NYC-based orchestral pop artist, Kate Copeland, has slowly built a name for herself writing beautifully intricate vocal-driven tracks that showcase her background in composition as well as her wide range of influences, which span widely, from seminal folk icons, to classical behemoths like Stravinsky (adding to her cool-factor, Copeland also performs in a Seattle-based psych-rock band!!). Her debut album, Recollection Room, is due out on June 8th, and her lead single, “Breaking”, gives us a clear glimpse of what we have to look forward to from the full-length.
The Oberlin conservatory grad clearly possesses a strong sense for music theory, evident within “Breaking”‘s thoughtful arrangement, which includes twinkling piano and ukulele lines, and a slow, mooring cello on the low-end. The song builds up slowly, integrating more and more instrumentation, pulling the listener into the emotional crevices of Copeland’s songwriting until you feel as if you’re a part of the music itself.
The video, out today, depicts Copeland as a 50s-era, glammed-up, but viscerally lonely housewife, bereft yet still awaiting the return of someone or something that eludes her. Shot in black and white for the first minute or so, we see her slowly acquiring more color, as the song builds. Soon she’s removing the various accoutrement that lend to her image the appearance of perfection, as paint splatters across her face. We are shown the underbelly of a life that presents itself as tidy, but in reality is perhaps full of pain and anguish. Beautiful and complicated at once, Copeland narrates a motif I think we can all likely relate to. See for yourself, how the story culminates:
Keep your eyes out for Kate’s debut album, out June 8th. She’ll be performing in Seattle, at the Seattle Columbia City Theatre on June 7th for her album release show.
