There are very few artists in this world that I admire more than, KT Tunstall. I don’t think I’ve ever honestly talked about her the same way I have gushed about other artists, yet her music speaks to me in a way I don’t think many others do. I would easily put her third albumTiger Suit in my top five albums of all time. So, when KT announced a new trilogy of albums that would tie together thematically, it piqued my interest. I could only really imagine what KT could do with such an endeavour. However, to discuss this I think it’s somewhat important to discuss my thoughts on KT’s work before this. As it does colour my opinion of the trilogy. I won’t go into them as much as the subject of the blog though.
I’ve always appreciated the artistry of KT’s songwriting. Her first two albums, Eye to the Telescope and Drastic Fantastic are what I would describe as the pop sound of the early 2000s. I just remember an influx of singer-songwriter or troubadour-style musicians that congested the music channels. It was a new era of more rootsy musicians with very personal songwriting. I challenge anyone to not automatically sing along to singles like “Suddenly I See” and “Saving My Face”. Even though her music had that pop sheen there was still something down-to-earth about KT’s music. It felt like you could know her personally from just listening to her lyrics. These albums would solidify KT as one of my favourite artists. If you had to twist my arm and ask me to name-drop the songs I recommend the most for these records. I would have to say “Another Place To Fall”, which I think highlights KT’s talent for writing hooks. From, Drastic Fantastic, I would go with “White Bird” where she delivers a folk music masterclass that captivates you and plays with your listening experience.
After those two albums, KT would pursue more artistic ventures. 2010’s Tiger Suit was something truly magnificent. Mixing blues, folk, indie and alternative rock, electro-pop and other musical ideas into one well-composed and produced masterpiece, in my opinion. Like I said earlier, it’s in my top five albums with ease. Songs like “(Still A) Weirdo” and “The Entertainer” pull at my heartstrings. "Uummannaq Song" & “Madame Trudeaux” hit the catchy hook fix that I always look for. She also hits that quiet subdued vibe with “Golden Frames” with the help of the legend that is Seasick Steve. Honestly, I might revisit this album for a future blog but for now, just trust me it’s a great record. Tunstall would then go on to make her most human, personal and probably most bleak album to date. The 2013 album, Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon dealt with heavy issues and was a way for her to channel some deeply dark themes and ideas which she masterfully navigated on this record. Through these four albums, KT gained a dedicated fanbase and the respect of general audiences and critics alike. She has also spread her wings into the film world. Performing soundtracks for films like Winters Tale, Million Dollar Arm and 3 Generations. You got to admit that’s a really impressive career to this point.
For me, she’s a songwriter that embodies a passion for music and performance. This is why I had such faith in her abilities to bring us this trilogy. I remember noticing when KIN was about to be released that it was labelled as the first in a trilogy and I remember thinking that it was going to be some special. The trilogy was set out to be an exploration of the concept of “Soul, Body and Mind”. The three albums are 2016s KIN (Soul), 2018s WAX (Body) and 2022s NUT (Mind). Three albums to explore her perception of these concepts and for us listeners, we get to internalise her lyrics and music and think about the albums in relation to each other.
KIN (2016, The Soul)
This album is just the bouncy, soulful fun I think we all needed from KT after Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon. It says something when the last single from that record was “Made Of Glass”. A song about how one of the most beautiful gifts she ever received from her father, was also the most fragile. Then the first single from the next album, KIN was “Maybe It’s A Good Thing”. A song that celebrates her sense of self and how sometimes things will work out. Sometimes going through the bad times hardens you for the good times ahead. It was a significant change in KT and I think we all feel better about it. KIN is an uplifting album that talks about self-assurance and brings to light themes of joy, positivity and navigating the darker times in life to make way for the brighter future you make for yourself.
KIN has so many great pop songs, “It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am”, “ Hard Girls” and “Evil Eye” are probably the big heavy hitters on this record. Solid hooks and that certain energy that makes me want to get up and move. Producer, Tony Hoffer makes KT shine like an absolute star on this album. Every production choice just makes the music sound so glorious. Be it the aforementioned bouncy single “Hard Girls” to the smooth and hauntingly beautiful “Two Way” featuring and co-written by James Bay. The album just has those life-affirming sing-along anthems that feel good for the soul. There’s a lot of spirit on this album and KT sings the songs with vigour and passion. The album floats effortlessly from song to song. Switching gears from pop to indie rock to folk. All while not wasting a note of music or words on a lyric.
This album sets up the trilogy for success. Its positivity is infectious and the songs are catchy and captivating. Every single song had the potential to be spun off to the singles chart. The production was vibrant and well-mixed. It was nice to hear KT return to that sound that solidified her success with Drastic Fantastic. KIN is ultimately an album that holds the high notes and keeps you engaged to its conclusion, then you’ll want to replay it again.
WAX (2018, The Body)
Moving to the next album in the trilogy. Comparing it directly to KIN, this album goes in more of a rock direction, with every track having that harder edge to them. Which makes sense considering the people KT worked with on this album. She worked with Nick McCarthy from alternative rock icon Franz Ferdinand and Angelo Petraglia, from Face To Face, who is best known for his work with Kings of Leon. Also brought in for this album were producers Sebastian Kellig, Tim Bran and Roy Kerr. So a lot more people working on this one than KIN. However, all of that must have worked as WAX ranked high with critics and I have to agree, to an extent. While I think there are a lot of merits here, it’s the KT Tunstall album I come back to the least. I can truly appreciate the musicianship and the songwriting talent that went into this album, I find it a really difficult listening experience.
The album does have that bite to it, be it the lead-in single to this album “The River” or the harsh-rock number “The Healer” or the heart-rendering passionate ballad “The Night That Bowie Died”. KT just let loose her rock influences all over this record. She dug up songs from the past to put on this album. The River was written on tour for Drastic Fantastic, The Healer was from The Golden State EP and Poison Your Cup, KT admits is a really old song she wrote to put on this album. I think all of those songs work here. Even if they were never written with this concept trilogy in mind. Which makes this album feel pretty timeless.
I don’t want to make it sound like this album is oblique or a complete 180 on her usual style. It’s still very noticeably a KT Tunstall album. When she performs these songs live, they fit into the setlist and it doesn’t feel jarring. There’s just something more introspective and thought-provoking. I think the stand-out track is probably “The Mountain” a winding twisting pop song that feels quite low-key, yet at the same time has that pop-sheen to the chorus line that shines bright. Although a close second for me is “Little Red Thread”. That opening guitar riff gets me excited every time I listen to it. Other songs that catch my ear are “In This Body” which was co-written with Karen Poole, who has worked with icons in pop music. “Tiny Love” is a fantastic album closer that I feel demonstrates KT’s willingness to grow as an artist.
However, I think this album is a difficult listen for me because of its harshness and edge. It’s not as warm or as inviting as her past work nor does it hit that experimental tone that KT can use to her advantage. It’s a pretty plain album and not one I play in full anymore. You might feel differently about it. It’s definitely something different by KT’s standards and a sound that I found intriguing more than I found it entertaining.
NUT (2022, The Mind)
After six years of this project and the music industry dry spell that COVID-19 brought upon us, it’s finally here. The final album of this trilogy and… I freaking love it. Honestly, this might be my favourite KT Tunstall album since Tiger Suit. NUT brings it all to the table. Weird electro-rock number? Listen to “I Am The Pilot”. Do you want that classic KT Tunstall chart single? I’ll introduce you to “Dear Shadow”. How about the infectious pop-bop? Yeah, she’s got you covered with “Canyons”. She hits the nail on the head with this one. I was immediately captivated by every single song. It feels like the best of all worlds for KT. Taking inspiration from all facets of her songwriting styles, she moulds them into this album.
The production this time was handled largely by Martin Terefe a producer. Which explains why this album sound so KT. He has worked with KT multiple times over the years, both as a producer and as a co-songwriter. He worked with KT on one of her biggest singles “Other Side of The World”. So if there were any one person I would trust to bring out an album about the Mind from KT Tunstall. It would be him. The production is just outstanding with every single song shining like a beacon. There’s a silliness to the album that’s just charming here, it feels like KT letting loose with lyrics that are poetic and communicate the theme perfectly. I think music is one thing you can use to communicate your headspace enjoyably. NUT delivers that.
NUT wraps up the trilogy nicely with strong lyricism and danceable music. It holds all of the hallmarks of KT’s sincerity, silliness, joy, earnestness and conviction. She is an absolute master of her craft and this album is an absolute masterclass in pop that rocks. Also, I think this album helped me personally navigate my mental health issues. If you want something that navigates the difficult parts of mental health struggles and infuses that path with the joy that comes with life, NUT is something you need in your life.
So, I know what you’re thinking. Mick, I get it you love the music of KT Tunstall but why is this considered a trilogy? You know, outside of the face that KT says so. Well, I do think there is something there. The three albums work well with one another. They entangle their themes, poetry and ideas together. The concepts of identity, sexuality, pain, and joy and I feel like there’s a definite theme of coming to terms with who and what you are and the journey you have taken to get here. Whilst there’s no clear throughline you can draw connections through the songs on each of the albums. I feel there’s a connection between “Maybe It’s a Good Thing”, “The Mountain” and “Three”. Songs that refer to loneliness and finding comfort in your headspace. Songs that dark about coming out of the darkness. The titular “good thing” in “Maybe It’s A Good Thing”, the paradise in “The Mountain” and the line “Dear shadow, Walking every shade of who I am, Maybe we could start again” in “Dear Shadow”.
All over the three albums, there are just constant references. I think the trilogy is summed up well in the song “Three” from NUT. The line “These days, there's always three responses (Howevеr I fall) My mind, my heart, my soul, three responses (Howеver I fall)”. That just perfectly sums up the three albums. This trilogy is KT’s three responses her mind (NUT), her heart (WAX) and her soul (KIN). I have truly enjoyed putting these three albums in a playlist and shuffling it. You get the full mix. The budding positivity of KIN, the edgy passion of WAX and the introspection of NUT. It makes me so happy to have such a collection of music from one of my favourite songwriters and performers.
I think one of the interesting journeys I went on was with the opening tracks of each record. “Hard Girls”, “Little Red Thread” and “Out Of Touch”. All songs have themes of connection to others and how we outwardly present ourselves to others. The idea of aching for connection with the outside but also taking great comfort in being insular. I think there is something to that. We all outwardly present ourselves to the world in one way but we can be very insular and we all have our way of living. You never truly know someone but we’re all connected at the same time. KT plays a lot with lyricism and her music. Her songs are innovative but also have that contemporary feel. Sometimes she’ll just play melodies and they feel like they’ve always existed. Other times it feels like she’s transporting you to another world.
KT Tunstall's Soul, Body, Mind trilogy has fascinated me. I hope if you take away one thing from my ramblings, you pick up these records and give them a spin. While you’re at it you might as well pick up her entire discography. The music is tight, the themes are ever-present and the execution is solid. Her music fills me with life and has genuinely helped me through very difficult times in my life. These albums have been so special to me and I can only hope that you get a kick out of them too.
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