Wonderland

KATHERINE ALY – “222”

Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter, Katherine Aly, dives into modern dating archetypes with fun and flirty new EP, “222”.

Katherine Aly’s latest project, “222”, is an expansive collection entirely written, recorded, and mixed in her home studios in Glasgow and Edinburgh. This rising alternative pop artist takes a playful yet introspective dive into themes that resonate deeply with today’s generations. Aly explores the ups and downs of modern dating, addressing a range of characters: from mama’s boys on the vibrant, aptly-titled electro-pop track “FREUD”, to unreliable friends in “WHATYAGONDOBOUTIT”, and narcissists in “EDINBURGH [for the narcissist]”.

Specifically diving into the third track, “EDINBURGH [for the narcissist]”, Katherine reflects on the lyrical component, creative inspirations and the process, explaining “The third track, “EDINBURGH [for the narcissist]”, is a particularly personal one as it examines how narcissism can impact a relationship. Lyrically, it’s the heaviest track of the EP and it has a strong, hopeful and feminist message – in the middle eight there’s a loud statement that ‘his story won’t be history this time. And musically it’s the most experimental song, with a blend of choral singing and traditional percussion, heavy arpeggios and toms in the chorus, and an alt R&B vibe in the verses. We actually wrote this as a spare song to have just in case, but we ended up liking it so much it made it to the final four unanimously!”

The project kicks off with the infectious energy of “FREUD”, setting a high bar with its dynamic, contemporary pop feel. From there, Aly navigates from strength to strength, weaving catchy bars through lush, multi-layered instrumentals. She closes out the journey with “NEW HEART [for the almost one]”, a head-bopping dance track with futuristic synths and captivating vocals—ending “222” on a note as enchanting as it is exhilarating.

Reflecting on the project as a whole, Katherine shares, “The tracks are all essentially short stories which reflect on specific experiences with four different types of men: the mama’s boy, the friend-zoned, the narcissist, and the almost one. The title of the EP comes from the duration of the tracks, which all run to two minutes and 22 seconds. It started as a total coincidence after writing the first two songs, but I decided to continue the theme as a creative challenge for the final two tracks – plus 222 is also considered the number for trust and patience, so it’s a bit of a comical message connected to the modern dating scene. It really fits with the EP’s playful and confrontational character.”

Listen to the EP…