Photo credit: Celeste Burdon
“Oh my gosh!!! You are all so rad!!! You sound great!!!” – Sharon Van Etten
Formed with a mission to highlight the need for more women in music, exciting West Cork five-piece The Kates release their highly anticipated debut EP Pictures Here Of Dreams on September 20, 2024.
The Kates comprises of Eve Clague, Liz Clark, Mary Beth O Mahony, Míde Houlihan and Paula K. All five members have played, sang and written their own music for years, each releasing albums of original work. The five piece have now written a collection of original songs and the resulting Pictures Here Of Dreams EP will have an EP launch at Clonakilty International Guitar Festival on September 20 and Coughlan’s, Cork on September 28, 2024.
The Pictures Here Of Dreams EP features a track written by each member of The Kates. Speaking on the EP Paula K says “We like the idea that this EP is a picture or representation of The Kates and our feelings/dreams/ideas.” The EP title is a line taken from the band’s debut single ‘All That Talk’. Written by Míde Houlihan ‘All That Talk’, released in June 2024, received rave reviews, spent 2 weeks on RTE Radio 1’s Recommends Playlist as well as support from Today FM, Radio Nova, Live95, RedFM, Corks96FM, and KCLR96FM.
Focus track from Pictures Here Of Dreams is ‘Unbalancing’. Written by Liz Clark, she says “‘Unbalancing’ is about my busy brain that can’t quite ever achieve this elusive “balance” we’re supposed to all strive for. But also wondering if balance isn’t as exciting as my chaotic life anyway!” Fusing the harmony arrangements found in the music of The Shangri-Las and The Supremes with the disruptive guitar riffs of 90’s Indie rock sleeze ‘Unbalancing’ manages to capture the conflict and chaos that exists in our minds as we strive not just to manage our day to day but also to hold onto our dreams.
Debut single ‘All That Talk’ and first track from Pictures Here Of Dreams EP, is about standing in your own way but also not being sure how to address it. it’s about feeling a little frustrated with yourself in not being able to keep up with the world and how it moves. Written by Paula K ‘Breathe In’ is about trying to cope when difficult things happen in your life. It’s about how the world keeps going even though you feel like everything should stop. So, you hold your breath to prevent yourself from dealing with reality, to try and stop the world. ‘Breathe In’ means it takes one breath, one action, to help begin to move forward. ‘Hot headed’ was written by Eve Clague and is about not being able to bear to see the person you love with someone else. Constantly being insecure but getting tired of yourself for having these feelings. Written by Mary Beth O Mahony ‘Always’ is all about emotion. Recorded live ‘Always’ contains a real rawness about it. It’s about how powerful love is and feeling safe with someone. But also knowing things will change and that’s ok.
Five years ago, Paula K had the original idea to set up the all women rock band, specifically for a fundraiser for ovarian cancer charity OvaCare. Paula explains, “The fundraiser was in memory of my mother Catherine who passed away from ovarian cancer, and she inspired the name. She was a feminist who loved to lift other women up. The Kates have been going ever since!” The premise behind forming The Kates back in 2017 was to showcase the depth and variety of songs by women featuring covers by artists like Sharon Van Etten, Orla Gartland, Angel Olsen, Lucy Dacus, Patty Smith, The Staves, and Haim. After huge success since starting The Kates they are moving away from playing covers and are embarking on a new adventure with the release of a EP of original songs that has become Pictures Here Of Dreams. Pictures Here Of Dreams is a five track EP of original songs, recorded in Wavefield Recording Studio, Clonakilty.
Speaking on the band Paula K adds, “It’s also a wonderful vehicle to express ourselves in an environment that feels true to us as we are all individually songwriters and singers. We support each other. We love that in The Kates band, we are women in our 20s, 30s & 40s, allowing for the sharing of experiences and learning from each other. The support and encouragement from our local communities has been integral to keep playing and to start writing together as a band. From our first gig in 2017 for the charity OvaCare to our single launch in DeBarras in 2024, we are so proud of how far we’ve come and we hope to keep on going.”
Follow The Kates on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok
Connect with Eve Clague/ Mide Houlihan/ Paula K / Liz Clark/ Mary Beth O Mahony