Katelyn Tarver Shares Luminous Sophomore LP ‘Quitter’ Featuring New Single “One Without The Other”

Today, LA-based pop-leaning artist Katelyn Tarver shares her sophomore LP Quitter via Nettwerk. On Quitter, Katelyn Tarver collaborated with the likes of esteemed co-writers Delacey (Halsey, Tate McRae), Jonny Shorr (GAYLE, UPSAHL), Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Scott Effman (JP Saxe, Kelly Clarkson), and producer Chad Copelin (Sasha Alex Sloan, Sufjan Stevens).

With Quitter, Katelyn Tarver shares a lived-in and enthrallingly detailed account of navigating her early 30s, opening up about so many the troubles we typically keep hidden: imposter syndrome and struggles with self-worth, the fear of the unknown and anxiety of perfectionism, an all-too-familiar tension between craving acceptance and longing to pursue your absolute truth. Anchored in her crystalline voice and gorgeously airy indie-pop, Quitter ultimately creates space for listeners to ease into expansive self-reflection—and, in turn, possibly arrive at a more open-hearted and free-spirited perspective on their own journey through the world.

Katelyn Tarver shares this about her album,

“There’s this idea that once you hit your 30s, you’ve accumulated all this knowledge from your 20s and you feel more grounded and settled in who you are. However, I feel like there’s so much I’m still learning. Even though I didn’t realize it as I was writing, a lot of the songs on this album are asking questions about what matters to me and what I want from life. I don’t think I have all the answers yet, but I do feel like I’ve peeled back some of the layers and gotten closer to understanding who I am and why I do what I do.”

Brand new track and album closer, “One Without The Other,” is a gentle piano-driven endeavor that brings upon great sincerity to her own sprawling voyage of self-acceptance. Co-written with Riley Biederer (Echosmith, Jordi) and Andrew Tufano (Charlie Puth, Walk Off the Earth), Tarver shares, “‘One Without The Other’ is a deep breath of a song. An acceptance of all the choices and versions of myself that got me to the person I am today. All the conflicting parts of myself. The bad that brought me to the good, the challenges that gave me perspective… this song is expressing gratitude for it all.”

The sun-soaked and shimmering title track single, “Quitter,” serves as the album’s most self-assured moment, even as Tarver expresses a glaring uncertainty about the road ahead. With unflinching honesty, audacity, and unapologetically pop-leaning, “Quitter” alludes to tossing out the traditional rules of adulthood and having a little fun coloring outside the lines.  

Released at the end of 2023, the exquisite indie-pop effort “Japanese Café” continued Tarver’s trend of lyrically absorbing singles documenting her personal growth. With refreshing candor enhanced by the centerpiece lyric, “Will you still love me if my luck runs out?,” “Japanese Café” journeys through the notions of self-worth, recognition, and life’s bittersweet lessons.

The moody but euphoric “Ignorance Is Bliss” explores her desire for control in a chaotic world. “This song is voicing my frustration with how isolating it can feel to be weighed down by the big, unanswerable questions that we all have to face in life. All the what-ifs. All the versions of why them and not me? Why me and not them?” shares Tarver. Standout track “Parallel Universe” unfolds as a pop-leaning, folky piece of storytelling about potential life paths that went unfollowed. It’s a quiet contemplation evoking unsparing introspection about missed opportunities and the roads we could have traveled.

“Cinematic” is a fairly subdued, late 90s’ guitar-driven inspired tune about looking at life with a bittersweet lens. Beguiling vocals and dulcet tones shine throughout as the track twists and turns through snapshots of Tarver’s experiences. Moreover, “Starting to Scare Me” delves into the vulnerable depths of Tarver’s introspection, offering a raw and honest exploration of detrimental tendencies. Here, Tarver examines her personal path of evasion and acceptance as the track sonically graces the edges of nostalgia, recalling 90s influences that propel pulsing guitars and memorable hooks to the forefront.

During this album cycle, Tarver had her first ever North American headlining tour last fall, her single “What Makes A Life Good?” was included on the series finale episode of HBO Max’s The Other Two, and she received placement on Spotify’s New Music Friday, Chill Pop, Morning Commute, Fresh Pop, New Pop Picks playlists and more. She was featured on local news stations such as KTLA, ABC7NY, and Breakfast Television. Additionally, she’s been praised by the likes of NYLON, Billboard, FLOOD, Under The Radar, Sweety High, Popdust, Buzz Bands LA, EUPHORIA., LADYGUNN, American Songwriter, Atwood Magazine, and more.

Quitter LP is available at all digital retailers here: https://ktarver.ffm.to/quitter_album