Stereo Embers The Podcast 0300: Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sleater-Kinney)

“Honeymoon Suite” Hailing from Leeds, Katie Harkin was the co-founder of the band Sky Larkin—an outfit she put together with her childhood pal Nestor Matthews while they were attending university. They signed to the London indie Wichita Recordings, which was home to The Cribs, Bloc Party, Best Coast and My Morning Jacket and put out three great albums, including the 2009 classic The Golden Spike. That band lasted almost ten years and while they were at it, Harkin started to get recruited for other projects, like touring with Wild Beasts in 2011 for their Smother record. Post Sky Larkin she became a touring member of Sleater-Kinney—you can hear her on the Live in Paris album— and she went on to also be a touring member of Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile’s band when they toured the Lotta Sea Lice record. She toured again with Barnett a year later and soon after she put out her first solo album under the name Harkin. She put out her second Harkin effort this summer—titled Honeymoon Suite, it’s dreamy, ethereal and decidedly catchy. The compositions are textured and nuanced, the instrumentation is layered and rich and Harkin’s vocals float with precision and finesse. Harkin is never not busy—she’s worked with everyone from Waxahatchee to comic Josie Long to Turner Prize-winning filmmaker Helen Martin We got her in between all the business and she was just lovely. www.handmirror.bandcamp.com www.stereoembersmagazine.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com