We Speak Music
Katie Dauson Delivers a Garage-Rock Spark with “Go Go Go”
Katie Dauson’s “Go Go Go” feels like a song that was never in a rush to exist — and is better for it. Released via Frog & Bog Records, the single arrives with a burst of 1960s-inspired garage rock energy, yet carries the fingerprints of something more personal and slow-burning underneath. It’s lively, immediate, and full of motion, but also grounded in a creative process that spans years rather than weeks.
At its core, the track is built on contrast. There’s the rawness of garage rock — slightly jagged guitar edges, loose rhythmic swing, and an unfiltered vocal presence — but it’s balanced by melodic warmth that hints at soul and early R&B influences. Rather than polishing those edges away, Dauson lets them coexist, giving the song a sense of personality that feels lived-in rather than manufactured.
What makes “Go Go Go” particularly engaging is its sense of revival without imitation. You can hear the DNA of 1960s bands woven through its structure, but it never slips into nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Instead, it feels like a conversation with that era — taking its language and reshaping it into something contemporary and personal.
Dauson’s vocal performance plays a big role in that balance. She delivers the lyrics with a kind of easy confidence, never overextending or forcing drama where it isn’t needed. The result is a voice that sits naturally inside the instrumentation, as if she’s part of the band’s momentum rather than floating above it.
Behind the scenes, her collaboration with producer and engineer James Nickle helps anchor the track’s identity. The production leans into texture rather than gloss, capturing a sense of spontaneity that feels aligned with the song’s origins — reportedly written years earlier before being rediscovered and brought to life as a single.
Ultimately, “Go Go Go” succeeds because it embraces movement in every sense of the word. It moves stylistically between eras, emotionally between reflection and release, and rhythmically in a way that makes it hard to stand still. It’s a confident step forward from an artist who seems increasingly comfortable letting songs evolve on their own terms.
We Speak Music
The Songs of Butler & Cupples Prioritise Craft on Intimate New Single ‘Better off Lost’
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.
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