AK Patterson, the London-based songstress whose haunting debut single 'I Don't Know How To Die' captivated listeners and critics alike, is back with a bang. Her latest offering, 'Morticia', is a thrilling departure from her previous work, showcasing a raw, rock-infused sound that she aptly describes as a "rock murder ballad". We caught up with Patterson to delve into the inspiration behind the new single, her creative process, and what the future holds for this rising star.

In this interview, we spoke with AK to learn more about her diverse musical influences, from her roots in Irish folk music to her fascination with 90s grunge and the iconic sounds of artists like Jeff Buckley and The Cranberries.

It's amazing to have the chance to speak with you about the new single. How did you first start making music? Where did it all begin?

"I first learnt to play the fiddle, I had two teachers Hazel who was in a folk/ punk band and Josie, a fantastic Irish lady from Clare. I learnt with her at my local labour club / pub that had a folk group every Wednesday where loads of other kids would come and play. I was basically thrown into the deep end, all the other kids were so good at playing by ear already but I was much slower. I’m so grateful for that training though, because that’s how I learnt to play the fiddle completely by ear, I still to this day don’t read or write music. My lessons were about 3 quid, and would usually be next to the pub dishwasher while it was washing all the glasses."

"When I was slightly older and in my teens I turned to the guitar, mostly experimenting in open tunings and DADGAD which I learnt through folk music. Most of my songs used to be about the loneliness I felt, especially when moving to London to go to art school."

How would you describe your sound?

"Well, some people call me ‘Buckley with boobs’ which I thought was funny. I describe it as story songs about characters on the fringes of society, a mixture of modern chamber pop with 90’s Lilith melancholia. The focal point is often my voice, and I use instruments as tools to best tell the story, that's why the instrumentation can sometimes vary quite a lot."

Are there any strong influences that have helped define your music?

"When I was 14 I did start a life long love affair with Jeff Buckley, I would sit doing my art homework listening to live at Sin-E. Funnily enough I just have been touring in New York and I went to visit the bar Sin-E where he played, it’s changed a lot since then. Growing up I used to go to the Cambridge Folk Festival a lot, all these crazy musicians would come to our town every year and I would party with them playing tunes at my mates house. One of the most notable gigs that made me want to really get stuck in on the fiddle was Nickel Creek."

"Some of the stand out singers that have helped me shape the way I use my voice are definitely Ella Fitzgerald, Bjork, Robert Plant, Dave Van Ronk and Christina Aguilera."

What would your dream collaboration be?

"Robert Plant, Caroline Polacheck or Bjork. I love Robert plant so much, his album he did with Alison Kraus (Raising Sand) is phenomenal if they could both just adopt me that would be great."

Tell us a bit about your debut track, 'I don’t know how to die'. How did it come about?

"This was the first song I wrote after my band broke up. When the band ended it was like a strange marriage that had failed, I was really sad and needed to write something to tell myself that I could do it alone. I was staying at a mates house in Devon, he’d lent me this amazing cottage to stay in all by myself as I was looking for somewhere secluded to go and write. This was the first song I wrote on the trip, I just woke up and had a lot to say, made it in a day and recorded the main vocal takes you hear in the final recording. I only did two takes of the whole thing, but loved the rawness of the vocal so much that we kept it for the final song. There's a lot of godly, angelic imagery in the song, I’m not religious but I think at the time I was really yearning for something to believe in, and since writing it I can see that what I was wanting was how to start believing in myself a bit more."

What is your songwriting process? How does it all come together?

"I don’t really have a process, song writing is largely still magic to me. What I do have is techniques to get songs started. Sometimes lyrical ideas will come from things I hear people say, road signs I read or real life experiences I have. I have to be willing to wrote them down in the moment before the poetry disappears. Other times I might have a guitar riff or be humming a tune in the shower, and I have to rush to my phone to record the idea. But sometimes I also treat songs like research projects, and I may be interested in a particular theme or character that I won’t know much about, and I’ll go on a deep internet dive to try and find as many words associated with the topic as possible. I am a very visual person, so I make Pinterest boards alongside songs, if I can’t see the song I often can’t write it."

What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song?

"That I feel I have something to say, if I can’t figure out the North Star of the song, and by North Star I mean the point I’m making or the reason for its existence, then that idea normally goes by the wayside."

What advice would you give to band’s who are looking to make it?

"Don’t look to make it, look to make great art first and if you make it then that’s a bonus."

What has been your best moment as an artist so far?

"Previously I maybe would have said something like going on tour with alt-J as their support or getting to work with my dream producer , Charlie Andrew. But honestly today I think the answer would be releasing this first single completely on my own, without a team or any funding, and learning how to become more self sufficient as an artist has taught me a lot, and I love that fact that I don’t have to rely on any gate keepers to make great music and get it out into the world."

A distinctively more rocky sound than the haunting ‘I Don’t Know How To Die’, 'Morticia' track showcases Patterson’s versatility as a songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. After playing in the band ‘Bastille’ for several months and joining them on their winter tour in the UK and US last year, 2025 promises to be a milestone year for Patterson, with the release of her third EP - an evocative collection of songs that explore London’s dark underbelly.

For more from AK Patterson, be sure to connect with her on Instagram.