We Speak Music

‘Long Overdue’ by Pretty Little Saturday Is A Long-Awaited Voice, Finally Heard

Published

1 day ago

June 11, 2025

With “Long Overdue,” Pretty Little Saturday steps into the spotlight with the quiet grace of someone who’s spent years listening deeply before ever speaking. Kristi Knupp, who once thrived behind the camera lens documenting the lives and sounds of other musicians, now presents her own story — and it lands with clarity and warmth. The title track of her debut album is not just aptly named — it feels like a whisper turning into a declaration.

There’s something immediately disarming about the song’s sonic palette. Lush synths melt into softly strummed guitars, while Knupp’s breathy vocals float above it all, as intimate as a handwritten letter. The production — handled with finesse by Patrick Doyle — balances analog warmth with crystalline pop clarity, creating a musical atmosphere that feels both grounded and otherworldly. It’s a sound that could sit comfortably alongside a MUNA or Maggie Rogers playlist, but it never feels imitative — there’s a lived-in authenticity here that’s uniquely Kristi’s.

What makes “Long Overdue” so compelling is the emotional tension it captures — the vulnerability of finally telling your truth, and the courage that requires. This is not a flashy debut; it’s a gentle yet resolute unfurling. Knupp isn’t just entering the scene — she’s claiming her space in it, one soft but sure note at a time.

We Speak Music

Canadian Jazz Vocalist Heather Ward Releases New Album Gilded & Silver, A Tribute to Musical Mentors and Legacy

Published

6 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Olivia Long

Following the success of her debut solo album Honeysweet, Canadian-born, Seattle-based jazz vocalist Heather Ward returns with a luminous new collection, Gilded & Silver. The album is available now on all major streaming platforms.

“I had several tracks still in the can after releasing Honeysweet,” Ward explains, “so I decided to add a few more and release a second album.” With this spirit of continuity and creativity, Gilded & Silver emerged — blending original compositions with artful arrangements, and once again showcasing Ward’s nuanced voice and deep musical roots.

Once again, Heather partnered collaboratively with Dave Houghton, and recorded under the expert mixing of Ben Lange at Lange Recording Studios. The ensemble includes John Hansen and Aidan Ward-Richter (who also helped reharmonize several tunes) on piano, Moe Weisner and Shaina Ward Siegel on bass, Luca Cartner on drums, with Kate Olson and Jory Tindall on saxes and flute, and Carey Rayburn on trumpet.

The album’s title is drawn from a lyric in one of Ward’s originals, “Into the Music,” a song written in tribute to her Canadian jazz mentor, Hugh Fraser, and her uncle, Joe Edmonds — both of whom passed away from cancer during the pandemic. “Hugh often said, ‘I’m just so into the music,’” recalls Ward. “This track honors both him and my uncle Joe, who were huge musical influences on me.

Ward’s journey from visual arts to jazz began while performing at gallery openings, which led her to formal music studies at Vancouver Community College and Capilano University, where she earned a degree in Jazz Performance. She has trained with legends like Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Hugh Fraser through programs including the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Vancouver International Jazz Orchestra Workshops.

Since relocating to Seattle in 1997, Ward has made her mark as a performer, voice teacher, and mentor. She teaches privately as a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and regularly performs at jazz venues, cabarets, and theater productions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Gilded & Silver stands as both a celebration of personal artistry and a heartfelt homage to the teachers and loved ones who shaped Ward’s musical life.