Katie Keddie - “hydroplane”

Photo by Carl Osbourn

Nottingham-based singer-songwriter Katie Keddie has a raw and heartfelt surprise for all of you: “hydroplane.”

We have often turned away music for its lack of intimacy and when you press play on “hydroplane,” you will get an earful of the very sound we strive to find. It begins with a warmly finger-plucked acoustic guitar that remains unscathed by most effects, which causes it to sound as though you could simply reach out and touch it. The softest keys from a piano accentuate the vibe, with a bit of synth as a pad, resulting in a sparse, yet vibrant and lush soundscape.

To add to the track’s intimate and vulnerable mood, Keddie’s vocals are often barely above a whisper as she delicately gifts listeners lines of lyrics. As the track proceeds, it picks up energy and magnitude, gently crescendoing into a double-tracked vocal on the refrain, bringing about a sense of urgency. And to anyone who has found themselves in a hydroplaning situation, the sonic value of the song mirrors the experience in great emotional detail.

After the central climax of “hydroplane,” the song picks up a few passengers on its journey back down, one of which is the banjo, whose soft notes are utilized extremely tastefully. Another highlight on the back half of the track includes a marvelous vocal harmony– one of the main reasons we had to share this tune with you today. This is the perfect song to listen to when you wish to invoke the chillest of moods and we recommend pressing play as a means to glide straight into the weekend. You’ve earned it.

-HD