top of page

Kate Peytavin combines modern angst & vintage grace with “whole heart black”

Jonnica Hill
Emerging artist Kate Peytavin is back with a new grungy alt-pop single.

Channelling late 90s and early 2000s pop-rock icons like Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne, Kate Peytavin’s latest track brings upbeat, angsty energy to her melancholic, ethereal sound while staying true to the lyrical honesty shown throughout her collection so far.


Kate Peytavin standing in front of a tree with black ink on her fingers.
whole heart black cover shot by Hannah Tacher

Beginning with a hauntingly mellow intro, sprinkled with acoustic guitar, strong drums and shimmers of electronic sounds, the track soon turns it up a notch when the grungy electric guitar joins in. Kate’s voice rises above it all, with both delicate whisperings and fierce moments. Feeling like the intersection of Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, “whole heart black” encapsulates both the mischievous enjoyment and undeniable sadness of wanting someone you know you shouldn’t have.


“I think there’s a lot of learning to be done, but it’s a very valid emotion and feeling and is something that a lot of people get suppressed for having, so I want my listeners to listen and know that it’s okay.” - Kate Peytavin

Exploring both darkness and light through music is not unlike Kate. On her previous releases, “killing time,” “something’s off,” and “ever fallen?” she expresses relatable musings about growing up, from insecurity and heartbreak to love and self-discovery. On a more personal note, “big white light” deals with her anxieties surrounding her family’s long-time experiences with cancer.


Although not from a musical family, Kate was known to sing around the house from a young age. After starring in her own iPad-made movie creations, she started acting in musicals, commercials and short films. Once the pandemic started and auditions dried up, Kate took to posting covers on TikTok, gaining virality and the attention of industry movers, which eventually led to her signing with Capitol Records and S10.


Since then, Kate has been busy travelling to LA to work on music with hitmakers like Rami Yacoub, Casey Smith and Mozella. Having created a series of Pinterest-worthy visualizers for her current catalogue, Kate’s goal for 2024 is to finally showcase her storytelling with a music video. Now with five brilliantly unique singles out, and hints of much more to come, Kate Peytavin is one you truly should be watching out for.




Q&A with Kate

Q: In listening to your releases so far, I noticed hints of vintage ‘50s/‘60s vibes. I was wondering where that vintage inspiration comes from for you?


A: I’ve always been a lover of vintage things and I've kind of gravitated toward artists that kind of do the same thing such as Lana Del Rey, and many other artists. I was writing for about a year until I made ‘ever fallen?,’ my first song to ever come out, and then when I made that it just felt so right and so I wanted to kind of go along that wave and create more things like that. And it also felt right because it matched a lot of the influences that I love like Lana Del Rey, Suki Waterhouse and many others.


Q: Some artists have talked about their relationship with their music changing after it is released. What is that experience like for you?


A: I love all of my songs because it brings me back to the space I was in when I was making them and how I felt. But it is weird because when you’re making a song, you hear it so many times. You’re getting so many bounces back, so many mixtapes and masters and I get so used to hearing it that I almost have imposter syndrome like, ‘Is this actually good? I’ve heard it so many times that I don’t even know anymore,’ and so that is a little bit of a struggle. Whenever it’s been a while and I go back and listen to my old songs I’m like, ‘Oh, you know, that’s kinda nice, I kinda like that.'


 

Check out "whole heart black" below:


Want to follow along? Find Kate on Instagram and TikTok or explore her website.

bottom of page