PREMIERE: Kate Gratson’s “On To You”

“On to You” is the debut single from Kate’s upcoming EP, The Girl You Knew. Co-produced with the Brooklyn based production duo, Bird Language, “On to You” weaves Kate’s intimate yet powerful vocals with a sonic landscape of distorted and layered vocal samples, lush synths, and bold electric guitar. The production cradles her voice, highlighting the delicate lyrics that allow the story to emerge. Illuminated with lyrics like: “Left all my thoughts on the page when I wrote to you that day… Wish I told you sooner, your kisses soft and sweet”, “On to You” is a timeless piece, laced with emotion that walks you through every hesitant step of love.

Kate gave us an exclusive inside scoop on what the single means to her. Read below and connect with Kate Gratson to stay up to date on all of her new releases!

Words from Kate on new single, “On To You”:

“On to You” is the debut single from my upcoming EP, The Girl You Knew, in it the sweet and vulnerable evolution of a love story unfolds.  I wrote “On to You” when I was falling in love for the first time. I always have trouble expressing my emotions when it matters most, but somehow putting it into song and creating something beautiful makes it easier to articulate.  So the story begins with the inability to catch your breath around someone, to revealing your most personal thoughts to them, and ultimately discovering there are mutual feelings, “On to You” details the blossoming romance of new love.  

“On to You” was the first time I was completely satisfied with a track that I had created.  I graduated in 2017 with a degree in classical composition, so after graduation I moved back to Brooklyn and dedicated myself to producing.  “On to You” started with a synth sample I found from Splice and a vocal sample I layered and distorted. Most of the music I write contains a disguised vocal sample that I create, and “On to You” is no different.  I’m obsessed with taking my voice and using it like an instrument and fooling around with it, whether that means harmonizing, doubling, pitch shifting, or distorting, my goal with this vocal sample was to make it unrecognizable as my voice and use it in a rhythmic way.  

Co-produced with the Brooklyn based production duo, Bird Language, “On to You” weaves intimate yet powerful vocals with a sonic landscape of distorted and layered vocal samples, lush synths, and bold electric guitar. With lyrics like: “Wish I told you sooner / Your kisses soft and sweet / Didn’t know you needed me / It took some time to see”, the delicate lyrics are a stark contrast to the bass heavy rnb-pop track that they’re accompanied by. It was important for the production to cradle my voice, and highlight the lyrics that allow the story to emerge.  You can hear electric guitar from singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Vaughn Faison.  This was one of those amazing moments in technology where I sent him the song, he recorded his part remotely in Texas, sent it back and it was a perfect compliment to the vocals.  I was listening to a lot of James Blake, Nao, and H.E.R at the time I was writing “On to You”. I’m always drawn to really talented singers and hard core musicians who have taken their time at perfecting their instrument, I find that their authenticity and brilliance shines through their music in a way that I aspire to with mine.

Connect with Kate Gratson:

Instagram . Spotify . Website .

Instagram . Spotify . Website .