Sound it Out #8: Kathryn Calder: “Turn a Light On”
An instant gloomy-day classic, Kathryn Calder’s “Turn a Light On” is lush and lovely with enchanting, layered vocals and a child-like tone. The pedal steel guitar makes your heart hurt in the very best way.
Kathryn Calder is in the unenviable position of being Neko Case’s replacement in The New Pornographers’ full-time line-up. New Pornographers bandleader A.C. Newman (who is Calder’s uncle!) invited her to join the band in 2006 when she was only 18. She sings some of the best songs on the New Pornographers’ last few records, and her new solo effort shows a depth of songwriting that you just don’t hear when she is part of a group.
Kathryn Calder’s new record is called “Bright and Vivid” and mixes poppy, more optimistic songs with introspective ones like this.