‘Weigh Down’ from Australian artist Katanak perfectly encapsulates the dichotomy between success and losing control, very much inspired by developments happening in his professional life. It’s not only new music that the musician is announcing here, but also his acting role in the upcoming Elvis movie (directed by Baz Luhrmann) portraying the bassist Jerry Scheff. With the movie premiering this year and an upcoming tour to contend with, it’s understandable why Katanak was inspired to pen a song about dealing with pressure.
Here, the Brisbane-based creative opens up on the feelings that contributed to this bursting rock-pop number:
“A while back I was really feeling like I’d lost my way and was questioning expectations I felt had been imposed on me. It felt a lot like I was falling and just couldn’t get up. I wasn’t the person I was supposed to be and my music didn’t seem to be on track? It took a concerted effort to get over this and Weigh Down was a cry of frustration that helped me verbalise how I felt.”
As we already hinted, Katanak combines vibrant pop overtures with playful indie-rock compositions in the vein of The 1975, The Wombats, Circa Waves and Two Door Cinema Club. The overtly positive tones sometimes seem at odds with the emotional stress embedded within the lyrics, but at other times it shines a light on those glimmers of hope at the end of this whole process of self-evaluation.
We especially love the brightly sparkling guitar refrain and impactful percussion that accompanies the track’s central moment in which Katanak rhythmically sings, “I feel like I’m on the weigh down.” There’s a power to admitting that you’re overwhelmed and the riotous, radio-ready format of ‘Weigh Down’ might just be the song that gives you the confidence to do so.
If this track has won you over, then you’ll be happy to hear that Katanak has already started working on his next single with Matt McGuiffe (Ivey). Watch this space!
You can also dance and sing along to ‘Weigh Down‘ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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