Kelly & Kat “Stardust”
Like reading a page from your diary, “Stardust” is highly relatable. The song runs parallel with your life and feelings and articulates them in a way you couldn’t. It’s scary when they seem to be spot on with what you’re going through. “Stardust” is a song like that. Kelly & Kat reminds you of the best storytellers in pop, like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, hitting you harder than you expect them to be. Indeed, you don’t imagine a lighthearted, beautifully crafted pop song to get you all tear up, but its simplicity and star-esque imagination is exactly what it takes to evoke that lost feelings still lingering in the back of your head.
“Stardust” talks about “that ex” you can’t stop thinking about. Maybe they have managed to pop up somewhere in your life. You hold them up in the stardust, but in the reality, it’s only who you want them to be, not who they truly are. “Stardust” is simple and brilliant. It’s simply a song that doesn’t need fancy production to make it shine. It’s naked and raw, minimalistic and impressive. Kelly & Kat uniquely intricate harmonies pull you in, with acoustic guitars mending all the lost feelings back to the present, breathy and atmospheric soundscapes echoing your each breath. It leaves quite a mark in your heart.
With time comes the changing of textures, transitioning into soft groove and lighthearted charm. Tastes like strawberries and lemonade with red lips allure. “Stardust” is evocative without getting under your skin. It makes you tear up but not dwelling on past pain.
Kelly & Kat have found their magic tone in “Stardust.” The song marks an exciting new beginning for the duo with a publishing deal. Produced by Warner Music writer Eren Cannata, the single speaks the unlimited potentials they have as a creative collective. Read our interview with them and learn more.
Punk Head: I love how you played with the concept of space in "Stardust." The idea of the song came from an encounter of the past but it certainly signals a step forward. It sounds like quite a journey. Tell us more about the making of "Stardust.“
Kelly&Kat: Creating the song "Stardust" was a very therapeutic experience for us both. The idea came about after one of us had ran into an ex in our small town. When we showed our producer, Warner Music writer Eren Cannata, he loved the way the guitar sounded with the melody and helped bring “Stardust” to life. We had so much fun in our songwriting sessions playing around with the concept of space and a universe in your mind. The day of recording we went into the studio with all these background vocals and harmonies. They layered together to create something that we are so proud of! It was really special for me (Kat) because this was our first single that I played guitar on.
PH: What do you like the best about this track?
Kelly&Kat: We love how it starts acoustically and the track and vocals build with the emotion of the song. The song has a layer a frustration behind it, where you wish things could be different.
PH: What first got you into music?
Kelly&Kat: When we were 3 (Kat) and 5 (Kelly) our mom signed us up for musical theatre. We began taking voice lessons and fell in love with the stage. Kat had always been writing music and started to get serious about her songwriting process during the end of middle school. In 2014, we entered a Disney and Kohl’s singing contest for a chance to be featured on the American Music Awards singing “Let It Go” from the movie Frozen. We ended up winning which was an incredible experience and that was the moment where we decided to throw ourselves into music a hundred percent!
PH: What is your creative vision?
Kelly&Kat: Our creative vision has always been to create music that can connect with people through our own experiences. We are always trying to push ourselves whether it is vocally or in our writing. We are always leveling up and challenging ourselves so we can create the best art possible. One of our dreams is to tour and see our fans!
PH: What has been, so far, your favorite song to perform and why?
Kelly&Kat: So far our favorite song to perform live has been our first single “One Day” because it holds a special place in our hearts! That song was co-written and played on by Adrian Young, the drummer of the iconic band No Doubt. We met Adrian a few years back and now he has become a great friend and mentor to us. We love seeing people sing along to that one with us. Another favorite is “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. We started singing covers at open mics while we were writing music and who doesn’t love that song?!
