Muna’s Katie Gavin Debuts New Song With Japanese House at L.A. Show
Over the last few years, Muna has been on a creative roll that’s made them one of the most deservedly beloved indie-pop bands around right now. “Silk Chiffon,” their catchy, buoyant 2022 declaration of queer love, was a breakout streaming hit, a highlight of their self-titled album, which was released on Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records. This summer, the band enjoyed the thrilling fan experience of being invited onstage by Alanis Morissette to perform her classic 1995 hit, “Ironic.”
Last month, Muna’s Katie Gavin announced that she’d be releasing her debut solo LP, What a Relief, on Oct. 25. In premiering the album’s lead single, “Aftertaste,” a lilting bit of confectionary folk-pop, she said of the album: “It’s about having a really deep desire for connection, but also encountering all the obstacles that stood in my way to be able to achieve that, patterns of isolation or even boredom with the real work of love. What a Relief explores and portrays it honestly, without shame.”
More from Rolling Stone
Joe Jonas Wants His Solo Album to Be 'Packed' With 'Features' and 'A Lot of Duets'
Katie Gavin Bridges Gap Between Muna and Her Debut Solo LP With 'Aftertaste'
And last week at a show in Los Angeles, we got a taste of what Gavin’s new project will be like when she was invited onstage by the Japanese House (a.k.a. singer-songwriter Amber Bain). They performed “Morning Pages,” a collaboration with Gavin on Bain’s 2023 debut album, In The End It Always Does. Gavin also came back out for an encore, and she and Bain played a What A Relief song called “Inconsolable.” Bain offered high praise for the song, saying that it “has not only been confirmed by me, but also my girlfriend and my best friend, as ‘the best song ever written.’” The lovely country-tinged tune continued the introspective vibe we should expect from the album, a sound Gavin refers to as “Lilith Fair-core.”
Just last month, Gavin played the Newport Folk Festival, where he debuted another collaboration with indie-rock icon Mitski, “As Good As It Gets.” (Mitski wasn’t on hand to perform the song with her, so MUNA’s Naomi McPherson stepped in to help out).
Gavin will tour to support What a Relief with shows beginning in November.
What a Relief Track List
1. “I Want It All”
2. “Aftertaste”
3. “The Baton”
4. “Casual Drug Use”
5. “As Good As It Gets” featuring Mitski
6. “Sanitized”
7. “Sketches”
8. “Inconsolable”
9. “Sparrow”
10. “Sweet Abby Girl”
11. “Keep Walking”
12. “Today”
Best of Rolling Stone