Celestial newcomer Tenderness provides a quiet kind of magic in music that doesn’t demand your attention, but instead gently holds it. The solo project of London-based songwriter Katy Beth Young, Tenderness is less about spectacle and more about feeling soft, intricate, and deeply human.
Emerging from a period marked by loss, isolation, and change, the project carries a sense of intimacy that feels almost whispered rather than sung. It’s music that sits with you. Her recently released debut album, True, is a striking introduction; ten tracks that drift between indie folk, country textures, and ambient electronics. Built initially from demos recorded in a brief, almost spontaneous session, the album slowly evolved into something richer and more collaborative, featuring contributions from longtime musical peers.
What makes Tenderness stand out is the emotional balance. There’s grief here, undeniably, but also warmth, curiosity, and even moments of lightness. The songs explore love, memory, and technology in equal measure, often blurring the lines between the real and the imagined. Sonically, True is understated but expansive. Think shimmering electric guitars, pedal steel woven through minimalist arrangements, and vocals that feel both fragile and grounded. It’s music that rewards close listening, subtle details revealing themselves over time.
At its heart, Tenderness is about connection, how we hold onto people, memories, and feelings, even as they shift and fade. It’s music made in solitude, but shaped by community, and that duality gives it a rare depth. If you’re drawn to artists who sit somewhere between folk storytelling and experimental textures, Tenderness is one to keep close. This is not music that shouts, it lingers…
True is in stores now.
