We Speak Music

Kat Orlando Releases New Dance Single “Mean Daughter’s Wedding”

Published

2 months ago

May 19, 2026

Detroit’s own Queen of Sax, Kat Orlando, follows up her electrifying soulful, funky anthem , “Love Army (Like-Minded),” with the highly danceable “Mean Daughter’s Wedding”.

Kat takes a humorous look at being a reluctant guest to her friend’s daughter’s wedding. “Mean Daughter’s Wedding” is cool grooving track that tells the bride-to-be in her imagined RSVP “please don’t get me wrong, you’ll find your Amazon in the morning…” and “have a drink for me!” What was the inpsiration for this musical look at dodging a wedding invite? Kat says she reads about these situations in the column, “Dear Abby” all the time. Reality bridezilla shows make many who may recognize that entitled arrogant type in anyone’s family or friend circle, cringe. Kat explains, “One day I was hanging out with friends and one starting talking about a friend who had two daughter’s. One was nice and the other one, engaged to be married, no so much. My friend did not want to go “to the mean daughter’s wedding.” That line was so cool to me I literally had to excuse myself from the conversa tion and go scribble down a few lines of lyrics.

Once again, Producer Gayle Brannan knows how to bring the story to life adding a pumping rhythm section, and that chunking rhythm guitar thanks to James Owens. Of course, Kat’s screaming Sax rips the song open from the start and sends it out for a strong finish. Even the horn section parts are reminiscent of Billy Joel’s ethnic-tinged “Moving Out”.

Known for her moody, funky, and gritty saxophone style, Kat Orlando has energized Detroit’s nightclub and festival stages for decades. A consummate performer and entertainer, she traverses multiple genres with ease—laying down heavy funk grooves, soaring into rock, and slipping seamlessly into pop, soul, and jazz.
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 anddeveloping 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

The Songs of Butler & Cupples Prioritise Craft on Intimate New Single ‘Better off Lost’

Published

5 days ago

July 3, 2026

Brett Wylie

Following the momentum of their first three breakout releases earlier this year, genre-fluid project The Songs of Butler & Cupples have returned with ‘Better off Lost’. A stripped-back, intimate offering that further sharpens their songcraft-first ethos, the release reinforces the duo’s position as one of the most forward-thinking, emerging songwriting projects operating outside the traditional band framework.

Conceived entirely as a vehicle where pure songcraft remains the central focus, The Songs of Butler & Cupples was formed in direct response to a contemporary music landscape increasingly shaped by image, algorithms, and visual perception rather than musical composition.

Led by two highly experienced industry songwriters, the project is intentionally fluid. It allows musical ideas to dictate their own final form without being restricted by rigid genre conventions or commercial chart expectations. With ‘Better off Lost’, the pair turn inward, embracing an acoustic-led direction underpinned by Americana-leaning textures and delicate, emotive vocal arrangements.

Sonically, the track marks a further evolution in their rapidly expanding creative palette. Built around a gentle acoustic guitar foundation, ‘Better off Lost’ foregrounds vulnerability and vocal performance above all else. The raw emotional delivery is elevated by subtle, layered harmonies and understated pop sensibilities that give the track its modern, polished edge.

The duo’s stylistic range has already drawn comparisons to boundary-pushing artists such as Miley Cyrus and Kacey Musgraves, whose recent celebrated works have helped reframe contemporary Americana within the broader pop landscape. Like those icons, Butler & Cupples demonstrate a versatile range that fiercely resists easy categorization.

Across their 2026 discography, they have proven comfortable shifting between entirely different sonic worlds, including: Electronic-Leaning Production: Utilising sleek, modern digital textures. Experimental & Rock Influence: Embracing grittier, guitar-driven edge and unpredictable structures. Acoustic Minimalism: As heard on the new single, proving that a strong emotional through-line remains intact regardless of the instrumentation.

Rather than chasing viral TikTok trends or tailoring their masters for playlist algorithms, the project remains deeply rooted in strong structural songwriting, genuine emotional resonance, and absolute creative freedom.

At its core, The Songs of Butler & Cupples functions as an open creative framework without built-in limitations or outside expectations. ‘Better off Lost’ stands as another clear statement of intent from the duo: that well-crafted songs, when given proper breathing room and unfiltered honesty, still possess the power to cut through the modern noise.