British singer-songwriter Katie Malco has returned with her latest single, “Babette,” featuring SOAK, offering listeners an emotional and introspective tune. Following the release of “Fatal Attraction” with Laura Stevenson in July, “Babette” marks Malco’s second new release since her critically acclaimed 2020 debut album, Failures.
Inspired by a personal phone call that left her feeling disconnected and unheard, Malco crafted “Babette” as a reflection on the struggles of communication and not fitting into social situations. She shares, “I wrote ‘Babette’ after a phone call with someone where I felt I didn’t say any of the right things, they couldn’t hear me (literally and metaphorically), and ultimately, when I hung up, I felt that I didn’t fit into their life.” The song explores feelings of frustration, vulnerability, and the difficulty of navigating relationships when communication falls short.
Malco continues, “I think the phone call is an analogy for not always knowing how to fit into social situations. I’m either too quiet and reserved or too loud and boisterous, but I can’t help it. I guess my personality can be a little too extreme in one direction or the other, and when I wrote ‘Babette,’ I felt helpless to change it.”
SOAK (aka Bridie Monds-Watson) reflected on the collaboration, recalling the shared experience of touring across North America with Malco. “Myself and Katie navigated our way through North America with little more than our drivers’ licenses and delusion a year or so back. Night after night when Katie began ‘Babette’ the relief was immediate. Not only had we successfully located the venue and survived that day’s gas station ‘lunch,’ but we were really doing the thing! We were playing music in towns with names we couldn’t pronounce to handfuls of welcoming strangers. What more could we have asked for?”
“Babette” is a moving and relatable anthem for those who have ever struggled to find their place in social dynamics or relationships. Malco’s honest lyrics, paired with SOAK’s unique touch, make the song a standout addition to her growing catalogue of deeply personal and affecting music.