I first heard Kathy Katouzi’s Afterparty via (the essential) BuffaBLOG back in May. And while it’s mildly embarrassing to hear about a fantastic new Toronto artist from an American website, Buffalo is basically funny-money Hamilton so we can call it even.
This is the song:
You couldn’t design a more effective earworm in a lab. I love the sullen, hyper-processed vocal and hooky melody. The production is so layered and moody, it hits closer to an art-pop act like Kee Avil than a mainstream pop song. I played that song regularly over the summer, and by my count at least four people heard it in my car and asked me about it, two of whom were teenagers. Certified banger.
According to this interview with RockDafuqOut Records, Katouzi is originally from Iran and moved to Toronto a decade or so ago, and she’s fully self-taught. She’s been releasing music for a few years now and she seems to have found her sound
In August, Katouzi released FLATL!NE. Same deal:
Just blisteringly original and addictive. At this point it was clear what her vibe was, including the hat pulled low and face barely visible through her hair. I was a fan, but my dumbass three song rule kept me from a proper post about it.
This week she released OHNO!, the most upbeat of the bunch, it’s another jam:
Katouzi frequently references influences like Jon Bellion, Brakence and Bieber — and her two singles from prior to 2024 definitely have a Bieber sound to them. I think her sound has a lot in common with googly eyes, including being a complete one-person operation, doing all the recording, production and mixing herself.
She told me that she leans in hard on the production to differentiate her sound — that she wants the listener to “pay more attention to what’s going on AROUND the lyrics rather than just the words”. I think that comes through loud and clear on these singles.
She also told me that her debut EP is coming in the new year. I can’t wait to dig in.
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Something you wrote or made? Something you just think more people should see?