Bacchanalia Magazine

by Reb Jordin

Katie Alice, a Leeds based indie singer songwriter, recently released her third single ‘Did You Realise’ on April 1st to the excitement of her fans. The song tells the heartbreaking story relatable to many of a love dying out as you watch unable and unwilling to save it. ‘Did You Realise’ was written three years ago giving Katie Alice ample time to perfect the carefully crafted lyrics and impressive production. With her beautifully controlled voice that is at times deep and rich whilst at othertimes high and whimsical paired with her breathtaking song writing skills, Katie clearly has a lot to say and today she gave that gift to the world in the form of ‘Did You Realise’ that will resonate with listeners old and young who are all a little broken by past experiences.

‘Did You Realise’ opens with Katie’s siren-like vocals, drawing the listener into the haunting atmosphere that only a heartbreak song can truly create. The lyrics, ‘windscreen wipers scrape away the awkward silence’ soon grace the listener’s ears, accompanied by a lone melancholy acoustic guitar leading our focus to the intimate story of the artist’s lost love whilst also transporting the listener to their tender memories of their similar experiences. This moment recalls a love that had burnt out but nobody in the relationship had the guts to admit it yet.

Soon we enter the chorus as the music slightly builds supported by the lyrics, ‘I can’t compare to the artificial glare of his phone, my music taste he hates moaning on and on and on’. In this moment Katie builds on the theme of a relationship breaking down as both people have changed and grown to resent each other for who they now are and how they no longer fit into each other’s lives. 

The song continues to build as the emotions grow with the steady drumbeat and guitar riffs marking the inevitable end of a relationship. In the second verse listeners are blessed with the lyrics, ‘just dancing in the kitchen and avoiding our thoughts’ which convey two people having so much respect for each other that they don’t want to face the fact that their love can’t continue. Katie tells the story of being more in love with the idea of love then the person you are actually withperfectly here. This person may seem good for what is right,but this isn’t a love that the greats wrote about where your person drives you wild and makes you want to melodramatically scream in the rain. This is just a safety net to keep you comfortable until your real person comes along.

After an outburst of both vulnerability and strength in the powerhouse second chorus the single draws to a close. The final lyrics are, ‘this wonderful adventure has clearly subsided did you realise like I did?’ This moment marks the stage of a breakup where you make peace with your broken heart as you realise the end is a better place to be then the toxicity of an unhappy relationship still happening. The instruments are once again stripped back here bringing a tranquil tone to the songs closure.

So go and give ‘Did You Realise’ a listen now to find an outlet for the emotions created in your own personal lives. Also catch Katie Alice on April 3rd at Hyde Park Book Club for the ‘Did You Realise’ release gig.