On the thriving landscape of alternative R&B, emerging UK artist Hendrix Harris dives deep into the emotional abyss with his recent single, Katie Jane, the lead track of his EP, Blue. It is a song about an affair with a married woman and his struggle to cope with his feelings and guilt.
Hendrix strikes a rare equilibrium between a raw, smoky timbre and honest lyricism, painting a poignant narrative reverberating with an undeniable magnetism.
Navigating the expanse of Katie Jane is an immersive experience, marked by an unforgettable melody and an impressively produced soundscape that stretches and shrinks as the track progresses. Delicate yet rich, it cradles his voice, carrying his raspy, soulful crooning from the depths of pain to the peaks of longing.
The song was inspired by Hendrix’s experience when he fell in love with a married woman. He wrote the song with his friend and collaborator Lou “Duke” Berry in early 2023 and recorded it in his home studio. The song was mixed and mastered by Pat Alvarez, who also worked on the rest of the EP.
Lyrically, Katie Jane is a study in the exploration of emotion. The verses are raw and fraught with desperation, expressing confusion and pain over his situation that one rarely encounters in contemporary R&B. Lines such as, Blind is better, trust is greater / I tried to be clever, but you’re everywhere, and I see how you stare, Katie I’m a mess, and cause I’m the other man now attest to the honesty that Harris brings to his music. The rhythmic repetition of the chorus emphasises the tumultuous nature of the feelings that underpin the track.
Hendrix Harris succeeds in crafting an alternative R&B track that avoids cliché, instead focusing on the raw emotions and experiences that define human interaction. The honesty of his lyricism combines with his unique voice to create a track that is as relatable as it is heartbreaking. I pick it up, sip it up, 7 years in my cup / The floor is crumbling under my feet / I’m flipping out, tripping out, take my heart rip it out / It’s getting a little too heavy for my chest – these lines encapsulate the essence of Katie Jane, providing a stark portrait of the pain of love and loss.
The musical journey of Katie Jane is captivating and emotionally charged, with Harris’ smoky vocals piercing through the rich soundscape. His impressive production skills add depth to the sparse arrangement, allowing the listener to immerse themselves fully in the emotional narrative.
Katie Jane is a stunning and soulful track that makes you want to sing along and feel every emotion.
If you want to hear more from Hendrix Harris, check out his EP, Blue. You can also follow him on Instagram for updates on his music and life.
Hendrix Harris Katie Jane Lyrics
Blind is better, trust is greater
I tried to be clever, but you’re everywhere
Time is a treasure, slipping through my hands
Something else to sip
Smoking on your cigarette
Staring then I drift
Say hello to Tom, the Trouble man
You’re staying till the morning and it hurts
We finally hit the point of no return
We drowning every move just makes it worse
I wish we could just make it to the surface
I see how you stare, Katie I’m a mеss
I filled up all the tanks, but soon I’ll have a brеakdown
Love has many shapes, could I make us stand down ?
It’s time to make amends, cause I’m the other man now
Wake up in the morning with a purpose
You and me will make it to the surface
Dreaming of you burning all the curtains
I could see us blooming in the furnace
I tried to fight the feelings off ( I tried)
But how could I not let ‘em in
I could see us settle down, (right now)
I tried hard but nights like tonight ur my lighthouse
I pick it up, sip it up, 7 years in my cup
The floor is crumbling under my feet
Im flipping out, tripping out, take my heart rip it out
It’s getting a lil too heavy for my chest
I pour it up, chug it up, 7 years in my cup
I’m bleeding thru the cracks of your speech
I’m flipping out, tripping out, took my heart ripped it out
Katie Jane
You’re all I need
I’ve been over the rainbow
I found a soul that could trick me into trying
The emptiest heart still has something inside
U showed me how it could be fun, leave at 5 but u call me in the morning
I feel a void when you’re gone, each time you close the door you wanna run
Whatever we do, it always feels wrong
I feel like clouds when they’re hiding the sun
Who pulled the trigger ? Who held the gun ? Will it really matter when it’s all said and done ?
I see how you stare, Katie I’m a mess
I filled up all the tanks, but soon I’ll have a breakdown
Love has many shapes, could I make us stand down ?
It’s time to make amends, cause I’m the other man now
I pick it up, sip it up, 7 years in my cup
The floor is crumbling under my feet
Im flipping out, tripping out, take my heart rip it out
It’s getting a lil too heavy for my chest
I pour it up, chug it up, 7 years in my cup
I’m bleeding thru the cracks of your speech
I’m flipping out, tripping out, took my heart ripped it out
Katie Jane
You’re all I need