Katy Rea’s debut album, The Urge That Saves You was recorded entirely live. The empath rock, hook-filled record provides plenty to cling to all while splitting off into cinematic, dark psychedelia. The seamless shifts transpire masterfully, a unique mark of Rea’s talents. Her lead vocal is intense, melodic, and endlessly dynamic. This coupled with the touching restraint of the talented musicians joining her who’ve played with the likes of Angel Olsen, Fleet Foxes, Widowspeak, and more makes for a timeless collection of what Rea calls “premonitions, prayers, and warnings.”
Moving forward, she is inspired to continue engineering and producing future albums on her own. In ways, The Urge That Saves You sounds to Rea like a Katy who was meeting herself for the first time.