songs written for piano is a collection of raw, emotional piano ballads that capture the rollercoaster that is young love.
If 2022 has highlighted anything, it is the sheer lyrical genius of the young, up-and-coming singer-songwriter community, and Katie Gregson-MacLeod is no exception. The artist’s second EP, songs written for piano, is as sincere as it is beautifully crafted. Released 2 December 2022, the fragile, open-hearted lyricism combined with the mesmerising soundscapes of piano and violin carry the theme of reflection throughout the EP. Utilising her emotional scars to create such a lyrical masterpiece, it is no wonder that MacLeod was nominated for the MTV PUSH UK & IR Award 2023.
Throughout the EP, MacLeod’s songs deal with the universal experience of young love, heartbreak, and growing up. The first track ‘i’m worried it will always be you’, introduces the theme of learning about love for the first time, setting the tone for the rest of the EP. MacLeod’s voice has a beautiful depth that is perfectly complemented by the gentle piano. This earnest song describes the false hope in first relationships, and the difficulty of moving on from your first love, fearing no one will ever compare to them.
Similar in its simplicity and gentle nature, ‘to be eighteen’ is arguably even more heartbreaking, with MacLeod expressing a desire to possess the same innocence and naivety she once had as a teenager - a feeling we all can relate to. Drawing on her own experiences, MacLeod captures the insecurity that accompanies first loves and breakups and the constant questioning of where she went wrong with the lyrics “Was it too much for you? / Was it not enough”. A simple dance between piano and voice, the stripped back production beautifully mirrors the vulnerability of the lyrics and in many ways reminds us of Phoebe Birdgers - another artist renowned for the intense intimacy of her lyricism. In fact, MacLeod cites Bridgers as a source of inspiration for her single ‘complex’.
After gaining immense popularity on Tiktok during the summer of 2022, the artist released the demo version of ‘complex’ on 26 August - a song so sentimental it had us all in tears. Soft and delicate yet brutal and heartbreaking, there is an undeniable vulnerability to this song, created through the confessional, incredibly personal lyrics. ‘complex’ perfectly illustrates the exhaustion of trying to earn somebody’s love. One of the most gut-wrenching lyrics is without a doubt “I need him like water”. This line alone emphasises her dependence on her partner and perfectly captures the conflicting feelings of staying in a relationship that is already over. MacLeod also evokes feelings of solitude in her pain, with the contrast between her blinding love for her partner against his oblivious nature - “He thinks that I’m alright.” Having now accumulated almost 3.5 million streams, this song remains the fan favourite, most likely for its gut-wrenching lyrics and stunning piano.
The sombre sentimentalities continue with the fourth track ‘white lies’, carefully detailing the pain and denialism of falling out of love with someone. Building in both texture and harmonies, the softer verses contrast beautifully with the fuller-sounding, heavier choruses. Once again, MacLeod bares her soul, refusing to be anything but raw and candid.
The EP comes to a soulful ending with its fifth track, a string version of ‘complex.’ You cannot help but feel the resonance of the strings, and, combined with the thickening texture and layered harmonies, there’s an almost symphonic quality to the song. With the fewest listens so far, this version deserves far more attention for bringing whole new levels of raw emotion that didn’t seem possible to accomplish.
There’s an undeniably poetic quality to Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s music that has shone through this soberingly beautiful EP. The contrast of musical simplicity with lyrical complexity has become the artist’s trademark. Writing unguardedly, without restraint, she refuses to compromise her honesty. With two EPs to her name, we remain hopeful that an album is on the horizon for this brilliant singer-songwriter who is very much still at the dawn of her musical career.
Image courtesy of Maksym Kaharlytskyi via Unsplash. Image license can be found here.
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