Check out Katy J Pearson's Teenage Kicks playlist, feat. Fleetwood Mac, The Maccabees, Lucy Rose and more | Dork
Check out Katy J Pearson's Teenage Kicks playlist, feat. Fleetwood Mac, The Maccabees, Lucy Rose and more
Katy takes us through some of the music she listened to in her formative years.
When you load up Spotify, a great big chunk of the time you can’t think what to play, right? You default back to your old favourites, those albums and songs you played on repeat when you first discovered you could make them yours.
This isn’t about guilty pleasures; it’s about those songs you’ll still be listening to when you’re old and in your rocking chair. So, enter Teenage Kicks – a playlist series that sees bands running through the music they listened to in their formative years.
I used to have a CD player when I was about 12 that also had a tape machine on it. I had one tape, and it was 'Little Lies' by Fleetwood Mac. I was absolutely obsessed with the song, and to this day, I still am.
The Maccabees - First Love
When I was about 13, my best friend Millie and I really hit our indie phase. Her older sister Josie showed us the Maccabees, and they became my and Millie's favourite band. I'd always listen to their album' Colour It In' on the bus to school.
Swim Deep - Honey
When I was around 15/16 there was a festival every year in Gloucester called The Underground Festival. It was really exciting for me and my friends as we were from the countryside so we didn't really have a music scene. This festival put all the upcoming indie bands on. That year, I saw Swim Deep play and their song 'Honey' I had on repeat for years.
Lucy Rose - Middle of the Bed
I was a huge Lucy Rose fan when I was a teenager (still think she's great btw). She really inspired me when I was starting to write, and I went and saw her in Worcestershire once when I was around 16 supporting Noah and the Whale. I also loved all the stuff she did with Bombay Bicycle Club.
Bombay Bicycle Club - How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
Everyone of my age that I talk to had a Bombay Bicycle Club phase; they were just massive throughout my age group growing up. I went and saw them in Bristol quite a few times, and it was the best thing ever as a 16-year-old! Their album 'A Different Kind of Fix' came out when I was finishing secondary school, and I find it such a nostalgic album. They are really a brilliant band with just wonderful songs.
Metronomy - The Look
Metronomy were a big influence for me, and I absolutely adored their album The English Rivera. They are from Totnes, and I thought that was so cool as I'm from the countryside myself, and I have a big connection to south Devon as my parents met there in the summer of 76. It felt surreal getting to collaborate with them on their song Love Factory. I wish I could have told my younger self what was to come! I remember seeing them on the NME Tour with Azealia Banks!
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
When I was a teenager, the music channels on Sky and stuff were so big.
When I was ill, I would sit on the sofa and just watch it all day.
I came across this song by the Yeah Yeahs Yeahs when it was played on MTV or something. I was so excited by the song and thought Karen O was SO cool.
Santigold - L.E.S Artistes
I still absolutely love Santigold now and think she is the most brilliant! 'L.E.S Artistes' was a big song on my iPod during my teenage years. I adore this song, and the video is so cool. She really inspired me, too! Her artwork and videos aesthetically have always been excellent.
Phoenix - 1901
God, doing this playlist has taken me back big time! My brother and I used to cover this song in our pub covers set when we were 15, and it's such an epic pop song. I love Phoenix so much. I finally got to see them live at Glastonbury in 2019; it was amazing.
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
I played this song soooo much as a 16/17 year old. I used to do YouTube deep dives and just watch the music video for this song over and over. It is a stunning song, and the chorus really makes my heart hurt.
Beach House - Silver Soul
This song I discovered in my Tumblr phase, and I just thought (and still think) Beach House are the coolest ever. I actually played before them at Green Man two years ago. My dad is a fan, too, and he met them - it was the cutest thing ever! I just think they've been so consistent and true to their sound.
Taken from the October 2024 issue of Dork. Katy J Pearson's album 'Someday, Now' is out 20th September.
