We Chat to Katherine Priddy Ahead of Her Rough Trade Gig

You’re about to release your second album, The Pendulum Swing. How did the album come to be?

Well, I do now understand the phrase “difficult second album” - I’m feeling the pressure on this one! But it came together quite naturally in the end. We were sitting in the studio going through demos I’d made, and the theme of ‘home’ and ‘family’ was quite evident. It was never intentional to set out with a theme but I think it’s natural for albums to fall into that eventually because all the songs are written in a chapter of your life, and for me it was in a chapter when I was moving home and moving out, and working out what I wanted to do … it was that kind of push and pull.

With the first album, most of the songs were written when I was a teenager and at uni - so I’d like to think that these songs have matured. I’d like to think my songwriting generally has matured, and I think thematically it has as well. I’m definitely in a different place now, and I think the songs reflect that.

How are you going to present the album at your Rough Trade show?

With these shows it’s all about trying to support a local record store and it’s about going into those intimate spaces — so it will be solo and acoustic. It’s just a nice way to sing the songs, and say the album's out, and give a nice little stripped back, intimate performance. 

I think what I’m looking forward to most is getting to meet and chat to people afterwards. It’s something I’ve been holding on to for so long myself, so it will be nice to actually see some records off to good homes, in person. It’s quite a cathartic thing for me in that respect.

I love record shops and I like going into those spaces which are dedicated to music, so I think it’ll be a nice thing to do around the release. Then in May I’ll be doing a tour where I’ll be performing the songs with a more built up sound.

Which kind of shows do you prefer - the intimate or larger ones?

I actually find the more intimate shows a lot more nerve-wracking than the big rooms. It does feel a bit more personal – you feel a bit more exposed in small venues. When you can really see people’s faces when you’re playing, that’s what makes me nervous! But I think they can be a lot more rewarding as well. It feels like more of a shared, special experience I think. 

Have you played at Rough Trade, or in Nottingham, before?

I’ve played at Rough Trade East in London, but this will be my first time at the Nottingham branch. I was meant to play in Nottingham on my last tour, but I was ill and I wasn’t able to do the show and we weren’t able to reschedule. I couldn’t get Nottingham on the tour dates either - so I was really keen to do one of these signing shows there. It’s a part of the Midlands which I haven’t played much in. I always try to see as many parts as possible - I don’t want people to feel forgotten about, and I haven’t really done that part of the world much before. I’ve played in Nottingham supporting a couple of times at The Bodega but not a show under my own steam - so it feels like time.

How do you approach the tour thing - how do you stay grounded?

I’m quite lucky in some respects that my stage shows aren’t super physically energetic. I don’t do a lot of running around on stage. Sorry to let you down if you’re coming to Rough Trade — there will be no moshing, unless you want to, of course! So I think the shows physically aren’t too tiring, but you can’t underestimate adrenaline. It is exhausting afterwards. 

It sounds really cheesy but I just love talking to people after. I really like the merch table, I like chatting to people; that’s the bit that energises me. I really enjoy the performance, but for the performance you’re focused and going off adrenaline and it’s when you chat to people afterwards … that’s what keeps me going. 

Playing live is my favourite bit about being a musician. I enjoy touring – it is tiring, but it’s fun and it feels like the reward for me. You work so hard on your laptop and then you go to the studio and all that kind of stuff, but actually seeing your music out in the wild, meeting people who’ve invested in your music and getting to thank them in person … I love it! I don’t mind being tired because I'm just so grateful that people want to come and watch me, so my tiredness feels irrelevant. I want to go out there and thank them.

Do you try to keep to any routines when you’re touring?

On a more practical level, not partying every night and trying to be sensible in that respect, tempting as it all is. A little drink afterwards is fine, but avoiding ‘the strip’ after gigs is probably a good thing! I have found that with touring I need to make sure I have plenty of time on my own as well in the daytime. I tend to like to go for a little wander and chill out before the gig, that’s my pattern.

I always like to try and explore. One of the best things about the job is being able to travel with it, whether that be the UK or abroad, and I’d like to try and take advantage of that where I can. I always try to do something, even if it’s just a little wander around the town where I’m playing. It’s nice to go and see where you are and make the most of it.

I just did the tour with The Unthanks where we had a bus, and that was quite a long tour. I had to go to Dublin in the middle of it. So there were a couple of times on that tour where I thought, I’m not going to go and explore, I’m going to go and have a nap! Just chill for a little bit. 

I’m always grateful when people recommend places near the venue where I can go and eat at, or anything that’s good to go and see - it’s always nice. I remember in Nottingham there’s a really old pub - the oldest pub? 

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem!

Yes, that’s it – they’ve got that game where there’s a ring on the string you have to throw … It’s lovely!

Katherine Priddy will perform at Rough Trade for a live in-store signing on February 20th 2024.