Soul-jazz singer Kat Eaton drops new single ‘Break Free’ ahead of her third album What Happens Now – and a Sheffield date at Crookes Social Club is in the diary.
“Whenever we’ve really pushed for something, it almost inevitably hasn’t worked. There’s the realisation that the moment you stop gripping so tightly, things seem to fall into place.”
Kat Eaton is reflecting on the theme of her new single ‘Break Free’ as our Zoom call gets going. She’s midway through a late lunch after spending a fair chunk of the day figuring out how to set up a Shopify account – “the glamorous life of a musician, eh?” – but talk quickly turns from the admin grind to the bigger picture.
The new single is due out a couple of days after we speak, and it will be the opener on upcoming album What Happens Now, due to be released March 2026. Written by her long-time collaborator and husband Nick, the track struck her instantly. “It was cool and curious,” she recalls. “It starts as a bit of a slow build but then goes into four-to-the-floor choruses where it drives forward, so it kind of felt like the perfect fit to open.”
Thematically, the song captures a sense of release: letting go of control and seeing what happens when you stop pushing so hard. Kat explains this philosophy has crept into her own life over the past few years. Rather than clinging to certainty, she’s found power in the flow – the ups and downs of being a self-employed musician, the unpredictability that comes with that and the realisation that doors often open when you stop trying to force them.
That looseness also runs through What Happens Now. She and Nick wrote much of it with their band in mind, aiming for tracks that could breathe, grow on stage and inspire collaboration. Watching Gregory Porter’s group while touring with them was a turning point in that respect. “Seeing how they develop songs live made us want to create music that was just as jammable and fun, where we could really think about the instrumentation and how the band are going to come together.”
Recording took place at Konk Studios in London, with mastering at Abbey Road. Both spaces carry serious musical weight, though Kat has her own surreal story from the latter venue: she recorded there as part of the choir for the ABBA Voyage production, becoming part of the live show itself in the process. “I’m actually an ABBAtar now, in perpetuity,” she laughs. “So technically I’m part of ABBA forever.”
While the album waits in the wings, live performance is now firmly on the agenda. Alongside a run of UK and European shows this autumn, Kat returns to Sheffield for a special date at Crookes Social Club on 13 November. It’ll be her last hometown gig for a while, and she’s clearly looking forward to getting in front of a local crowd. The venue is a major plus point too, embodying the grassroots spirit that keeps music scenes thriving. “It’s integral that we support venues like Crookes [Social Club],” she stresses. “The venue has so much history and character, and for someone who grew up playing in social clubs and pubs, it feels a bit like a fitting full-circle moment. I love the people working there and the community that goes there; it’s run by people who are truly passionate about music.”
Attendees can expect a high-energy five-piece band on the night, joined by support act Smith & Liddle, with a few surprises in store. There’s also talk of bringing back a much bigger line-up for next year’s full album tour. Until then, the Crookes show offers a more intimate chance to hear material from What Happens Now alongside familiar favourites.
“There’s the realisation that the moment you stop gripping so tightly, things seem to fall into place”
Before our call winds down, the conversation turns to life on tour with Kat and the band. Her backstage rider? Ginger, honey, lemon, tea, tasty real ales, wine and a hot meal – “as long as it’s not just chips.” In the tour van, playlists veer from the likes of Olivia Dean to Crookes legend himself Joe Cocker. And, perhaps most tellingly, when asked about her favourite venues, it’s the smaller, more intimate rooms she picks out every time. “When there’s hardly any divide between audience and the stage – they’re the ones that always work well for us. The energy is just palpable.”
Kat Eaton plays Crookes Social Club on Thursday 13 November. Tickets (£18) available now from kateaton.com.
