BY NICK CANTWELL

Katie Rigby is a country singer from Manchester who made an instant impact in 2023 with her debut singles ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Love Song’. Now at the start of 2024, Katie is back with a single which will surely continue to elevate the singer songwriter.

‘Past Life Cowgirl’ is a song which reflects on being a country artist here in the UK, yearning of that life in Nashville, with a feeling that she has a deep association with the home of country music, despite the geography. ‘I’m writing country songs, don’t feel that I belong, here in the UK’ is an early lyric in the song that sets the scene nicely.

Within the first thirty seconds of the song, you hear an almost early Kacey-esque quality to her music, and it was little surprise to me to read that Katie has indeed been inspired by Kacey Musgraves, as well as both Lainey Wilson and Kelsea Ballerini. Those inspirations come through, giving Katie a punch to her music, while maintaining a fantastic clarity of vocals. All the time leaning on a traditional country sound, with a hint of pop that could appeal to wider music fans outside of the country bubble. This is exampled by the fact that teasers of the song have amassed more than 100,000 views on TikTok.

There’s a nice element of humour to the song, as Katie sings about watching Netflix, not wearing Louis Vuitton and swapping her Crocs for cowboy boots, while sipping on a Watermelon Moonshine under that Nashville skyline she dreams of. There’s also an appealing realism woven into the song amongst those hopes and ambitions.

Last year saw Katie named ‘Artist of the Month’ by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and received airplay on BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Introducing. In 2024 Katie is lined up to play the ‘Country on the Clyde’ festival.

As an opening January salvo, this song is sure to make an impression and accelerate the climb of this UK artist – perhaps a big step to starting to realise some of those transatlantic aspirations.

Katie hopes this song reaches out and connects with the country music fans in the UK giving them their own anthem to celebrate their love of country music!