‘The most vulnerable I've been with my audience.’
Kaytlyn Johnson is a proud Palawa artist, raised in Tasmania and now based in Naarm, and has made waves with her first two singles, landing Spotify editorial Playlist covers, Triple J plays, and a Rolling Stone appearance. After two fun, upbeat releases, Kaytlyn will share a deeper level of herself and her music, with ‘This Side of Heaven’ releasing on the 16th of June.
Kaytlyn opens up about the intimate nature of this next release:-
“This Side of Heaven is a sensual and honest pop/rock ballad about the healing process within yourself between messy relationships and spreads undertones of feminine empowerment throughout the lyrics. I wrote this song in 2022 when I was going through a rough time in my life, battling with my own relationship to myself and how that would affect my ability to love others going forward.
We recorded this song in the state-of-the-art studios at ANU in Canberra and afforded a real string section, live drums and immersive vocal layers.
I love the instrumentation of this track- I am so proud of the rocky build in the bridge, marrying these haunting pop-ballad vocals and the suspenseful strings underneath. My producer, Sophie Edwards and I, were drawing from influences like Aussie rock band Short Stack, and likened the drama of the strings to a James Bond soundtrack.
We were relentless in getting the drums right, and spent over four sessions just focussing on them! I am so grateful for the guidance and patience of Sophie and Will Kepa up in Canberra allowing me to perfect every word and every instrumental layer.
I also love the outtro of this song as it feels like a real resolution to the inner-conflicts throughout the piece. It feels like an honest admission and apology, and reveals a passage of growth, ready to give yourself fully to somebody else again.”
I hope this song speaks to you on a new level to my first two releases. The lyrics are raw and vulnerable and are meant to confront you, and challenge what’s deemed as taboo in mainstream media.
‘Bled through your sheets but you didn’t mind, natural power of the prettiest kind, like moonlight driving the highest tide’ -
Women and girls are the most strong, powerful and beautiful beings on our earth, and we deserve to take up space and speak about every experience of who we are.
Be sure to Pre-Save This Side of Heaven on your favourite streaming platform to ensure you get first access on June 16th.
Before having released any music, Kaytlyn had already performed with GRAMMY® award winning artist Lucky Oceans and opened for Australian pop-icon Thelma Plum. Kaytlyn has been taken under the wing of Kate Miller-Heidke and APRA AMCOS through various mentorship programs and is now ready to cement her own position in the Australian music scene with the momentum gained from her first two releases, ‘Sunburn’ and ‘Soon’.
Kaytlyn is set to release her debut EP in 2025, recorded in the state-of-the-art studios at ANU in Canberra and produced by ACT pop sensation, Sophie Edwards. This record will blur lines between Pop, Indie and Rock whilst keeping intricate lyrics and clever songwriting at the forefront.