A Soundtrack for the Untethered Heart
Dublin's own Ailbhe Reddy, a powerful voice in the indie-folk scene and an out lesbian artist, has just dropped her highly third studio album, Kiss Big. The album dives headfirst into the universally relatable, yet deeply personal, experience of navigating life after a major breakup.
Reddy describes the album as being about "the disorienting aftermath of losing the person you built a life around." It's a theme many in the LGBTQ+ community know all too well—the feeling of being untethered not just from a partner, but from the version of yourself that existed within that relationship. The album explores this emotional landscape with nuance and honesty.
Rearranging and Restarting
Following her critically acclaimed albums Personal History (2020) and Endless Affair (2023), Reddy continues to build on her reputation for sharp songwriting and emotional depth. Kiss Big isn't just about the pain of an ending; it's also about the slow, often non-linear process of healing and rediscovery. In her own words, it's about "how, with time, everything rearranges and restarts. The cyclical nature of love and endings. The way we keep beginning again, regardless of how we say we won’t."
For queer listeners, having an artist like Ailbhe Reddy articulate these specific feelings of loss and resilience is significant. Her work provides a soundtrack for our own stories, reflecting the strength found in starting over.
Kiss Big is now available on Bandcamp and major streaming platforms. The album can be purchased as a digital download, on CD, or as a limited edition red vinyl.
