Katherine Abbott is back with a captivating new single, 'Wings on Fire'. The Stratford-upon-Avon singer-songwriter has crafted an intimate and gentle indie folk gem that showcases her immense talent. With dreamlike vocals cascading over earthy acoustic guitars, warm bass, and hypnotic drums, 'Wings on Fire' is an ethereal earworm that oozes authenticity. It's the perfect winter warmer, guaranteed to get under your skin and stay there.
The song dives into the complexities of living in a lucid, dreamlike state, where one erects walls to protect themselves from past pain, but at the cost of disconnecting from society and loved ones. It explores the idea of being on a high, existing in a constant state of euphoria to avoid confronting painful truths. This feeling of being close to heaven, or in touch with angels, leads to a loss of touch with reality. 'Wings on Fire' captures the essence of euphoria tinged with fear, the act of penetrating the veil between this world and the next, and the danger of going too far, to the point of no return or permanent disconnect.
Katherine's inspiration for the song struck in an unusual setting: Lone Fir Cemetery, Portland's oldest cemetery. "Maybe it's a little morbid, but I find cemeteries very peaceful and inspiring places and seek them out for sanctuary," she explains. The cemetery, with its 700 trees representing 76 different species, is also Portland's second largest arboretum, providing a unique and tranquil environment for creativity.
"It was the morning, and the sun was streaming through the trees. I sat down with my guitar almost in a trance, and the song just came out of me, like a crystal clear signal on a radio," Katherine recalls. "Sometimes it can take me weeks, months, even years to finish a song, but in this case, I had the bare bones down that morning, and after putting pen to paper and focusing as hard as I could, the song was finished in its entirety by the night time."
Katherine cites Elliot Smith, Nirvana, and Lana Del Rey as influences during the writing process. "Elliot Smith is the kind of artist I listen to one track [by] and feel an intense urge to pick up a guitar and sing in the hope of writing something. Artists like this are such a gift," she shares.
Beyond musical influences, Katherine's time in Portland played a significant role in shaping the song. "I'd fallen in love with Portland; it was spring, everything was in full bloom, blossom littering the pavements, and I was walking around in a trance, it felt like, just fascinated and enchanted by my surroundings," she describes. This sense of freedom and excitement, coupled with the enchanting atmosphere of Portland, fuelled her creativity and led to the birth of 'Wings on Fire'.
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