Kat King emerges with her latest EP, ‘Domestic Bliss,’ weaving a melodic narrative that explores the delicate balance of serenity and strife within the confines of home.

When the lights come up and the crowds disperse, where do you go next? An oft-quoted phrase comes to mind: “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” However, when all is said and done, home is where you wish to stay. It’s where you settle down in safety, away from the outside world’s complications; it’s where you feel at ease, as free of anxiety and uncertainty as one can be; It’s where you build yourself or eachother up if you are fortunate enough to have a partner. Nothing should be able to infringe on these rights to peaceful living, but unfortunately, we’re all human at the end of the day, prone to making human mistakes and vulnerable to being swept up in other humans’ mistakes. The all-too relatable struggles of maintaining harmony and contentment are openly showcased here on Kat King’s newest EP, ‘Domestic Bliss.’

Kat King is currently represented as a five-piece group, but their humble beginnings take root in Kat King the person, a true creative who demonstrated artistic prowess very early in life while growing up in a small Kansas town. A sense of direction sprouted as early as 2nd grade and maintained healthy roots, unlike most children her age who only find fleeting entertainment bouncing from one interest to the next. Her fascination with the musical arts was fostered and nurtured, and by the time she entered high school, she had already finished her first solo acoustic EP of material. Her love of music continued to blossom and bear fruit, leading her to Kansas City before the singer-songwriter found camaraderie in four other musical members: John McCain (bass), Kara LePage (keys/vocals), Derek Melies (guitar/vocals), and Daniel Cole (drums). Together, the group is now on its second EP together, following in the heels of 2021’s ‘Say What You Mean.’

‘Domestic Bliss’ starts with the deceptively-dulcet “I’m Tired,” a track which lulls you in with a mellow Rhodes rhythm while Kat tells you how she really feels: She’s tired. I’ll let her tell you how tired and of what, as her frank storytelling is a huge part of what shapes her knack for honest songwriting. Sonorous saxophone joins in on the lullaby, but just as you and Kat both might feel ready to head to dream land, the drummer begins the count. An eruption of shoegaze-y psych rock guitar soon shoots forth with the sax shouting alongside. Not to be outpaced, the rhythm section follows suit, drums crashing and bass pulsing to momentarily knock the tiredness right out of us. Moods are still mostly mellow throughout, but never dull, especially as evidenced in the most recent single from the EP, ‘Living Room.’ A chorused-out bass line really gels the track together with the steady drumming alongside jangly guitar textures and synth flourishes. Kat’s vocal experience shines here as she reflects on her anxieties and dreams; her perfect pitch control and tight timing with the band exemplify how much of a real unit this group is. No person or part feels ill thought-out or out of place throughout the entire EP, and each individual feels like the right choice for their respective parts.

With a second EP under their belts, Kat King is poised to send the show on the road, a skill already well-practiced by its members. After having shared stages with the likes of Jason Isbell, The Beths, and The War and Treaty, this group is in a fantastic spot to showcase to the rest of the world their might and mettle. Perhaps a bit of time away from any one central location will help Kat King and company continue to strengthen those crucial bonds of the home. Another oft-quoted phrase comes to mind: “Home is where the heart is,” and the hearts showcased here on ‘Domestic Bliss’ are so very full of care and love that I have no doubt they will find safe quarters.

<a href="https://katking.bandcamp.com/album/domestic-bliss">Domestic Bliss by Kat King</a>

I’m sure this has been asked of you quite a lot already, but I’ll still go for it: What got you into music at such a young age, and how did you maintain your focus on it?

Kat King: I grew up in a very musical household. My mom was a performing musician and songwriter passed down by her parents and all of my siblings played some kind of instrument. I remember writing songs in my notebooks during classes in elementary school and always coming up with songs with my cousin when we would play. When I discovered GarageBand on my brother’s laptop I was able to actually make little demos that I’d put out on Myspace (the glory days!) and my dad was the pastor of a church at the time which gave me access to the instruments on stage. I think having both of those resources made pursuing a career as a performing musician pretty tangible. My brother was also the drummer of a punk band in high school so seeing him on stage helped me really visualize my goal and it just never left me.

How natural was the evolution between singer-songwriter and band leader? What was the process like?

Well if we’re really going back, I was a band leader before I was a singer-songwriter. I’d formed a band called Run To You that lived for a few years in elementary school and I had the reputation as “big bad boss” from my friends who were in it – haha. When I entered into a singer-songwriter era I still had a rotating group of musicians for bigger shows (mostly my family and close friends) so leading a band was pretty natural by the time I found who is now the band Kat King. Through all of these phases it was always my vision leading us but now I have the desire and appreciation for my bandmates songwriting ideas that I didn’t quite have as a young kid.

If you could collaborate and/or perform with any current musician/group, who would it be?

This is so hard. It’d be a dream to dance and sing on stage with Sylvan Esso, so I’ll go with them. And on a local level I’d love to collaborate with Stephonne. They’re one of the best performers I’ve seen here and their songs are catchy as hell.

With your upcoming tour agenda for this summer, I’m also curious: What are some of your tour rituals or guidelines for having both a fun and safe experience?

It’s really important for us to “share the aux cord” if you will. Everyone gets to take turns picking music or else we’ll be stuck listening to an hour long song – a bit John (our bassist) likes to do. Everyone looks out for each other and our gear so safety is pretty ingrained in the group. Outside of that, we always try to take an egg selfie when we remember to.