Recently named by the Irish Times as one of their 50 people to watch in 2018, Katie Laffan has never been an artist to stand still. From a debut EP of lo-fi funk to the subtly affecting Trophy and last year’s alternative disco anthem Tastemaker, the Dubliner delights in taking influence from a wealth of genres – producing most of her own music in a home studio. Having spent much of 2017 playing with her band at the likes of Electric Picnic (where she was deemed the new act of the festival by the Irish Times), the IMRO Other Room at Other Voices, Body & Soul and the St Patrick’s Festival Young Blood event at the National Concert Hall, she has returned to the solo approach for her new Spacer EP, released on 1st March.
A further taste of what’s to come can be found in the form of new single Aversion, a meeting of spacey production and exquisite pop melodies. As with all her lyrics, the song offers a very personal insight into the topics that inspire Laffan – in this case the struggle for self-expression and the fear of being yourself in light of peer pressure. The accompanying video, directed by Laura Sheeran, captures the themes perfectly – reveling in the joy of leaving your cares and doubts behind and featuring a cameo from Irish scientist and candidate astronaut Dr Norah Patten. The clip was premiered as part of Norah’s talk at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, at which she also played in front of President Michael D. Higgins.
