In Conversation With #190 - Kitty Perrin
Norwich singer-songwriter and radio presenter Kitty Perrin has just released her debut EP ‘Stick It Out’.
After sneaking into a Slow Club gig in year six, Perrin found a new hero in Rebecca Lucy Taylor (now SELF ESTEEM). She adored her blunt lyrical style and Perrin’s love for that type of songwriting only increased when Kate Nash and Lily Allen emerged in her teens.
Along with being a songwriter, Perrin is also a presenter for BBC Radio Norfolk. She hosts ‘The Social’ - a show discussing local youth issues - and their BBC Introducing show where she highlights Norfolk’s best up-and-coming talents. This role has seen Perrin become a central pillar in her community, and she injects that community spirit into the music that she makes under her own name.
She took a moment. to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Kitty - how are you? So your debut EP is finally here - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
I’m good thank you! It feels amazing. I’ve been making music and performing for a long time but this is the first time I’ve made something that feels really right. It’s so nice to have something to share that I’m proud of and that really represents what I do.
It is called ‘Stick It Out’ - what is the meaning behind that?
All the songs touch on different subject matters and stories from my life but the common theme in all of them is getting through something while not necessarily coming out on top or making a success of it. This year especially I think we’ve all learnt that, a lot of the time, life is more about sticking it out then being happy all the time. The EP celebrates, questions and challenges capacity as human beings to just stick it out even when things get bad.
Where was the album recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
The EP was recorded at Decoy Studios in rural Suffolk and at my pianist and producer (Alexander Carson)’s house in rural Norfolk. Part of the reason it was such a long time coming it because we started the recording process in between the first two lockdowns and then we weren’t able to get back into the studio for 6 months. I’ve never been in a proper recording studio before and it was an incredible experience but I also loved discovering what we could do with a few nice mics in Alex’s cottage. Despite being a radio presenter I get quite bad red light syndrome so it was nice to take the pressure off with a more DIY set up at points.
My favourite moment in the recording process was the day we went to Decoy in the middle of summer. The studio opens out onto a lake and on the final evening of recording we were all standing in the studio in our swim stuff getting the final takes, then as soon as it was done we ran down and jumped in.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
Stick It Out is a really personal EP so a lot of the stories are right from my life. It touches on self-indulgence, dependence in relationships, stoicism and superheroes, but I think overall it is about learning to be content. The order of the tracks unconsciously correlates to the order they were written in and so they kind of show my thoughts at each stage from the end of an all-consuming relationship to the point of finding joy and fulfilment in my friendships and life as it is now.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
The last line of the whole EP is really special to me. It ends with me and the band singing ‘Lucky I’ve a lot to lose’ and hearing that line sung with the same people that make me feel so lucky will always make me emotional.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
It’s not a film… but can I say any episode of Mae Martin’s ‘Feel Good’? Some of the songs feel like they’re just describing the scenes from the show even though it came out after I’d written them. I’ve never watched anything that’s hit home so much.
Now the EP is out there - what next for you?
I’ve got a load of new songs to record and in the meantime just lots of writing and performing. This year I really want to travel around the UK to perform more and we’ll hopefully get another tour in soon!
