EP, due August 13 via Dot Dash / Remote Control Records.
The oscillating synths and bright, futuristic sounds of ‘Forward’ feature the vocals of well-loved Melbourne artist Fractures, whose pristine delivery provides a point of contrast to the syncopated chord stabs, chopped vocals samples, and break-style beat of Katz’s instrumental. As ‘Forward’ continues to build around its spiralling synths, the synchronicity between Katz’s production and Fractures’s vocals grows into a genuinely lovely moment of cinematic, emotionally-driven indie pop. Fractures says: “The track had a lightness that guided the melody lines but we couldn’t resist putting a dark spin on the lyrics.”
“‘Forward’ is full of constructive criticism – it’s about someone shirking their own ambitions and making excuses for unrealised potential”, adds Katz. “‘Forward’ is the second track Mark (Fractures) and I have written together. In contrast to the slow jam/neo-soul-tinged ‘Cipher’ (from the Waterfall EP), with ‘Forward’ we set out to make something a bit more airy and pop-focussed, but still a little dark, lyrically speaking. As a harmony-loving piano player, it was a lot of fun building thick vocal stacks and floating them over what is a relatively spare instrumental. We definitely laboured over those harmonies, making sure the right layer would cut through at the right time in order to meet the intention of a particular lyric.”
The Only You EP is a bold step forward for Katz, marrying measured production with clever pop hooks, underpinned by his signature composition style. A confluence of emotional, vignette-driven storytelling, and Katz’s keen ear for original arrangements and instrumentation, the project is tastefully enhanced Katz‘s background in jazz. Only You further cements Katz’s unique place as a true polymath, unencumbered by the limitations of genre and continuing to explore new terrains within the electronic pop scene both at home and abroad.
Following the success of his 2018 EP ‘Waterfall’ and the 2019 single release, ‘Back From Nothing’ (with JANEVA), Melbourne-based songwriter and producer Katz returns with his stunning new EP Only You. The upcoming EP will be a new beginning for Katz, and sees the artist elegantly traversing a variety of genres to place him at the forefront of Australia’s electronic pop scene. The sophomore EP’s release will mark another milestone for the Melbourne Music Prize-nominated jazz pianist turned electronic artist, who has continued to rise since the release of his 2018 debut EP, ‘Waterfall’. In the short time that has followed, Katz has received airplay on triple j, widespread support from Spotify, with over 2.8 million streams and several placements on their New Music Friday playlist, as well as music video placements on MTV and Rage.
About Fractures:
Fractures is Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Mark Zito. First releasing music under the moniker in 2013, Fractures immediately gained interest with standout track ‘Twisted,’ reaching the top three on Hype Machine and featured on The Guardian’s “Single of the Week.” Fractures has become a notable name in Australia, having toured as a five-piece live band with Amy Shark and singer-songwriter Emma Louise, performed at festivals like Splendour in the Grass, and opened for an impressive roster of acts, including Daughter, Holy Holy, and Wild Beasts.