We Speak Music

Kat Orlando Releases New Ballroom Dance Single “BlackTie”

Published

1 month ago

August 6, 2026

Detroit’s own Queen of Sax, Kat Orlando, follows up her highly danceable “Mean Daughter’s Wedding” with another gem!

“Black Tie”, the title track of the EP, is expertly crafted for the urban ballroom dance community, capturing the ele gance, rhythm, and sophistication that define the culture. Its smooth, soulful groove is complemented by a subtle yet infectious drive, creating the perfect tempo for dancers to effortlessly glide across the floor. Whether moving gracefully within a crowded ballroom or sharing an intimate moment as a couple, the song’s rhythm invites every step with confidence and style.

Lyrically, Kat tells a story of attraction and anticipation. The female protagonist is captivated by a distinguished gentleman wearing a black tie, his presence commanding attention from across the room. As their eyes meet, the music becomes the soundtrack to an unspoken connection, em bodying the romance, confidence, and timeless elegance that make urban ballroom dancing such a unique and memorable experience.

While Kat possesses a distinctive style and vocal identity all her own, this groove pays tasteful homage to the smooth, infectious R&B sound that defined an era. Listeners may catch echoes of classics such as “Too Close” by Next, along with other iconic tracks that blended irresistible rhythms with soulful melodies. Rather than imitating those influences, the song embraces their spirit while allowing Kat’s artistry to shine through with authenticity and freshness.

Once again, producer Gayle Brannan demonstrates an exceptional ear for pairing the right musical landscape with Kat’s natural gifts. By crafting a production that complements rather than competes with her voice, Brannan creates the per fect setting for Kat’s rich, soulful vocal delivery to take center stage. The result is a seamless fusion of contemporary soul and nostalgic R&B influences, showcasing Kat’s emotional depth, vocal versatility, and undeniable ability to connect with listeners through every lyric and melody.

Kat Orlando’s lifelong passion for music began at just four years old, inspired by the 45s her grandmother and aunt brought from their restaurant jukeboxes. Early influences ranged from the flute mastery of Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson to the vocal powerhouses Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. She studied with Denver Jazz Bebop saxophonist George Keith, honing her craft and developing her unmistakable tone and phrasing. As a songwriter, she draws heavily from legends like Stevie Wonder and Prince, infusing her music with a mix of social consciousness, emotion, and irresistible groove.

On stage, she’s a dynamic force—switching effortlessly from lead vocals to sax, flute, and harmonica, all while moving with the rhythm and engaging audiences with every beat.

We Speak Music

Phoebe June Traces Love, Distance and Heartbreak on New EP ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’

Published

2 days ago

September 11, 2026

Joni Jones

For Phoebe June, some stories are easier to tell through music.

Her new EP, ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’, is an intimate collection that traces the emotional journey of a relationship from the exhilaration of falling in love to distance, uncertainty, heartbreak and, ultimately, learning to let go.

Inspired by artists including Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, Phoebe June combines diary-like lyricism with melancholic ballads, subtle uptempo moments and an understated, emotionally honest production style.

At the centre of the project is ‘Thursday’, a bittersweet track about loving someone from a distance and holding onto the hope that the connection might survive.

Written after Phoebe left a country that held deep personal meaning, and left someone she cared about behind, the song looks back at the relationship from its beginning. Even its title is personal: the two first met on a Thursday.

The song captures the complicated feeling of walking away from something meaningful without believing that it necessarily has to be over. It’s about distance, memory and the possibility of finding your way back to someone, while recognising that hope only works when it goes both ways.

Across six tracks, the EP develops that story in sequence.

‘Everything You Are’ opens the project with the warmth of new love, while ‘Dead Sea’ explores the security of finding someone who helps you stay afloat through difficult times. As the story progresses, ‘Thursday’ introduces separation before ‘Getaway Car’ moves into the aftermath; unanswered questions, lingering attachment and the realisation that someone can profoundly affect your life while still being unhealthy for you.

‘One Day’ leaves the door open to the possibility of a future reunion, balancing hope with the understanding that some relationships may only exist in memory.

The EP closes with ‘Ophelia’, its emotional breaking point. Inspired in part by Friedrich Heyser’s painting of the same name, the track confronts the pain of feeling manipulated and unappreciated after giving everything to someone else.

The result is a project that deliberately moves from light to dark. Phoebe June considered not only the narrative but the emotional progression when sequencing the EP, allowing the brightness of its opening to gradually give way to the heartbreak of its closing moments.

Even the title reflects that feeling.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ takes its name from a flower, with the image of a gate separating two people becoming a metaphor for a love that remains beautiful but just out of reach. To reach over it requires effort, just as maintaining a connection across distance, uncertainty and changing circumstances does.

Ultimately, Phoebe June isn’t interested in simply documenting her own heartbreak.

She wants listeners to recognise themselves in it.

‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ is a collection about love, nostalgia, hope and regret and about what remains when something beautiful ends up on the other side of the gate.