Kate Prendergast – Undergrowth (2024)
A few months ago, July to be exact, singer-songwriter Kate Prendergast passed our virtual desk; my word, I’m so glad she did. While her music only reached us a year after she began releasing songs, it was a breath of fresh air listening to her track ‘Past Letters’. Drawing together various genres linked with different eras, Prendergast’s songs appeal to audiences beyond the age, time and distance spectrum. Today, join us as we delve into Prendergast’s new single ‘Undergrowth’.
From her debut single ‘One Last Time’ to the well-received ‘Past Letters’, the Irish musician leans greatly toward a folk sound; however, ‘Undergrowth’ appears to take a mild deviation. Retaining the lilt of traditional Irish folk music, Prendergast’s sincere vocals catch along the bold rhythm guitar and powerful piano with toe-tapping Irish charm. Yet, as much as the track hints at Prendergast’s signature folk, Darragh Tibbs’ pulsating drums and bass add an indie-rock beat.
Recorded at Analogue Catalogue Studio B with multi-instrumentalist Declan Legge, ‘Undergrowth’ finds the line between sophistication and crudeness in its intricate production. Not crude in the entirely primitive definition of the word, but rather an innocent cluelessness intentionally inserted presenting vulnerability, fragility and naivety in an elegant, mature wrapper. Think of a wave crashing against a rocky cliff, and you’ll find the brash comfort of ‘Undergrowth’.
Just as the melody is intricate and complex, Prendergast’s vocals merge simplistic starkness with kaleidoscopic warmth. Glaring fear and confusion right in the face, the Ireland-based songstress expresses gut-wrenching turmoil; however, strings a sense of optimism to the situation with ‘Undergrowth’. Prendergast explains:
“This song is about the experience of finding yourself somewhere new and feeling lost. It is about the struggle for balance and the search for hope and feeling of being at home…”
Find out more about Kate Prendergast on her official website, Instagram and Spotify.
Discover more indie-folk artists on The Other Side Reviews Indie Folk playlist:
