Karin Ann has never been one to shy away from emotion. Her latest release, ‘Choking on My Words,’ is no exception.
This time, she’s joined by Duncan Laurence, the Dutch singer-songwriter who shot to global fame with ‘Arcade.’ Together, they deliver an achingly beautiful track about loss, regret, and confronting the darker parts of yourself.
“I wrote this song about the idea of having a conversation with the dark parts of yourself, maybe the parts of yourself that you don’t want to face but need to in order to process things and move on,” Karin explains. It’s a concept that feels universal, yet deeply personal, something only heightened by Duncan’s soaring vocals and the haunting, cinematic production.
Duncan was immediately on board when Karin reached out. “I’ve been a fan of Karin for a while, so when she sent me the demo and asked if I wanted to write a verse and feature on it, I didn’t even have to think twice,” he says. “There’s something about this song, the way it moves, the rawness of the cello, the way her voice feels like it’s pulling you into a cinematic dream and the most beautiful storm at the same time.”
Beyond the emotional weight of ‘Choking on My Words,’ the release marks the closing chapter of Karin’s Through the Telescope era, her debut album that set the stage for her rapid rise in the alt-pop world. And she’s been busy. Over the past year, she’s played Sziget Festival, supported Mehro across Europe, joined Renforshort on tour, and even found time to record a Chris Isaak cover (‘Wicked Game’) after fans demanded it be made available on streaming platforms.
She’s also been stacking up accolades, Spotify’s #1 most-streamed GLOW artist of 2024, a feature in NME’s top 10 essential SXSW acts, and even a cameo in Suki Waterhouse’s ‘Model, Actress, Whatever’ video. Not bad for someone who once started out writing songs inspired by Grace VanderWaal.
With ‘Choking on My Words,’ Karin Ann and Duncan Laurence deliver a gut-punch of a track, proving once again why they’re two of the most compelling voices in alt-pop right now. And if this is the end of one era for Karin, whatever comes next is bound to hit just as hard.
Editors’ Picks
- ★★★★☆ Glutton For Punishment review | A gothic fever dream of wrath and revelation
Heartworms crafts a debut of gothic grandeur with Glutton For Punishment, a stunning mix of eerie synths, brooding vocals, and spellbinding post-punk anthems. - James Walsh on 25 years of Starsailor: ‘We met when we were 16, we’ve been through it all together’
Starsailor are celebrating 25 years with a special tour. Frontman James Walsh discusses their journey, the realities of staying in a band, and what’s next. - ‘I was longing for warmer days and wanted to give the feeling of trekking through a desert on an alien planet.’ | Oscar Jerome interviewed
In an exclusive interview, Oscar Jerome shares how The Fork reflects his journey of self-discovery, from Cairo’s spirituality to Berlin’s industrial influence on his sound. - ‘The music chooses us, we don’t choose it.’ | The Lathums interviewed
As they usher in a bold new era, The Lathums reflect on growth, staying true to their roots, and their highly anticipated third album, Matter Does Not Define. - ‘The music industry can be so ridiculous with all its egos and drama, and we wanted to poke fun at that.’ | Divorce interviewed
Nottingham’s Divorce reflect on messy demos, moving cities, and poking fun at the music industry in their debut album, Drive to Goldenhammer. - ‘Something extraordinary happened that night – the music felt like it was coming through the roof.’ | Spiritualized interviewed
Jason Pierce reflects on 30 years of Pure Phase by Spiritualized, revisiting its dual-mix magic, and shares why recreating its energy today feels impossible.
Keep up to date with the best in UK music by following us on Instagram: @whynowworld and on Twitter/X: @whynowworld
