Katy Kirby Explores First Queer Love in New Album 'Blue Raspberry'

Brooklyn's Katy Kirby has unveiled her sophomore album titled Blue Raspberry, a deep dive into her personal journey discovering love in her first queer relationship. Kirby, an indie singer-songwriter, is acclaimed for her pure and melodious vocal qualities that root back to her early days singing in church in a small Texan town. She honed her craft further upon relocating to Nashville, paving her way with two album releases.

From Worship to Wistfulness

Retaining a touch of her religious Southern roots, Kirby's new album marks a departure from her previous record, Cool Dry Place. It trades the playful for a measured exploration of intimate themes, encapsulated by Kirby's crystalline voice and accompanied by a richer, orchestral sound. Delicate lyricism paints pictures of the quirks and intimacies recognized among women in love.

Intimacies and Imagery

In tracks like Salt Crystal, Kirby reflects on the tiny details that showcase affection, supported by a soundscape of piano and strings. She uses metaphors, such as cubic zirconia and the flavor 'blue raspberry', to muse on the allure of artificial yet delightful beauties in life and love.

The Sweet With The Bitter

While 'Blue Raspberry' offers many a sweet note, it does not shy from the eventual decline of relationships. Songs like Wait Listen and the raw, one-take Alexandria, confront the heartache of love's dissolution.

A Connection to the Past

The concluding song, Table, becomes a dialog with her religious past, incorporating biblical imagery and contrasting it with visuals of Kirby destroying a table in a meeting room reminiscent of a Puritanical era.

Despite some songs not reaching the heights like others, 'Blue Raspberry' emerges as an emotive and honest portrayal of Kirby's experience with first-time queer love, rich with sentimentality and finely crafted pieces.

indie, queer, love