“Katy Alex is an integral player in the new wave of artists coming out of the north west, and she is proving that independent pop music is alive and kicking.” – Ear Milk
“Beginning with immediately expansive instrumentals, Alex transports us from her local Merseyside to the sprawl of the States through glittering synths that wouldn’t feel out of place on a MUNA tune and lyrics laden with a wealth of luxury and emotion.” – Line Of Best Fit
“Katy has got catchy down to a T, with production to match: the autotuned backing vocals and foot-tapping synth line in ‘Glow’ take easy-listening somewhere, well, soft – recalling the make-up brush of a glow up, or afternoon sunshine hitting your cheeks.” – WhyNow
After kick-starting her 2022 in hugely impressive form, Liverpool’s latest export Katy Alex, is returning to conclude her debut EP campaign, with the release of new track and EP closer, ‘Show You How To Love Me’. It has been something of a break-out year for Katy Alex so far. She has featured on the cover of Spotify playlists, supported by BBC Radio One (7 spot plays in 2022 to date), and been supported by Ear Milk as well. She’s travelled the world and been in writing sessions with the likes of Roger Sanchez, Georgia Twinn, Sammy Virji whilst lining up a handful of feature tracks to see out the year. It’s only right, then, that Katy continues in fine form on her debut EP and delivers four tracks that are stacked with ear-worm melodies, covering all moods from happy, to infuriated, from anger to love. The Glow EP, like all great debut EPs perfectly sums up the experiences Katy Alex has had over the last 12 months.
Speaking about the EP release, Katy said: “It’s been a long time coming for me, so wrapping up this EP with a song as special ‘Show You How To Love Me’ feels like the perfect way to end this chapter. I began working on my ‘Glow’ EP back in 2019, but due to Covid and other things I had no control over here we are, three years later finishing off with the cutest, (and kind of sexy), luscious pop song. During the making of this EP I’ve learnt so much about myself as a writer, and after self-producing ‘Glow’, the second song on the tracklist, I realised there’s still so much room to develop myself as an artist.”
New track, ‘Show You How To Love Me’, is a softer side not yet showcased by Alex. Co-written with Alex Quinn, the song feels like a positive note to close the chapter of a long-anticipated debut EP that hasn’t always been the easiest to make. With the music industry working in the ways it does, the EP was born via a baptism of fire, and out of a lot of frustration, which explains the fiery nature of most of the lyrics. But that’s not all the representative of Katy Alex, whose sunny disposition and cue sera sera approach to life is noted by people who have worked with her and know her personally.
Talking about the track, Katy Alex said: “I’ve written many songs about heartbreak, or wanting to be treated with more respect, so to close the EP with a track like SYHTLM means I get to show everyone just how much of a big softy I really am. When I love, I do it really deeply, and SYHTLM really goes into the idea of being confident with love, knowing what you want and not being afraid to ask for it. I think the airiness and raw feeling of the production perfectly matches the message in the lyrics, allowing the words to pop through in a super soft and playful way.”
Across the EP, Katy covers all sides of pop. On Maliblues you have a huge nod to the likes of MUNA and Valley, whilst on Glow you hear the alternative, Banks styled alt-pop, through to the power pop anthem Sad Songs, and now this new track to close the EP which feels like Katy’s, ‘Unwritten’ (Natasha Bedingfield) moment. Whilst releases from Katy have been featured on Spotify UK’s New Music Friday UK playlist three times & New Pop UK, played on BBC Radio One 7 times (Gemma Bradley, Danny Howard, Rene LaVice), BBC 6 Music, Capital FM & Kiss FM, and a smattering of support from Amazing Radio. In the press she has been featured across EarMilk, Line Of Best Fit, Clout Magazine, Why Now & Bido Lito amongst many others.
Katy rounded off 2021 signing her first record & publishing deal, modelling for Liverpool Football Club, been nominated for a Youth Music Award, was shortlisted for BBC Introducing’s Live Lounge, featured on The Anfield Wrap, had support from Spotify, Amazon, Deezer and Apple Music via the tracks released with (BBCR1 / Kiss FM) & Piero Pirupa. With Katy’s years of growing up within the Liverpool music scene, playing shows from the early age of 16, winning awards locally, playing the MainStage of Liverpool Pride and Sound City, there is a feeling around the city that she is very much their girl.
Wanting to build a Scouse-only team to help mould her sound and create her vision, Katy has teamed up with production partner Alex Quinn (Michael Aldag, Abbie Ozard) in Parr St Studios, whilst Mike Cave (Lewis Capaldi, CamelPhat) was on mastering duties. She has also enlisted the help of famed local artist, Neil Keating (Converse, Jagermeister), to create her artwork.
Jem Girl at the Piano 