kate the dreamer Grapples With the Scars of Past Heartbreak in "familiar feeling"
Meet kate the dreamer, an emerging indie-pop artist whose newest release is connecting with listeners like never before. “familiar feeling” is the dark pop follow-up to her recently released debut EP, where'd all my wild things go, but serves as an introduction for many. The release of “familiar feeling” coincides with a viral TikTok moment, where she received over a million views on her teaser for the track, in addition to thousands of comments asking for its release. Due to the vulnerable lyrical content and captivating production, it’s no surprise that listeners were hooked from just a short clip.
“familiar feeling” is a song that sounds just that, familiar. It’s successful because it avoids any sense of unoriginality with its intriguing details and haunting lyrical content and delivery. The narrative is also familiar, being so used to hurt that you anticipate it in every relationship, but kate the dreamer’s take is fresh and visceral. The track starts with a comforting guitar strum, completely contradicting the intense chorus and setting listeners up for the perfect shock (as seen in the viral TikTok with collaborator and fellow artist JORDY).
The stripped-back chorus is elevated by the sharp lyricism as kate sings, “So, when you go / Do it quickly / I hate that I’ve been here before at least I know it’s a familiar feeling.” During the second verse and throughout the rest of the track, the production starts to break down and becomes more intense. The lyricism is tight, impactful, and carries the weight of past heartbreak. She sings about the walls around her heart, checking for warning signs and revisiting the pain to prepare for what could happen. Paired with kate the dreamer’s gentle vocal delivery, “familiar feeling” feels like a secret she’s finally sharing with the world.
It’s special when a song naturally travels outside of an artist’s current listeners and for kate the dreamer, "familiar feeling” is a well-deserved example. It’s an honest and addicting track, serving as a grand introduction to kate’s music for many. The track will not only inspire you to listen to more but will leave you with a deep understanding of kate the dreamer’s uniquely relatable perspective on heartbreak.
Listen to "familiar feeling” below:
