Katherine Priddy’s recent single, ‘Frightening Machines’, is achingly gorgeous. Equally as haunting and beautiful as her vocal performance are Priddy’s intimate words, which explore her relationship with herself: “Strip down this engine for parts // I have to confess it’s a bit of a mess // But still every morning it starts // I have clung to what’s left and discarded the rest.” Delivered with melodic elegance and grace, it’s a perfect metaphor that many will associate with, and the result is open-hearted and captivating.
Priddy says of the song and the personal nature of the lyrics: “This song was written during a prolonged period of ill health, which really affected my relationship with my physical self as well as with my femininity. I wanted to capture the sense of disassociation and separation that occurs when you’ve been let down by or lost control of your body. You can end up feeling like a soul trapped in a malfunctioning, self-sabotaging machine. It’s very disconcerting. This is a cathartic song for me to release into the world, and I hope it will resonate with others who have felt the same way.”
Directed and shot by Matty Deveson, the video is beautifully put together; it’s an artistic, visual representation of Priddy’s poetic lyrics. Like the song itself, the visual is deeply immersive.
This is the second single release from Priddy’s forthcoming new album. “These Frightening Machines” is due for release on 6th March 2026, after which she’ll head out on a UK tour to promote the record. Priddy’s previous albums, “The Eternal Rocks Beneath” and “The Pendulum Swing”, were critically acclaimed and full of masterfully crafted songs. She says of the new album: “If the first album was for building a foundation, and the second album was about reinforcing what I’d already begun, the third album felt to me like a chance to be bolder, push out and try something new.” It is certainly another impressive showcase for Priddy’s intricate, sensitive songwriting; her songs are personal, authentic, and musically sublime.
