Glasgow country-pop singer-songwriter Kerri Watt recorded her debut album Neptune’s Daughter in 2018 however the record was not released until January 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Although this unavoidable delay came as a disappointment to her fans, perhaps early 2021 was the perfect time for Kerri Watt to share Neptune’s Daughter with the world.
In the opening track ‘All The Worse For Me’, Watt rejects the stereotypes of the female country singer by throwing us headfirst into a crescendo of punk-style guitar riffs and raw vocals. This striking introduction to Neptune’s Daughter suggests that what follows won’t be woeful tales of heartbreak accompanied by tender, mellow guitar. Instead, we experience a confident female artist who knows how to use her talent to present country music in a refreshingly modern way.
This fusion of rock and country is a running theme throughout Watt’s tracks, particularly in ‘Chasing Aeroplanes’ and ‘You Can’t Catch Me’. Rock ‘n’ Roll style piano and electric guitar riffs embellish structured rhythm guitar and percussion in these songs, whilst Watt’s vocals grasp our attention and unearth the power and sentiment of her music.
‘Jessie’ – my personal highlight – sees Watt fully embrace her traditional country roots. It’s all uplifting acoustic guitar, exuberant percussion, flashes of harmonica and fierce vocals – as all good country music does, it tells an entertaining, albeit tragic story. The strength of ‘Jessie’ lies in Watt’s marriage of music and lyricism combining to enhance the stories she tells.
Watt unveils an exposed and intimate side to her music in ‘I Wanna Sing For You’ – the album’s beautiful closing track. Its minimalist accompaniment of piano and faint acoustic guitar gives Watt space to share her vocal range and her deeply personal and emotive lyrics.
It is clear Watt’s experience and dedication to her music over the years have led to the creation of a fearless debut album that proves itself to be worth the wait. Not only does Neptune’s Daughter showcase Watt’s undisputed vocal and musical talent, but it is also an album which radiates confidence, positivity and strength, at a time when we undoubtedly need them most.
Neptune’s Daughter is out now via Cooking Vinyl
