Katie Gavin bridges the gap between Muna and her debut solo LP with 'Aftestaste'

Muna's Katie Gavin embarks on a solo mission. The musician has announced plans to release her debut solo album What a relief on October 25. The record will feature newly released single 'Aftestaste', an ode to the relief of a two-way crush in which Gavin leads familiar listeners out of Muna's world and into hers.

Gavin has described the love single as a sonic and thematic bridge between the two creative works, which informed her decision to lead with it. “'Aftestaste' is a sweet song about carrying a torch for someone, realizing you go out to concerts and parties hoping to meet them there,” he shared in a statement. “The song is a make-believe game, really, and because it involves confessing your love and finding that it's reciprocated.”

In the accompanying video, co-directed by Gavin and Alexa Viscius, the musician stars as a nude model for a design class. The theme parallels the chorus of the single, where she sings, “I feel naked when you look my way/You can see it in my face/You're the only reason I came here/You're the only reason I stayed here.”

“Naomi McPherson helped me come up with the idea for the video,” Gavin said. “Alexa Viscius co-directed with me and brought in an amazing creative team from Chicago to make it happen. Shooting in my hometown felt very right to introduce this solo work. Back to my roots, if you will.”

What a relief will feature 12 tracks in total, including a collaboration with Mitski titled “As Good As It Gets”. At 31, the musician leans towards introspection throughout the record. “It's about having a really deep desire for connection, but also dealing with all the obstacles that stood in my way of being able to achieve that, patterns of isolation or even boredom with the actual labor of love,” Gavin said. “What a relief explores it and portrays it honestly, without shame.”

In November, Gavin will start an 11 date North American tour making stops in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Toronto, Seattle and more. The series will conclude on December 8 with a performance in her hometown of Chicago. Gavin will also deliver an intimate show in London on September 11. Information on on-sale times for the live performances will be announced at a later date.

What a relief Tracklist
1. “I want it all”
2. “Aftertaste”
3. “The Baton”
4. “Occasional drug use”
5. “As Good As It Gets” with Mitski
6. “Sanitized”
7. “Sketches”
8. “Inconsolable”
9. “Sparrow”
10. “Sweet Abby Girl”
11. “Keep Walking”
12. “Today”