Just ahead of MUNA’s appearance at Newport Folk Festival this weekend, lead singer Katie Gavin has announced her debut solo album, What a Relief, and lined up a string of 2024 tour dates. Out October 25th via Saddest Factory Records, the project features the lead single “Aftertaste.”
Gavin describes What a Relief as “Lilith Fair-core,” viewing predecessors like Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, and Ani DiFranco as a “North Star” during the album’s recording. “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,” she said in a statement. “What a Relief explores and portrays it honestly, without shame.”
The artist’s supporting tour begins with solo performances during MUNA’s sets at Newport and Evanston Folk Festival. Gavin’s proper headlining dates kick off with a London show on September 11th, followed by North American dates in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Chicago, and more. See the full itinerary below.
An artist pre-sale (register here) begins on Tuesday, July 30th, followed by a Live Nation pre-sale for select dates on Wednesday, July 31st (use access code STRUM). The general on-sale starts on Friday, August 2nd via Ticketmaster.
As the first preview of what’s to come, “Aftertaste” serves as a sonic and thematic bridge between MUNA’s world and Gavin’s solo record by embracing the highs of new romance. “Sometimes it’s fun to surrender to that feeling — I think a lot of songwriters have a strong relationship with romantic fantasy,” Gavin explained.
She continued, “‘Aftertaste’ is a sweet song about carrying a torch for someone, realizing that you are going out to concerts and parties hoping to run into them there. The song is a playing out of a fantasy, really, both because it involves confessing your crush and finding out that it is reciprocated.”
In the music video, which was co-directed by Gavin and Alexa Viscius, the artist goes nude to depict the naked feeling of being honest with one’s emotions. Watch it below.
MUNA’s most recent album was released in 2022 and earned the group recognition as Consequence’s Band of the Year.
What a Relief Artwork:
What a Relief Tracklist:
01. I Want It All
02. Aftertaste
03. The Baton
04. Casual Drug Use
05. As Good As It Gets (feat. Mitski)
06. Sanitized
07. Sketches
08. Inconsolable
09. Sparrow
10. Sweet Abby Girl
11. Keep Walking
12. Today
Katie Gavin 2024 Tour Dates:
07/27 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival *
09/07 – Evanston, IL @ Evanston Folk Festival *
09/11 – London, UK @ The Old Church
11/19 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
11/20 – Portland, OR @ The Old Church
11/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
11/24 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy + Harriet’s
11/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
12/08 – Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room
12/10 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
12/13 – Washington, DC @ The Atlantis
12/14 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
12/16 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
12/18 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
* = w/ MUNA
